AjanleKoko: My nephew who is 17 is just getting ready to go to university. He's chosen psychology as a major.
He says he really wants to be a journalist, but has no desire to be frustrated by JAMB trying to get into the Mass Communication program at UNILAG. He'd rather do something he feels is interesting, since he knows he can always do something else after his first degree if he wants.
He says human behaviour is fascinating, so he doesn't think he will be bored or fed up by his course of study. He has never once thought about whether he would make money or not after college.

Now when I heard all this, my first instinct was to assume he was just being lazy and making excuses. But then I thought about it. He has made a pragmatic decision at his age, and a sound one. He preferred to keep his options open and not put himself under pressure. I had no choice but to admire his decision.

toprealman:

You have a point to make but just can't find the right way of passing your message across. For all it represent, Dangote will never pass any aptitude test you bring to him regardless of the standard but the guy is on mega money. Testing anyone with 57 questions to be answered in 45mins to me is not just silly but unproductive.
I don't understand what you mean by overload. B.Eng+M.Sc+MBA + certification(s)is bang on! Can you explain yourself further if you don't mind.

edgideon: u or ur nephew

ochukoccna: @ op,most Nigerians discover themselves (if they do so on time) and plot a chart suited to their skill sets after their BSc
Your cousin is blessed that at 17,he has that chat
The majority however do not and thus overload themselves with qualifications ala many roads lead to the market man must wack mindset

AjanleKoko: Wrong as in what they are not suited for, both mentally and psychologically. They now spend the rest of their youth trying to correct this mistake, and usually end up adding to it.

There is also the 'overload' factor. Take for example someone who studied Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Engineering, and MBA as a follow-up. Usually people do this to 'enhance their job prospects'. I wonder if it really does. I know someone who did that, still did ICAN and some computer certifications into the bargain. I'm not sure what good so many diverse qualifications can do to anyone.

Either peer pressure, zero counselling available, family pressure, or desperation to get into school might be responsible for all of this.

AjanleKoko:

My nephew, not my cousin.

In retrospect, I don't think he has any chart; he just did what he felt was expedient at this time, and he made a choice he felt he could handle.
Life is not really about always having a plan, bro. I know this may sound hard, especially for us in Naija. But the Big Hairy Audacious Goal of your life does not have to be beating poverty. I believe most of us will beat poverty in our lifetime, if we work hard and make good use of opportunities that come our way. Which is the key dynamic: sometimes your well-laid plans prevent you from seeing obvious opportunities.

Egba girl:

I def agree that it's not just Nigerian students. I think it's the industry that sometimes determines what people study.


@topic, I initially wanted to study Econ because I did it for my A levels and I liked it a lot and so I came to college telling myself that I was going to be an Econ major. I took another Econ class and that was the end of it. I swore that I was done with Economics and I never took another Econ class again (although tbh, I think a lot of it had to do with the professors and the way they taught the classes). Anyway, I chose Conflict Studies/ Peace and Conflict Resolution and French as my majors and when I told my dad, he was upset! For about a year, he could not come to terms with the fact that I had chosen Conflict Studies. What was that anyway? Well unless I was going to follow it up with a masters or phd in Intl Relations or any degree of that nature but I really wanted to go into social work and what I kept on hearing and I still hear it today is that there is no money there. and that is the reality of it!

My friends are either in biochem or other sciences,econ and accounting and of late, I have been wondering if sticking to the Econ would have been a better option or forcing myself to do Bio or Biochem because of job prospects. I have friends writing certification exams like CFA and the IT ones too because they know that with these certifications, your chances of getting a job w a decent salary are higher.

Bottomline is that people study the "wrong" majors because that's about the safest way to ensure that you get a good job with a good salary.

okeyxyz: The presentation of the OP is misleading, making it seem like it's the nigerian students fault that they make the wrong choices in training and education. How about the people(government) whom it is their duty to provide, support and maintain the appropriate systems to enable students access the right work and academic experiences to better inform their choices.

And please before you roll out that mantra "government can't do everything for you...", First ask: what has government done in the first place that we the private citizens should build upon.

AjanleKoko: I think, generally speaking about Nigerians, that young people in college, as well as those trying to get into college, more often choose the wrong disciplines to major in.

Wrong as in what they are not suited for, both mentally and psychologically. They now spend the rest of their youth trying to correct this mistake, and usually end up adding to it.

There is also the 'overload' factor. Take for example someone who studied Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Engineering, and MBA as a follow-up. Usually people do this to 'enhance their job prospects'. I wonder if it really does. I know someone who did that, still did ICAN and some computer certifications into the bargain. I'm not sure what good so many diverse qualifications can do to anyone.

Either peer pressure, zero counselling available, family pressure, or desperation to get into school might be responsible for all of this. I think aptitude (not IQ, but a mix of IQ and EQ) tests should be administered on students who are wrapping up secondary school. Maybe that way the students can be shown some things about themselves which they would never have known, and might help them with their decisions.

Egba girl:

I def agree that it's not just Nigerian students. I think it's the industry that sometimes determines what people study.


@topic, I initially wanted to study Econ because I did it for my A levels and I liked it a lot and so I came to college telling myself that I was going to be an Econ major. I took another Econ class and that was the end of it. I swore that I was done with Economics and I never took another Econ class again (although tbh, I think a lot of it had to do with the professors and the way they taught the classes). Anyway, I chose Conflict Studies/ Peace and Conflict Resolution and French as my majors and when I told my dad, he was upset! For about a year, he could not come to terms with the fact that I had chosen Conflict Studies. What was that anyway? Well unless I was going to follow it up with a masters or phd in Intl Relations or any degree of that nature but I really wanted to go into social work and what I kept on hearing and I still hear it today is that there is no money there. and that is the reality of it!

My friends are either in biochem or other sciences,econ and accounting and of late, I have been wondering if sticking to the Econ would have been a better option or forcing myself to do Bio or Biochem because of job prospects. I have friends writing certification exams like CFA and the IT ones too because they know that with these certifications, your chances of getting a job w a decent salary are higher.

Bottomline is that people study the "wrong" majors because that's about the safest way to ensure that you get a good job with a good salary.

mZ sleeq: I think am also a victim of this.I finished secondary school @ the age 15.I was sooo naïve I still tought the only courses to study were nedicine,law and accounting.the heck,I was sooo good in technical drawing.I was d only student that sat for TD durin WAEC in the whole school.but I never knew dere was a course called architecture. After secondary school,my dad pushed me into studying chemistry,which is what he studied.to add pepper to my wound ,I got into university the same year I finished secondary school.so,dere was no time for exposure @ alll.today am a chemistry graduate and I av NO prospects to work with it.because I don't like it.I'm not passionate about it.and today,I still regret not doin architecture.I've directed my energy into handwork though.I make wireworks now and I sew. So,who do I blame,myself?the government,my father,the educational system?

mZ sleeq: I think am also a victim of this.I finished secondary school @ the age 15.I was sooo naïve I still tought the only courses to study were nedicine,law and accounting.the heck,I was sooo good in technical drawing.I was d only student that sat for TD durin WAEC in the whole school.but I never knew dere was a course called architecture. After secondary school,my dad pushed me into studying chemistry,which is what he studied.to add pepper to my wound ,I got into university the same year I finished secondary school.so,dere was no time for exposure @ alll.today am a chemistry graduate and I av NO prospects to work with it.because I don't like it.I'm not passionate about it.and today,I still regret not doin architecture.I've directed my energy into handwork though.I make wireworks now and I sew. So,who do I blame,myself?the government,my father,the educational system?

okeyxyz: The presentation of the OP is misleading, making it seem like it's the nigerian students fault that they make the wrong choices in training and education. How about the people(government) whom it is their duty to provide, support and maintain the appropriate systems to enable students access the right work and academic experiences to better inform their choices.

And please before you roll out that mantra "government can't do everything for you...", First ask: what has government done in the first place that we the private citizens should build upon.

mmmustapha: That's what was pained me, I wanted 2 read pol but I was given history. Hav no option than to accept it or lose d admission

mmmustapha: That's what was pained me, I wanted 2 read pol but I was given history. Hav no option than to accept it or lose d admission

AjanleKoko:

First off, I never said it was the fault of the students.
In the first place, they're usually too young to know better. They either get pushed, or they just follow the crowd.
My post is made out of compassion, not criticism.

And as per government . . ., well, I think we should start from the first level of 'government' the kids know - their parents. It is at this point that the problem starts from, when the parent cannot advise their child but is rather pinning their own aspirations on the child. What's the use of pressuring children to study majors they are not suited for, or to even go to college in the first place? Maybe all the child needs to do is learn a craft or a trade sef.