A lot of Nigerians have given up on studying within the country, due to the low standard of education in most institutions and the high fees that are not so affordable in the few institutions that manage to provide standard and quality education.
However, a couple of courses are quite interesting to study in Nigerian Institutions as they offer the best possible learning environment and knowledge needed for students to excel after graduation.
For those who are looking for the ideal course that can give you a good job after graduation and still leave you with plenty time while you are studying them, these courses have been selected out of the many courses in Nigerian universities and from the experiences and opinions of those who studied them.
Based on keen observations in the past years, these courses are considered the most prestigious to study in Nigeria; graduates from these departments do not have to hunt for jobs endlessly before they get a good paying one and students actually have fun studying these courses. Here are the top 10 Best courses in Nigeria.
Table of Contents
10. Mass Communication/Journalism
Mass Communication will remain a marketable course in Nigeria because not many Universities offer it, but many organizations need it. The course entails providing competent manpower for Newspaper companies, Radio and Television houses, Arts Councils and other print-oriented industries. This need has become more pronounced in the light of the broadcast deregulation policy of government as well as private investments in the newspaper industry.
Aside from Radio/TV stations, graduates of Mass Communication can work at the embassy, as ambassadors in English-speaking countries, as well as become freelance Journalists.
9. Marketing
Marketing is communicating the value of a product, service or brand to customers, for the purpose of promoting or selling that product, service, or brand. There are a handful of marketing and advertising companies in Nigeria looking for fresh graduates and professionals in the field. Most of the sales representatives of many brands did not study Marketing and so, they stand a lesser chance of succeeding than a certified Marketer from a Nigerian University/Institution.
8. Nursing/Laboratory Science
Nurses offer healthcare, working collaboratively with physicians, therapists, the patient, and other team members, that focuses on treating illness to improve quality of life. They are key staff in every hospital and clinic. Although fresh Nursing graduates do not earn mouth-watering salaries, they are hardly poor.
It is not difficult for a nurse to get a job, because new Hospitals, private and public, are springing up every day. An average clinic needs a minimum of 4 Nurses, while some big hospitals employ as much as 20 nurses to attend to the large number of patients they have.
7. Computer Engineering/IT
Information Technologist and computer professionals are in hot demand all over the world, including Nigeria. With special IT skills, the chances of becoming successful as a Nigerian graduate is higher and even brighter.
The only downside to it is that the competition is high as anybody can learn IT skills without necessarily going through a university to study computer engineering. In many institutions in Nigeria, computer engineering students are allowed to choose areas of in-depth study in their first year, and final year.
6. Pharmacy
Pharmacy deals with the technique and science of preparing and dispensing drugs. Those taking this course learn the mechanism of action of the drug, interactions with other medications, dosages, the effects of the drugs, their uses, toxicity and contradictions.
With hundreds of thousands of drugs currently on the market, it is a daunting task to know all the aspects of each drug and to dispense them accordingly. Therefore the health sector cannot do without Pharmacists. Graduates of this department can work with The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). They can also open their own pharmacy with the licence given at graduation.
5. Theater Arts
In all the years of existence of this prestigious course in Nigeria, it has produced so many successful individuals in its various departments; Broadcasting, Writing, Media Production, communication arts and others.
The University of Port-Harcourt, the University of Lagos and the University of Calabar are the best 3 Nigerian Universities that have produced the highest numbers of successful thespians, this is due to the high standards placed by these schools’ authority to make the department not just a joke like most people think but one to crave.
4. Chemical/Petroleum Engineering
There is a strong industry demand for Chemical/Petroleum Engineering graduates. The School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering is uniquely positioned, aligned and in-tune with industry and the wider business community.
The students and faculty are highly motivated and produce outcomes that drive the economy locally and internationally. This course has the potential to fetch the fattest pay cheque after graduation because the companies who recruit Petroleum Engineering graduates are mostly oil companies and offshore drilling companies.
3. Accounting
Accounting is facilitated by accounting organizations such as standard-setters, accounting firms and professional bodies. Financial statements are usually audited by accountants and these people are needed in every organization where money is evolved. Schools, churches, banks, supermarkets, hotels, airports and others need accountants to keep their balances in check.
Accounting degree alone without professional qualifications does not usually pay well, however, without professional qualifications an accountant can get a very decent job.
2. Estate Management
Estate Management is a multi-disciplinary organisation responsible for the development, management and maintenance of the properties, along with the provision of a variety of related services. With the increase of Nigerian Landlords, one will know that Estate Managers are not sleeping. They are in high demand as everyone wants to acquire a piece of land or move from one rented apartment to a better one. This course is considered the second most marketable course in Nigeria.
1. Medicine
Medicine has existed for thousands of years, and Nigeria has not yet had enough Medical Doctors. The course is quite tedious to study but as a graduate, the pay is compensating. A doctor may not earn as much as 500,000 Naira per month at entry-level, but in the long run, will earn even more.
Government employed Doctors have so many privileges attached to their title, they have preferential treatments than any other Nigerian graduate, they have less work to do as there are many of them in a hospital, thereby giving them enough time to run their private businesses. Medicine is, therefore, number 1 best course on this list.
The above courses are the top 10 best to study in Nigeria because its graduates are sure to get a good job immediately after graduation.
Other Noteworthy Unemployment-Proof Courses Also Include:
Mathematics/Statistics
A lot of things scare students away from this special course. Many people regard it as very hard, but the truth is that no course, even the one without any promise of employment is easy. And because of the decreasing number of professionals in this area, the demand has increased. Here is good news for you – the old stereotype of referring to Mathematicians as ‘grumpy’ and ‘nerdy’ is completely fading away! Apart from the aforementioned, an important question that comes to mind when considering studying maths is what one can do with it after graduation. There has probably not been a better time than the present to have a degree in mathematics. Recently, the interest in quantitative methods is expanding into new areas such as medicine, psychology, and advertising, etc, and today it is more and more common to find math majors in hospital settings, financial establishments, marketing, and so on. Law and medical schools look favorably on math major applicants. In response to the industry’s request for a more mathematically educated workforce, graduates with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics are hired by many types of firms, high tech and communications among them, although the job description might not explicitly mention mathematics. Other firms actively recruiting mathematicians include engineering and computer companies, banking, science, and financial consulting firms, as well as biomedical and imaging enterprises. And don’t forget, mathematicians can as well make good businessmen.
Geology
Geologists study earth processes such as landslides, earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions can be hazardous to people. Geologists work to understand these processes well enough to avoid building important structures where they might be damaged. It is important for mineral and hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, evaluating water resources, understanding of natural hazards, the remediation of environmental problems, and for providing insights into past climate change. Geology also plays a role in geotechnical engineering and is a major academic discipline. In a country like ours where oil exploration is a big-time venture, it places you in a good position to penetrate the much-sought-after oil industry.
Law
Law used to rank top in the list of best courses but with the rate of corruption in our country, law firms are beginning to be less patronized, hence law is gradually losing its glory, high demand, and returns. All the same, it has not gotten as bad as losing its place completely on the list so one can still make a comfortable and above-average living with a bachelor’s degree in law. The very important point to make here is that you need to cultivate good reading habit and study hard so as to make a good lawyer, else it could be unfortunate.
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and the product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings and other physical structures. Now the question is, does it pay well studying architecture in this country of ours? To start with, unlike most courses where you must slog yourself in study halls and libraries, reading and writing all the time, a course in Architecture gives you the liberty to use the right side of your brain, the creative part. You get a lot of opportunities to showcase your creativity and ingenuity while designing structures. A degree in architecture places you in a good position for self-employment. Even from school, Architecture students make money drawing plans for people. For you to make it as an architect, you do not necessarily need a paid jo because if I may say, Architecture isn’t a job but a lifestyle!
