Aj

You see, this craze for foreign paper by employers of labour is still widespread. Like one of the start-up firms you mentioned in your earlier post,Sabunta, 70% of their new recruits are foreign trained and few guys from lagos Business School. Even their MD is Harvard trained. You see what the rush for foreign degree is all about?

Aj,

You are completely on point. However, i think you are being harsh somehow this days

I think what Nigerian graduates need, irrespective of the class of their degree, is information and a sort of mentoring. This is obviously in short supply in 9ja. I was a victim of the craze for ''foreign'' degree. In fact, i got called by any good organisation you can think of, including the likes of chevron, kpmg, BAT etc upon graduation. But i insanely left these opportunities to pursue a foreign paper.

For someone with a first in mathematics i think the opportunities are endless. Firstly, acing an aptitude test won't be much of a problem, and at the interview, the perception that a first class graduate is almost always ''the best'' will play out.

However, if he is the knowledge hungry fellow he could consider opportunities in reputable institutions abroad, especially when such are on scholarship.

[s]you emphasised the first and the 2.2s what of the 2.1s? where are they in your equation?[/s]

Pls contact T22, I believe he will be in a better position to give insights on this.

However, i would suggest you pick a job why planning to further your education. There are many firms, especially research based firms, that will be glad to have you in their team.

My bros, money is not everything as they say but Money is very very important in every body's life. So, i will suggest you go where the money is.

lecorn:

thats the answer

So by your own HND knowledge this was the best answer to...

Boyoorisha:
Well, you are very correct. But that does not mean uni grads are not good, one can only get proficiency in accountancy through the method of teaching in polytechnics. They teach technical aspects of accounting in poly which give their serious students a good root in accountancy. As regards the statistics at ICAN, yes ICAN has more poly grads as members than the Uni. May be this is as a result of their efforts to brace up the HND thing

this question (s)

chamber2: ^^

Can you pls provide facts and figures? This conjectures won't lead us anywhere. You mentioned courses, what are these courses?

You said ICAN, can we have a detailed research release from ICAN stating that the poly grads perform better than Uni grads?

Can we have industry reports to that effect?? Employers survey/reports?

Any of these??

All these chest beating is just unnecessary.

^^

Can you pls provide facts and figures? This conjectures won't lead us anywhere. You mentioned courses, what are these courses?

You said ICAN, can we have a detailed research release from ICAN stating that the poly grads perform better than Uni grads?

Can we have industry reports to that effect?? Employers survey/reports?

Any of these??

All these chest beating is just unnecessary.

Do i believe that Poly trained accountants are better than Uni trained ones, NO! Do i also believe that Uni trained accountants are superior to their Poly counterparts, NO either. Knowledge is what you make of it and is not entirely dependent on where it is acquired.

Passing ICAN exams, albeit being the best accounting test-tool we have currently, is not a sure measure of competency.After-all, non-accounting graduates also pass and win prizes in ICAN exams. My lawyer brother aced ICAN without failing any paper. Does that make lawyers better accountants? Accounting, unlike econs, pol sc etc, is industry structured and one can only be adjudged as the ''best'' based on one's industrial exposures and experiences. If you like pass all the ICAN in the world but fail to spot a simple error in an accounting report then you are doomed in my view.

This comparism between Uni and Poly graduates is highly uncalled for, and useless at best. Both institutions are designed for different reasons and objectives. We all had a choice between going to Uni or Poly. If you chose Poly and now all you can do is to complain and compare then you are at lost. It's unnecessary! It's like comparing 9ja used car and Cameroun used car. What difference?

Now, coming to the issue of the quantum of courses taken at both schools, does it matter? Are those who designed Poly courses smarter than those who designed Uni courses? Accounting is Accounting whereever you take it. If not so a 9ja graduate shouldn't then be able to pass courses in ACCA since it's designed in another, more developed country. But yet, our people ace them. It's all hard work my people.

Now, lets look at it this way. Someone took financial accounting(1) in the Uni and did all that was required. The other took took Financial accounting (1) and (2) which is almost the same as (1) but split into to two parts to aid understanding. This person now complains that he/she took ''more'' courses in his/her school just because the same course, with the same content was taken twice! This is the scenario.

For instance, in my school back then, we took about 8 courses in our final year whereas our mates at OAU or UI took about four courses or so. We thought we took more courses than they without realising that those courses were split in our school to reduce the bulk. They all are the same thing.

So, it is highly unnecessary to compare. It's an effort in futility if you ask me. Both are capable of handling accounting related projects and also pass external accounting exams. Except there is industry research, not just ICAN, that posits that Poly Accounting graduates are better than their Uni counterparts. Only then will i consider to accept this position. Otherwise, am out.

^^^^
Bros i dey oh, still dey hustle Thanks

How market na

honeric01:

This is partially not true, i believe whether now or later, the banks are expected to employ less human man power while steering towards technological man power and it's gradually happening.. why would you need 3 or 5 CCO when more ATMs and Auto Reception service is now evoke? more banks are setting up e-centers where a customer can walk in on his own to complete a transaction without help from any bank staff, the more of these e-centers, the less staffs banks need. so why would bank retain staffs they don't need when they can simply build more of these e-centers and at the same time save money for themselves?

Bros, even in the face of technological advancement banks do not sack staffs the way it is currently done in our country. Ours is highly unprecedented and represents a collapsing system. Something, other than technology, is obviously behind this. Even in more advanced and emerging economies bank staffs are not being thrown away the way it is done here. It has always being a gradual process. Our banks have not really gone that technological if you ask me. We still do not have ATM deposit and cheque receiving machines here. Consequently, the need for manual staffs remains widespread.

honeric01:

Then can you explain what is going on now? if they are that needed, why then are they being sacked? do you throw away valuables? why would you sack staffs you need? they are surplus to requirement.

The current crisis in the sector is self-inflicted, albeit the recession. This mass sack in banks is a reflection of poor regulatory framework and emotion-ladden crisis management approach by the leadership of the CBN. Sanusi, as a risk expert, should have known that the banking sector is susceptible to noise and would have done his best to manage the crises ''administratively'' without recourse to politics and witch-hunting. Now, the banks appear to be broke and can nolonger maintain their workforce due to the reckless spending witnessed in re-branding the banks. If the banks must cut cost there are many ways to go about that. Reducing advert cost, operation cost and the salaries and jumbo allowances paid to bank chiefs can go a long way.

Did you know how much these banks spent in removing and replacing the ATM machines Sanusi mandated them to station only at the banks' premises only to rescind later? This would have paid a lot of staff's salary if you ask me. Did you also know the amount spent re-branding former Bank Phb? All these amount to financial recklessness. Therefore, arguing that it is only by laying-off staffs that the banks will operate efficiently is inappropriate.

Mere visiting just one bank will convince you that those banks actually need more hands to do their job. The service speed, customer satisfaction and promptness in delivery is poo in most banks.

So, the staffs are being sacked because the bank top executives and the regulatory institutions are clueless as to what to do to salvage the self-created deli-ma. Policy inconsistency is also a major factor.

honeric01:

The banks were employing people they never needed in the first place, hence the reason for the sacking.. if you are under producing or under-servicing, you won't dare sack. only when you have MORE staffs than production/output that you think of sacking.. simple!

Bros, if you dare approach any banker he/she would tell you how ''over laboured'' they are! So, your argument that '' they wouldn't have been employed'' in the first instance is highly misplaced. No employer will hire people who do nothing. Bankers are among the highly worked-out people in Nigeria. Ask them!

^^^^

Violent is a very smart guy no doubt. I enjoy reading his submissions.

Interesting responses.

Sir Aj,

I have always maintained that one's choice of institution of study depends on many factors, not just JAMB or WAEC scores alone. Some people consider proximity to home, culture, language, finance, family, catchment etc when making university choices. on this note, you are likely to discover many brilliant folks who opted for state/less known unis not because they can't gain admission into schools like Unilag, OAU or the likes, but because of the reasons aforementioned. My uncle insisted his daughter must study in a state uni in the east just because his brother lives very close and would be able to ''monitor'' her. This girl is very very brilliant and is capable of gaining admission into any institution in Nigeria.

In my class for instance, i had many people who scored above 280 and yet, attended state unis. Most of them are children of teachers, lecturers in the uni etc. Most also made top grades in their o'levels. Unilag is most attractive to those whose parents etc live in lagos or those who grew up in lagos. Majority of ''us'' who grew up in the east don't give a damn about Unilag etc. This is because in the east this hype about universities as done in the west are almost non-existent.

I am not trying to disparage any graduate of any institution, they all worth their salt. It is my opinion that a 1st class of any institution will almost always stand his ground. I have been privileged to have interacted with a host of graduates from various institutions who made different classes of degrees-you will only notice minor variations in their intelligence. Yes, minor.

Also, and just as yemmy_ma pointed out previously, our curriculum and mode of exam conduct is not one that would make one conclude quickly that the student with a high score is a top performer. The mode of conducting entrance exams in Nigeria is very flawed i must repeat. So, until we have a standardised assessment method, only then can we adjudge products of such system ''best.''

banks1

I am really impressed at your achievements, considering your very young age. The CFA is something most of us still dream to have someday. Yours is an impressive profile and would definitely catch the attention of recruiting firms. Just as T22 earlier stated, you have to spread your net really wide and far and do not limit your scope. ARM is a good place to start a career. Are you focusing on IBs alone? what of accounting/auditing firms? The likes of KPMG etc will be much interested in your skills.

alanpozar: Sorry guys, i shud have done this earlier.
The meristem interview was okay just that i didn't make it to the nxt stage.
The interview was to test decision making and leadership skills. Got info that the nxt stage is to test intellectual skills.
Guess i was whisked out cos out of the 4 of us dat came, i was the only person currently serving (others had completed NYSC and even had work experience). Or was i just unlucky?

[quote author=alanpozar]

Better things are ahead. Aluta Continua....

T22
Very nice of you, keep it up.Your reward is in heaven

@alanpozar

congrats on the successful first stage. you could do well to provide hint on the nature/composition of their aptitude test. At least that might help others too.

All the best

^^^^

Keep pushing, you will definitely get there. The most important thing is to have a plan, then all others things shall follow. I would equally advise you get a job first, build professional network, experience, certifications and then proceed for an MSC/MBA.

Just this week i was invited by one of the major players in the naija IB industry. However, i was unable to attend due to distance, time and chance. I requested for a reschedule and they said they would get back to me soon. I am still waiting patiently.

IB is very interesting and challenging. I just picked interest recently, and i think that's all i need now. Send as many applications as possible, who knows you might be lucky and get called.

Another advantage you may have is your strong mathematical background. So, passing their apt test won't be much of a hurdle.

Best of lucks

^^^

Are you an economist? Abeg break this your grammar down

pato405:

Huddersfield?

Bros she now works with ExxonMobil.

Hmmm, tanx bro. very insightful

I am forced to go with your point on lack of awareness. I don't think an above average naija economics graduate will try the GRE twice or thrice and not get a good score that will enable him/her land a very nice fully funded program in the US. I mean, there are many economics departments in Naija universities and the law of large numbers tells me that the higher the number, the higher the chance of getting things right.

Yes, but how many of our graduates are willing to try that number of times? Most quit after the first trial. That is the harsh reality.

[b]There should be more awareness. Economics profs should encourage their students to apply to top universities abroad. [/b]The profs should desist from assuming that the students will be their competitors in the near future. The GRE is what can be written again and again until a desired score is achieved. The profs should let their students know this fact, and even force all interested students to sit the GRE for as many times as they want. And of course, the economics departments should be willing to pay (or at least partly pay) for the GRE and TOEFL registration fees for these students.

That's really one of the defects of the Nigerian universities-lack of career counseling. Most of the Nigerian graduates merely follow the crowd and there is little or no effort by the profs to guide their students on the path to choose after school. Most of the guys you see in the top engineering programmes in the US are guys who came from middle class families, where dad and mum may have studied abroad and are deeply aware of the opportunities outside the shores. These few students, even before gaining admission into 9ja schools, knew what awaits them upon graduation. Mum, dad or in most cases their elder ones are always there to guide and advise them appropriately. Others who may not be that fortunate wallow in ignorance .

And of course, the economics departments should be willing to pay (or at least partly pay) for the GRE and TOEFL registration fees for these students

Bros, na 9ja we dey talk o, not even Ghana. No economics dept will be ready to invest in such ''frivolous'' venture. In a country where lecturers are poorly paid and the level of motivation very low, it will be difficult (not impossible) to see an econs dept that will be ready to fund student's external exams. I don't know what obtains at UNILAG, UI and OAU, but in my school nobody will listen to you.

Just to digress a bit.

Violent.

Whats your stake on commodities and forex markets? Is it an area one can build career on? I will be having a chat with one of the guys in the commodities and forex markets. He operates from singapore-Nigeria. Kindly brief me on the prospects in the this area and any other vital info. Tanx

^^^

I think it's mostly finance and lack of awareness. Most Nigerian graduates are not bothered much about University ranking, they just want to study abroad no matter where. Also, there are lots of scholarship opportunities for engineering and most science related programmes hence the relative larger number. That cannot be said of economics/finance programmes where a very large number of people compete for very few scholarship opportunities.

Another thing is the GRE/GMAT thingy. Most Engineering grads are very good at scoring very high in these exams, and that makes it a bit easier for them to be admitted into top programmes. An average econs/finance grad in Nigeria will likely struggle to score above 600 in the GRE and that hinders the likelihood of being accepted into top US programmes.

T22

Yea, i think mimi applied for internship/nysc and i am sure that will normally get a quicker response.

Hopefully i will be called  now that my status has change a bit.

Jarus

The only thing that will make me leave this type of your job is politics. I mean politics. Not even a fully funded PhD. If i must do the PhD while on this job then it has to be in 9ja or by distance learning.

^^^

Yes bro, i did few weeks ago.

Thanks anyway.

^^
Ok sir

Bro T22

You deliberately did not want to answer this question; Sege (Feb 16 3:30 PM):‎ Guy u get any body wa won get d job



Boys dey street o

jmaine:

And i thought you were quite intelligent . . .Now this is a very daft and silly statement to come up with. . .


You obsession with UNILAG feels like that of a guy who is sulking cos he wasn't qualified enough to grace the shores of UNILAG . . . .This thread is to appreciate the fact . . .that a genius has being recognized for her awesome talents and hard work and it came from an unlikely institution . . . .that goes to prove . . .that if the necessary funds are pumped into the education at all tiers . . . . More gems such as Ms Theodora shall be Unearthed . . . .

Congrats to Ms Theodora Elendu for being a shinning star . . . A bragging right to the IMSU students who have been receiving some stick from their peers   . . . .

Your are right. But this is not actually the first time an IMSU law graduate is making a 1st at the law school. It's not really about UNILAG, OAU etc. No doubt, Unilag etc are great schools as far as 9ja is concerned but this lady's achievements has gone to prove that, given the right condition, a 9ja graduate can always stand his/her ground.

moremi2008:

Princeton doesn't have a law school! Dodosh!

Ok. My emphasis is that she did well among the very best from the world.

T22

Exactly, she probably had a strong foundation during her high school days. Your views are exactly what i always hammer on here. There are smart people even in the least expected places.

^^^

In fact, this has been my view on NL ever since. Those who attend(ed) state universities are not necessarily average students. Most of them could either not bribe their ways into the so called BIG 9ja unis or are/were made to go to state unis based on numerous other reasons.

In fact, someone just informed me that she even made a 2.1 at IMSU but graduated as overall best at the law school. I don't know if this is true but i will contact her personally to verify that.

It's really not about UNILAG, UI or OAU, she also surpassed graduates of other prestigious universities in the world who also attended law school with her. I am sure there might be Harvard, Cambridge and Princeton graduates at the Nigerian law school this year.

She is one of the smartest women on earth One fascinating thing about her is that she is very young and beautiful, yet she wasn't overwhelmed.

I am very glad to identify with her and as a proud Imo star, all i can say is nothing is impossible.

That's very great of you. Another star shinning

female Imo State University Law graduate, Miss Theodora Elendu who recently bagged a First Class Honours Degree in the Lagos campus of the Nigeria Law School, added additional feather to her cap when she emerged the best student in four categories of awards at the call to bar ceremony of graduates of the Nigerian Law School last Tuesday at Abuja.
Miss Elendu who hails from Okwelle in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State in addition to making the prestigious First Class Honours Degree emerged the best graduant in Civil and Criminal litigation, the best female graduant in civil litigation as well as the best overall female graduant of the year.
Speaking exclusively to our Editorial Board Chairman, Miss Theodora Elendu, who is a practicing Christian, thanked God for her success in obtaining First Class at the Law School as well as the four additional prizes awarded to her as the best graduating student in four different areas.
She also thanked her lecturers at the Imo State University and the Nigerian Law School, Lagos campus under whose tutelage she was able to prepare herself for the successful academic pursuit.
The young lady, who attended Anglican Girls Grammer School, Surulere, Lagos before proceeding to the Imo State University for her Law degree also extolled her fellow students at the Imo State University and Nigerian Law School with whom she shared academic opinions along the line.
Theodora Elendu, who is currently undergoing the National Youths Service Corp programme in one of the Western States, also thanked her parents for the support given her in her academic pursuit.
On her future plans, the unassuming young lady stated that before she finishes her youth service programme, she will be in a position to determine her future undertakings.

http://www.announcerexpressonline.com/?p=3973