School Courses And Requirements

Marketable Courses To Study In Nigerian Universities

Most secondary school leaver and their parents are always at the crossroads of choosing courses to study in Nigerian universities that are marketable for themselves or their children respectively.

The reason is that the probability of getting employed with a certain degree in some courses in Nigeria is low. The way the country is structured made it hard for some courses to thrive or be lucrative.

The prospects of some courses are brighter when compared with other courses because some courses are marketable. There is no point in studying a course that you will not know your bearing after graduation.

What is the gain after spending at least 4 years in the university; one finds it difficult to get a job that will give a good return on investment, i.e., a salary that is reasonably commensurate to what you have invested in education.

The measure I used to select the best courses to study in Nigerian universities is based on the research carried out by Stutern on the most employable courses in Nigeria. Stutern team (Jobberman, PushCV, Co-creation Hub, and BudgIT) carried out research on recent graduates between 2010 and 2016.

They find out that 36.26% of recent graduates are currently employed.  50.09% of the respondents currently work full time (including self-employed/freelance, voluntary or other unpaid work, developing a professional portfolio/creative practice, or on an internship).

And out of those employed in Nigeria, 1 out of 4 graduates earn less than ₦20,000 ($40) per month for entry-level jobs, while well over 80% of employed workers earn not more than ₦150,000 as a monthly salary. Another 8.6% are engaged in full-time and part-time further study, training, or research, while the remaining 5.05% are preparing for further study or professional exams.

best courses to study in nigerian universities
Image credited to Stutern

I hereby present the best courses to study in Nigeria that are marketable based on a high employable rate.

Courses to Study in Nigerian Universities with High Employability Rate

Computer science

On top of the list is computer science. Computer scientists are in high demand globally and also in Nigeria. They have the highest employability rate, and this depends majorly on the fact that we are now in the IT age.  Even without securing employment with big IT firms, there is still the option of freelancing; with IT-backed knowledge and certification, graduates can make a decent income working independently.

Economics

It is the social science that analyses the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Employers of graduates of Economics include Accounting Firms, Banks, Brokerage Firms, Insurance Companies, Chambers of Commerce, Market Research Companies, Trade Associations, Import/Export Firms, etc.

Electrical Electronics Engineering

Graduates of Electrical and Electronics are third on the list because of their high demand in industries, especially in oil and gas firms. They are also in high demand by production firms, IT companies, power distribution companies, etc.

Accounting

Accountants perform overviews of the financial operations of a business to help it run efficiently. They can work in a variety of places depending on the role and task involved. Their employers include banks, ministries, universities, oil and gas firms, supermarkets, hotels, airports, etc.

Recommended: Universities offering accounting in Nigeria

Mass communication

Graduates of mass communication are also in high demand in Nigeria.  This is because of the growing need for journalists and media practitioners in radio and television houses, newspaper companies, arts councils, etc.

Biochemistry

This course is one of the top ten most employable courses in Nigeria. Biochemistry graduates are employed in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, water and agricultural companies, Environment Agency, forensic science services, research institutes, government departments, the National Health Service, universities, etc.

Microbiology

There are opportunities for a microbiologist in a wide range of sectors. Their employers include healthcare organizations such as hospitals, public health organizations, industry – food and drink, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, water and biotechnology companies, colleges, universities, etc.

You can also go through Prospect of studying Physics in the university.

Other courses that can make you live above the poverty line after graduation include

  • Computer Engineering
  • Banking and Finance
  • Business Administration
  • Medicine and Surgery
  • Nursing
  • Estate management
  • Law
  • Chemical/Mechanical/Petroleum Engineering

Note: The first ten are the best courses to study in Nigerian universities based on the top ten most employable courses in Nigeria provided by Stutern. The remaining five are my personal observations.

Recommended: 10 Best Science Courses in Nigeria

Bolarinwa Olajire

A tutor with a demonstrated history of working in the education industry. Skilled in analytical skills. Strong education professional with a M. SC focused in condensed matter. You can follow me on Twitter by clicking on the icon below to ask questions.

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