₦airaland Forum

imag5: hmm it good to be here,that list above is cool but as for me electrical and electronics guys have been dominating oil and gas field they fit into anywhere subsea and other technical area,but you forgot to mention NDT technicians,those guys are in high demand like craze coded job cool cash,you work offshore inspecting drilling tools,pipeline,platform etc am a geophysicst but to tell you the truth geoscience no longer sells in nigeria like that simple reason is that most seismic survey as been carried out long ago..so was going on now is drilling and other engineering role ie production.where they recruit 5 geoscientist,50 engineers will be also be recruited you can see the ratio,i have been in the geo-science field but am currently into Asset integrity....via NDT,(am ASNT NDT CERTIFIED IN ET,UT,LPT,RFI,DPI,MT LEVEL 2) though am planing msc in exploration geophysics in uniport.as for experience you can get it anyday any time,you can decide to volunteer..for any small oil and gas coy.
less i forget corrossion engineering is another wicked area.

kudos xfire

imag5

Great, great contribution imag. I completely agree with you that NDT (non-destructive testing) technicians are hot cakes as you need them in any major engineering project in the oil and gas (construction, repairs, revamp, manufacturing, etc.). As a matter of fact, there is urgent need for NDT technicians in countries like Canada as they are in short supply. However, this is just a list of the top 10 (i.e. some of the most demanded oil jobs in the world). It's not a comprehensive list. Thanks for adding that.

I also concur that most of the seismic surveys in Nigeria has been done years ago. Nigeria's fields have been well analyzed and really, the risk of investment is low as most of the fields have been studied. It is normal to have more engineers in drilling and production work for obvious reasons as you mentioned. However, you still need geologists at the early stage of drilling. Besides, the list did not limit the demand to only Nigeria. There are oil exploration projects going on around the world, thus experienced geoscientists and seismic interpreters are in high demand. It's always difficult for young graduates to break into the industry. In many cases, they even need an MSc or even a PhD to be considered for employment. But once established, they are hot cakes.

taiwolusol: Presently i'll pass for a Safety Engineer, a Welding Engineer and a Design Engineer but i have just 6Months experience(Industrial Training) ... Rigorously SMH
What's the Way to Go?
What advice do you have for someone like me?

You mean you acquired the skills of a safety engineer, welding engineer and design engineer in just 6 months student internship programme?

It's good that you have internship experience in a notable oil firm. It places you at an advantage. You are starting well as a student.

tensazangetsu: Are marine engineers many in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria

There are many marine specialists (marine advisor, marine maintenance supervisors, mooring masters, etc.) in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Most marine engineers serve in those capacities in Nigeria.

taiwolusol: Yes!!!
These are the type of Threads that make me glued to NL. Good job @Op for sharing a little in your wealth of knowledge.
But like the second poster said, where are we to get the experience from? *sigh*

You start by seeking entry level roles, even if it is for small firms. Most people usually don't start off in some of the fields mentioned above. They make the switch later on in their career. The list is to meant to guide young graduates in the right career path in the industry. I have worked in 2 different job roles since I started sojourn into the industry few years back. And I hope to gain experience in other job roles.

Three7Ty9: Chief, good one, though I expected to see technical safety engineers on your list, as this is a quickly emerging area which is in hot demand since the piper alpha case.

Also are Gas Engineering specialist, correct me if I'm wrong sir.

I quite agree with you. Experienced technical safety engineers are in hot demand. There is actually a shortage of technical safety/risk engineers worldwide. Many notable oil firms require them in large scale engineering projects. And it is one of the very few engineering positions in which you can work independently as a consultant. I know a man who is a technical safety engineering consultant. He makes over 500k for a 2-day consulting engagement. He is sought after all over Africa. I should add it.

I am not too sure about gas engineering specialists. A mechanical, process and facilities engineer can comfortable handle many gas projects

Mixty: Oga xfire. The real question is that how does one get the first 5 years experience that you mentioned.

Any ideas?

Well, like I mentioned, the demands are for experienced professionals. This is just to provide a guide for people that intend to delve into the sector in the foreseeable future. In many cases, the most important thing is to gain experience, even if it is in small oil firms. It doesn't always matter which role you start with. You can always switch once you are in the industry.

It is also to guide students who may be seeking to further their studies in an oil and gas relevant course

gudrated: Graet list. Though I think petroleum economists shand safety officers should have been in the top 10. See no reason why you have accountants in that list.

There are simply too many safety professionals itching to join the oil industry. When supply is higher than number required, then you really do not have much demand. Many see safety as one of the easiest way to break into the industry, thus there is abundance of professionals with valid safety certifications. Besides, any experienced oil and gas worker can easily move to safety.

Petroleum economist is not a highly demanded role to the best of my knowledge. I wouldn't advise anyone to go for it cos it doesn't offer any specialized and unique skill. With sufficient experience, a petroleum engineer can easily be a petroleum economist.

Accountants are in hot demand all over the world, particularly tax professionals.

This is meant for those who desire a career in the oil and gas industry, especially for graduates and undergraduates who may want to be informed.

It's ironical that despite the high graduate unemployment rate and imminent glut in oil supply due increase production worldwide, there is actually a shortage of skilled and specialized labour in the global oil and gas industry. Unfortunately, the most in-demand occupations require specific skills that can only be acquired through experience.

As an oil and gas professional, I have followed the trend and revolution in the industry globally over the past few years. I also follow technological breakthroughs (especially the fracking technology in the US that is redefining the dynamics of the industry worldwide), oil discoveries and hiring patterns all over the world. Based on these trends and statistics, I have come up with a compilation of the top 10 in-demand occupations in the oil and gas industry. This is not limited to the to the industry in Nigeria. This is based on global demand.
I can guarantee that you will always get a quality job (somewhere around the world) if you have at least 5 years experience in the fields. If after gaining five years experience in any of the top 10 fields mentioned below, you lack a well-paying job for more than 6 months, you better go and see your pastor or imam for deliverance. Maybe na from village.

So, for your graduates desiring a lasting career in the oil and gas industry, you may consider these specialized fields. Just work on getting basic experience and you will become indispensable:

1) Geoscientists
2) drilling engineers/ drilling supervisors/driller

No (1) & (2) With recent oil and gas discoveries all around the world including Africa (East Africa and the Gulf of Guinea) and the aggressive exploration for oil all over the world, there is a very high demand for geoscientists (geologists and geophysicists). Geoscientists are involved in the exploration for oil and also in the initial stages after oil discovery. Drilling engineers/ drilling supervisors /drillers are involved in drilling operations (both for exploration and production). There is an shortage of experienced drilling engineers worldwide. A colleague of mine who is drilling engineer told me that he has already received two good offers via linkedIn (even without applying!). And he barely has 3 years experience!

3) subsea engineers
4) subsurface and completions engineers
5) pipeline and piping engineers

No (3) - (5) With oil companies going into the more uncertain but rewarding deepwater operations, there is a high demand for individuals with deepwater experience. Subsea engineers design, implement and maintain structures, tools and equipment used in underwater components of offshore oil and gas production. Pipeline engineers design and maintain subsea pipeline in offshore fields. You can't ignore subsurface/completions (well) engineers who ensure oil is produced at optimum level from oil wells.

6) Marine specialists / engineers
Marine specialists are very critical in oil and gas industry. You need marine professionals in offshore oil and gas operations. This is because of the constant use of marine vessels and boats for supply and transportation of crude oil, liquefied gas, food, equipment, etc. Besides, the increase in FPSO's (floating vessels for oil production in deepwater fields) all around the world requires the specialized skill of marine professionals to maintain vessel stability on the sea.
Believe me, marine specialists are on top of their world. I know a marine specialist that has worked for 3 major oil companies in Nigeria in the last 8 years.

7) Offshore maintenance technicians
These are the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation technicians working in rigs and production platforms both onshore and offshore. There is a high demand for them globally. And the minimum requirement to become one is just an OND.

( Truck drivers and crane operators
Yes, you read right! There is a high degree of lifting operations in the oil and gas industry and certified crane operators are in demand. Believe me, they earn well.
Truck drivers are in great demand too, especially in US and Canada where there is a significant onshore oil production. Truck are needed to move rigs and equipment, haul oil, water and sand away. The new fracking technology that has made USA self-sufficient in oil production requires constant evacuation of sand from drilling sites. The drivers are also expected to be mechanics, able to fix to fix their large trucks. With USA set to be a net exporter of oil to the global community (competing with the likes of Nigeria for markets), there is currently a shortage of truck drivers to meet her goal.

9) Tax accountant
The oil and gas industry is technology driven, thus the technical professionals are the most demanded. However, the only non-technical profession to break into the top 10 is accounting. With oil and gas companies always the easy targets for governments and public ministries in areas of tariffs, royalties, taxes and other deductions, the role of experienced oil and gas accountants become critical. There is a crying need for accountants (especially tax accountants), who can balance the books and ensure sustained profit.

10) Reservoir Engineers
Eventhough this list is in no particular order, I think reservoir engineers are actually No. 10 on the list. The reservoir engineers play a significant role in the oil and gas industry. Their job is identify oil and gas reserves and develop strategies to maximize recovery and conducting simulation studies to ensure the optimum recovery.

Other in-demand professions that did not make the top 10 list include technical safety engineers, environmental specialists, welding technicians, process engineers and machinery (mechanical) engineers

Below is the 2nd to my last post just before the infamous Nairaland attack. It is unedited:

Back to career talks. I continue.....

MANAGING WORK AND LIFE ACTIVITIES

I work to live, and life will I live! There are interactions between work and life activities however. As a matter of fact, almost half of my time is spent on work or work-related activities (travelling, traffic, working at home, discussing work, etc.). An aspect of attaining work-life balance and interaction is being able to create some fun and joy around the workplace. I understand that this can be difficult to do especially when working in a hostile work environment but it is not impossible to achieve. Enjoying work will be another discussion in the nearest future but that's not the focus now.
There is also another aspect to work-life balance that completely distinguishes work from other life concerns and engagements. This involves engaging in other life activities with happiness and fulfillment with the burden of excessive work. And that's my focus on this piece. Here's how I manage the work-life balance

1. First Impression - as a new employee, all eyes are on you. First impression counts a lots and the first few opinions made about you may sometimes determine the course of your career in an organization. It is also important that new employees go an extra mile to get the job done. Show some eagerness and willingness to learn and adapt. Pay your dues when you are still new in an organizational as your learning curve is still pretty high at that stage. It is not a period you keep checking the time once it's almost 4pm. It's a time to create a reputation for yourself as a performer, achiever and a hardworking staff.

2. I set my priorities - I know and recognize the most important things in my life. The earlier you know your priorities, the earlier you can work out your goals around them. I have earlier said it that apart from God, the most important things in my life are family, work-life balance, career aspirations, investment, money and career counselling in that order. One of the reasons I quit my first job for another was not necessarily because the pay was higher, but because it offered me a better working environment where I can freely engage in other important things of life (the work-life interaction). The clearer you understand what purpose, the easier for you to make decisions. Sometimes, that decision may involve rejecting an attractive offer, a promotion, an investment opportunity or any other tempting proposal. Knowing your priorities enable you to know your limits.

3. Learning new skills of interest - I try to learn skills that I'm particularly interested in. For instance, I love piano but I cannot play. And I intend buying one before the end of this month. I will probably enroll in a music school to learn the instrument. I also trying to learn one of the Nigerian major language, though that has not been easy, as I find it challenging to learn a new language. Swimming is another skill I am currently learning. Swimming is about practice. The more you practice, the better you are at it. I so much want to learn Karate or Taekwondo but that might be sometimes in the future. I already have my hands full.

4. I cultivated a culture of savings and investment - The ability to save does not depend on the amount earned. It's a habit that can be developed. I earned N9,500 only as a corps member despite that, I still saved monthly. It will shock you that I never borrowed a single kobo during my NYSC despite the ridiculously low income. I have learnt to always save part of my monthly earnings, and that is a practice that has stuck to me till date. I always live below my means, I thank God that I have never been in a situation that forced me to spend beyond my means.
But it is not enough to save. Money should also be used for investment purposes. I look out for investment opportunities and try to sow some investment seeds that can grow and fetch more money for me. It is always good to explore other alternative sources of income. Aside the extra income it can potentially generate, it gives a sense of personal fulfillment to see money working for you. It also means another engaging activity that often take your mind off work.

5... But I also spoil myself - life is too short to divert all your money on savings and investment. Afterall, today is yesterday's tomorrow. Today is the only day you have got. Tomorrow is still unknown. Why become so obsessed about saving for a tomorrow that may never come? This means that it is paramount that I enjoy myself today. If I earn well, I should also enjoy a bit of it. Isn't it? Once in a while, I spoil myself with the good things of life. Sometimes, it is good to make yourself happy. You don't have to wait for people to buy you gifts. If you have got the money, spoil yourself with gifts. Go for vacations in choice locations. Visit best restaurants in town once in a while. Simply put - ENJOY. Enjoyment is key to fulfilment, at least in my case.

to be continued....

2sExy1: You zoomed off bro... I have been waiting for your reply based on last email you sent/replied.

I have responded to your mail.

tolutweety: still waiting for the reply to my mail .
Thank you.

I can't remember getting any mail from you. Kindly resend quoting your username

MissJennifer: For the sake of aspirants like me,I hope so

Don't just hope so. Know so. Believe you have what it takes to secure the scholarships. Confidence is critical to success. The role of 'man-know-man' is highly exaggerated in Nigeria.

@all, I will re-post the last piece of my write-up just before the Nairaland attack later.

In the coming days as time permits, I will write on cover letter writing (based on demand) and how to maintain professional networks. I will also discuss some of the current challenges I am facing in my career and how I am working towards overcoming them. Stay tuned.

kennedyugo: I wanna ask this question.
If in an interview , you are asked to describe a situation where you showed certain competency, but looking up and down, you could not find or recall such situation in your life. What can you in that situation? Should you fabricate one?.

Describing a situation where you have showed a certain competency is a common behavioural question in interviews. That is why early and adequate preparation is essential before stepping into an interview.
What 'certain' competency are you referring to? In any case, make sure you prepare ready responses to several common behavioural questions. Keep your responses handy so that you won't be caught unawares in an interview session. Adequate preparation is the key.

But I must also acknowledge that you can still be asked some challenging questions even when you have prepared well. I have been asked such questions a few times though adequate preparation minimizes the extent of surprise.

Also take note that many STAR scenarios (responses) can be adjusted slightly to showcase different competencies. For instance, a particular response may showcase your creativity, problem solving skills, team work, persuasive ability, ability to withstand pressure and leadership. Think of 3 or 4 of such scenarios that portray multiple competencies ahead of an interview. It all boils down to your ability to tell a compelling story to fit many situations.

Can you fabricate a story if you can't recall any situation during an interview? . Well, it all depends on your moral discretion. It is always extremely difficult for interviewees not to exaggerate their strengths and capabilities during an interview. Somehow, many of us have been guilty of that one way or the other.

That reminds me: Misterkay - I am so sorry that I have not responded to you. I am quite impressed with it. We will need to discuss about it. I will go through it again and get back to you. Shoot me a mail if I don't get back by Saturday.

nabsprada: Welcome back once again...my question is in applying for a scholarship(for post graduate studies) which does one apply for first? The school or the scholarship?

It all depends on many factor, but generally it is better to apply to the school first.
For instance, most IOC's involved in postgraduate sponsorship programmes in Nigeria only offer give scholarship offers to aspiring students that already have admission.
In addition, some schools (especially in US and Canada) offer scholarships to outstanding students based on GRE scores, CGPA and TOEFL scores. So you will need to apply to such schools to access these opportunities. Furthermore, you may have access to additional scholarships once you enroll for the postgraduate scholarship.
PTDF does not require you to secure admission before applying (though it is generally advisable to secure admission first, if not, you may be given a UK institution you do not fancy). I also don't think Commonwealth Scholarship Commission requires you to have admission before applying.
So I will say, apply to the schools first.

Yes, boichemists can do their internship in NNPC. And you are also right, biochemists do work in NNPC. They serve majorly as HSE officers (safety officers) mostly in refineries.

I don't follow Nairaland religiously, but the following people have caught my attention:

Jakumo (very, very good writer, master of English language. He is my Nairaland 'English language mentor')

Missindependent (don't know why I like her, maybe her moniker draws the attention)

2sexi, 2sexy (nice guy, already ready to learn, hardworking and versatile)

Darellrivers (great lady)

Tanimola22 (very knowledgeable and brilliant guy. No longer active on Nairaland).

And lately,

Nabsprada (thanks a lot. I really appreciate).

top10nigeria: 15% pay rise works considering inflation figures. And yeah I heard pension is same or even more than your previous base salary. isn't that insane? Why would someone retired earn more monthly salary? My Wife invited a friend over for Christmas and he works at NNPC. I was in shock the whole night. Don't know how that salary structure can be sustainable.

The 15% ish yearly increment was before. Not anymore. Things has changed. Too much focus on remuneration on this thread. I'm not always comfortable discussing that.

dustydee: 32 million for someone with 15 years of experience sounds small to me. I would have thought the majors pay better. if I may ask, are you a technician?

I am not so concerned about his pay package (top10nigeria). Maybe his years of experience dates back to when he started working offshore at the age of 18 (probably started as a technician before gaining an engineering degree). I wouldn't even want to discuss remuneration here.

But I wonder if the 15 years experience is all offshore related. I can't see an engineer working offshore for 15 straight years (only technicians, operators, drilling supervisors, cook, etc. do that). It's almost impossible (for various reasons).

Most engineers in the oil industry don't like working offshore. They will rather work in the office and do a 9-5 job. It's quite hazardous working offshore. The life over there is regimented, and the living condition, though okay, are not as comfortable as a usual home. Many who work offshore are looking for office functions.

Most people who admire offshore jobs know very little about oil and gas industry. Once they get into industry, they get a better picture and prefer office roles.

Cheers..

Hello all,

Sorry that I have been on an extended break after the unfortunate attack on Nairaland.

I will first all like to thank all those that have asked after me one way or the other since the attack on Nairaland. It's quite surprising that I still receive lots of private enquiries despite my prolonged inactivity on Nairaland. Some I have responded to, others I am still yet to respond. Kindly begin to post your enquiries here (except if it is very confidential) instead of sending me a pm. I always give more attention to enquires posted here and attend to them more promptly.

I will also like to say a big kudos to those that have saved or stored my write-ups (nabsprada, McWhillion, chimexcomm, bigdreams, etc). I find it really impressive.

I will continue to drop a few tips and write-ups from time to time, but maybe not as frequently as I used to because of increased engagements. But I assure that I will respond to all enquiries as much and as best as possible. I am using this opportunity to call on darellrivers to return to the thread.

nabsprada: To all who followed or are now following the thread,its sad that the crash destroyed all that wealth of knowledge and experience shared but like seun osewa said "you crashed our system but not our memory,nairaland remembers"...I have the complete work of xfire(and by complete I mean from page zero to the very page he said the end) saved on my system,will post all of it as soon as my schedules permits me to.

I know just how much I gained from his work and that of all other contributors of this thread ,I didn't just learn,I also got a mentor! @Darrellriver,you are acknowledged.

Wow, nabsprada. This is wonderful. I and other thread followers will be very glad if you post all of it as promised.

STENON: Over
d years....People av bin sayin alot abt som careers dat Married women
can do n can stil av enof time for her family??....Pls Ur opinions ar
Highly needed here

Lecturing job will be good. I will really love it she is a lecturer. You always have a lot of time to spare in lecturing.
Government jobs are also okay, especially parastatals like NAFDAC, CBN, NNPC, etc. They have standard working time and vacation schedules.
Having a business of her own is not also a bad. At least she can get to work at her convenient time or even employ workers.
I have always admired nurses But I don't know much about their working schedules, though I know some run shifts.
If I think of more, I will add

I'm back. I will continue..............

PRE-NYSC AND NYSC DAYS

After my graduation I was sad and depressed because I didn't graduate with a first class. I never imagined my life without a first class. It haunted me for long, and to be sincere, it took me more than a year to fully recover from it. I feared for the job market because I felt I was disadvantaged age-wise, especially with my 'pure-water' 2-1 degree. I stayed at home for 6 months after graduation before I was mobilized for service. During that period, I whiled away time by teaching in a secondary school. I also began subscribing for job email alerts, and started reading online job websites and the famous Guardian newspaper. Eventhough I wasn't eligible to apply, I started studying the pattern of job vacancies. I was always interested in the companies that were recruiting and their requirements. I wrote my first amateur CV upon graduation. I have since refined my CV writing skills. Thank God I don't have to write personal CVs again, at least not anytime soon. I will only review people's CV's from time to time. I will talk a bit about good CV writing later in the thread.
I taught in a public secondary school during my NYSC days. This gave me ample time to socialize and also prepare for the labour market. Many of my colleagues 'worked' their service to Lagos where they served in big organizations I could only dream of. But I made use of the only resource I had - TIME. I started reading about how to how to write good CVs and prepare for interviews. I also started putting in my applications 6 months to the end of my service year. I applied for the PTDF overseas scholarship. I learnt about various job sites during this period. One surprising fact is that I observed that many of my fellow 'corpers' had little or no information about job hunting, CV writing, interview skills and presentation. A lot of corp members could not write a simple CV. Many had little or no computer knowledge. Many had very poor writing skills. With my basic CV writing art, I had to help many of the corps members to write their CV's especially those about to pass out. In many cases, I followed them to the cyber cafe to create emails for them and make online applications for them (then the internet was accessible as it is today). I still know many graduates today that cannot write and speak properly. Many of them are still without job or are currently underemployed. And I doubt if they can improve their employment status if they don't make themselves employable. This leads me to lesson #5.

LESSON 5: Basic writing skills, good communication skills and computer literacy are 3 fundamental elements of employability. When it is said that many Nigerian graduates are unemployable, they simply mean they lack simple communication skills most of the time. They simply cannot speak, write or express themselves comprehensibly enough. It's unfortunate but this is true in some cases. In addition, it is simply unacceptable to be a computer illiterate in this information age. Many job vacancies are posted online and most information are electronic in nature. I have a friend (from the same village) who studied accounting. He is young and sharp but he could hardly speak or write English without grammatical errors due to poor primary and secondary education. He went for various interviews during his NYSC days but was not successful in any. I had to encourage him to start reading books and writing. I also advised him to get a good part-time English teacher, if possible. Guess what? He got one. Today, he is gainfully employed in a bank. If you are poor in communication, start working on it now! The secret is practice. Practice, practice, practice! There is no alternative. Communication skill is quite important in oral interview stage, and I will elaborate on that when I get there. You don't have to be an orator like Barack Obama, or Martin Luther King Jr. But you need to be able to comprehend others, and be able to express yourself in a formal setting. My communication skills was not as good as it is now. I developed it with constant practice and discipline. As a matter of fact, I am not a gifted orator. I am still improving on my presentation skills. Till date, I still practice ahead of time before I make formal presentations in meetings, except if it is impromptu. Presentation skill is also important for career progression. Good presentation skills gives a positive impression about your intellectual and leadership ability (even if it is just an impression!).
That is why I feel pity for many job seekers who can hardly write properly but will keep using shorthand. Posting and commenting clearly on forums like Nairaland is one of the ways of improving your writing skills.

sholatech: Not really strict, but most Unis require you to score above 60 percent which is the requirement for enrolment into Phd

I think that answers it. Even if you have a first class, you will still need a cumulative of 60% to progress for PhD. And I will advise you to go for a M.Phil and not just M.Sc. As you well know, academic research is the hallmark of lecturing job.
Academics in the house can also shed some light.

TopSpot: @Op, nice work. Of the many graduates I have seen many find difficult to express themselves not to talk of putting their thougts in writing. How are u able to develop these fascinating writing skills?

Thanks. You have made a valid point about the importance of communication skills. As a matter of fact, it is as if you are reading my storyline.
It will interest you to know that eventhough I did exceptionally well in English Language in my WASSCE, there was a time I was far from being as good as I am now. I used to be an average communicator and I once struggled when expressing myself, both in speaking and writing. But I have since improved and I am still improving.
I shall reveal how I develop myself in the course of my story.

@ALL, I will update the thread as soon as I'm back. I'm still out of town.

Sure! It is possible. You have passes the most important four subjects (Maths, English, Chemistry and Physics). All you need is an extra credit in any other science or social science course. I can see you passed both Economics and Agric. Science.
Further for further enquiry, you can always check your JAMB brochure for the specific requirement of the institution you plan attending.
Cheers....

Rhema14: Wow. This is really motivating....keep it up @op. By the way what engineering discipline did u study?

Hmm, I might just reveal that in the course of this thread.
But it will surprise you to know that I interface with a lot of other disciplines even outside engineering in my current job function.

Mcslize: Wow nice thread, I luv it. Nothing more interesting than pursuing ur dreams but should age limit one frm pursuing one's dream? Now and then u wil hear people reminding u of ur age making discouragement to creep in and giiving up on ur dream. What can be done about that?

Well...maybe if you go a bit more specific, I will be able to give a more specific opinion.
The age barrier has always been a challenge in the Nigerian labour market. I faced it too. This is because there is no existing regulation in Nigeria concerning job/recruitment policy. Like I said, I wasn't able to apply for any banking job (though I never wanted to work in the bank anyway) because of my age. But lucky enough, there are still many jobs that have lenient age requirements. I know many graduates that started lecturing job at over 30 years. Same goes for government jobs. Most building/construction jobs have no age barrier. This also applies for medical jobs.
In addition, some MNC's do not have age barriers because of the recruitment policy of their source country. Luckily, this is most applicable in oil and gas companies. They do not have age barriers because recruitment policy in US, Netherlands, etc specify that recruitment is regardless of age, sex, religion, race, etc. An engineer friend of mine, who worked as an operations staff in banking industry for a few years, left the bank for a graduate engineering position at one of the IOC's at the age of 33 years. As a matter, he got an elevated pay, not as a result of any engineering experience but as a result of his older age!

@All, I'm still out of town. I should be back this week. I will continue my story then.

@ Op, I believe you should go for what you love, especially if it is a good course like architecture. As an architect, you can work on your own and be creative. You can even start consulting for clients even before graduation (once you are under the guidance of a registered architect). It's not all about employment. It's a bit easier for doctors to get jobs than architects. But there are many doctors that are currently underemployed, working in private clinics earning peanuts. Passion also matters. Medicine is so radically different from architecture, and I will not advise you to go for medicine just because of getting a job. There are many architects making it big in consultancy. I have seen architects that aren't rich, but I am yet to come across an architect who is totally idle. Building business is booming in Nigeria, and you need architects in Nigeria.

Archmage: I also find it hard to understand what 'performance' entails in a workplace...

Performance entails a lot of things in the workplace depending on the organization, job role and expectation, and the people (boss, subordinates and colleagues).
Many organizations have different ways of appraising their staffs - some use grade system; some use KPI's (target setting); while others use ranking system. I won't bore you about the details but lemme list a few factors that affect performance:
1) People: From experience, managing people especially your boss, is the most important factor. You need to understand the expectation of your boss, and try to make his job a lot easier. Also, you need to have the ability to influence without authority to achieve results, especially when dealing with peers.
2) Visibility: Be visible. This is where communication skills and creativity come to play. Make your impact felt. Let senior colleagues and managers notice you. Perception matters a lot.
3) Key Performance Indicators (KPI) - commonly known as targets. Many organizations set periodic KPI's for their employees depending on job role. Ability to meet and exceed your KPI's influences your career growth.
4) Quality of work output - You can easily distinguish yourself from your peers based on the quality of work. As we often say 'the reward for good work is more work' i.e. added responsibility
5) Initiative - the ability to show initiative is also important. The ability to give an extra push inorder to get work done is key.
Other silent factors that sometimes influence performance are nepotism, eye service, ethnicity and favouritism. This can not be totally eradicated in the Nigerian setting, but people progress beyond those obstacles.

@ALL, I presently out of town and I'm sending this from my phone. I will update the thread as soon as I get back to my base.

Archmage: I also find it hard to understand what 'performance' entails in a workplace...

Performance entails a lot of things in the workplace depending on the organization, job role and expectation, and the people (boss, subordinates and colleagues).
Many organizations have different ways of appraising their staffs - some use grade system; some use KPI's (target setting); while others use ranking system. I won't bore you about the details but lemme list a few factors that affect performance:
1) People: From experience, managing people especially your boss, is the most important factor. You need to understand the expectation of your boss, and try to make his job a lot easier. Also, you need to have the ability to influence without authority to achieve results, especially when dealing with peers.
2) Visibility: Be visible. This is where communication skills and creativity come to play. Make your impact felt. Let senior colleagues and managers notice you. Perception matters a lot.
3) Key Performance Indicators (KPI) - commonly known as targets. Many organizations set periodic KPI's for their employees depending on job role. Ability to meet and exceed your KPI's influences your career growth.
4) Quality of work output - You can easily distinguish yourself from your peers based on the quality of work. As we often say 'the reward for good work is more work' i.e. added responsibility
5) Initiative - the ability to show initiative is also important. The ability to give an extra push inorder to get work done is key.
Other silent factors that sometimes influence performance are nepotism, eye service, ethnicity and favouritism. This can not be totally eradicated in the Nigerian setting, but people progress beyond those obstacles.

@ALL, I presently out of town and I'm sending this from my phone. I will update the thread as soon as I get back to my base.

the_cia: ...baba we are all following now. Biko update asap. Ill be 27 this October and plan on joining a major multinational come 2015. Its not easy though for we women but i hope to share my story one day like u.

You made me laugh
I will definitely keep updating the thread. Be patient. I have a lot to share from my experiences.
Your plan on joining an MNC will surely come to reality. Women do make it. I have seen a lot of women join MNC's and even rise in their career. Be steadfast. In all organizations I have worked for, I have seen women who distinguished themselves. As a matter of fact, my newly appointed HOD in my office is a woman. She was chosen amongst her male counterparts because of her track record of performance. I have also worked with some great and passionate women. It can even be easier for women because the competition is lower, and people easily notice women that do well.
Cheers.......

I continue.....

One major mistake I made was that I allowed my personal/social life to suffer as a result of my ambition to get a first class. Though I was lucky to have kept in contact with the good ones, it affected my social life adversely. I will elaborate on that later in the thread. I had poor presentation skills and I was very shy. I am gradually recovering. While I was in school, I enjoyed two major scholarships. Fortunately, I had friends with similar ambitions. It was my friends that informed me and later helped me drop my hardcopy applications for both scholarships. The annual scholarship awards provided some needed fund. I bought my first laptop which helped me greatly. It also sustained me during my agonizing 5 months of joblessness. I was able to apply and travel for job tests/interviews from money I saved as a result of the scholarships. There were moments I also had to sleep over in friend's places when I travel for job hunting. A friend of mine also gave me materials for a particular job skills test I wrote. Indirectly, my friends have played their active role in assisting me to achieve my dream career. This leads to lesson #3 and #4:

LESSON 3: Always try maintain social contact and network as you pursue your career ambitions. Never ignore the power of networking. Your social contacts may help you in little ways that may have significant impacts in your career and life. I am ever grateful to my friends. Social networking also helps in job hunting. My close relative (who incidentally is an engineer with a third class degree) got his first major financial breakthrough through a friend of his. Today, he is a successful contractor who relies on the various relationship he built as far back as his undergraduate days.

I continue......

I started off in school with a target to graduate with a first class. I wanted to distinguish myself. I knew I had the capacity to do so. I worked so hard to the extent that it affected my social life a little then. I was a top student in my department and even in my faculty. I led in a number of courses, and I was well known for my academic performance. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to graduate with a first class due to a few minor issues. And I learnt from those 'minor' issues. In order to be the best, never take little things for granted, cos it may be those 'little things' that will distinguish you from the crowd. This brings me to my 2nd lesson:

LESSON 2: Always aim to distinguish yourself in your dream career as early as you can. The earlier you start distinguishing yourself and making your mark, the better and easier for you to achieve your career dream. That is why it appears easier for first class graduates to get jobs. In many cases, the foundation of your future career begins in your undergraduate days (whether polytechnic or university). In the higher institution, you will realize whether you truly love the course you are studying or not. I had a senior engineering student who realized he preferred the financial/investment sector. While we were in still school, he started reading financial books, following the stock market, FOREX, and other financial data; and started attending financial seminars. Though he graduated with a 2.1 in engineering, he is today an investment expert in a financial institution and he is currently pursuing his MBA. He realized his dream on time, and started work hard towards it during his undergraduate days. I worked hard in my undergraduate days and it has rubbed off even till now. It is better to fail in your pursuit of your dream, than not to purse your dream at all. This is because you will learn and be better equipped for the next challenge.

@ ALL,

Happy new year. I am greatly encouraged by your words. Thank you so much