ThePrekky:
I'm in my final year studying botany and by God's grace I could be graduating with a first class or at least a 2.1.
The problem is that up until the first semester of 300 level I never liked my course due to the perceived lack of employment opportunities and kept intending to change. Well, finally I didn't change and I'll be graduating in a year time and dunno what next. What are the MSc courses available and assuming I don't want to further my education till masters level (maybe cos of fund constraints), where do I put my hands into?

profojah:

Great.
Lemme first ask

Which school are you?.

Which aspect of botany do you like or do you always perform excellently well?.Mycology,Phycology, Ecology, Paleobotany, Ethnobotany..which one. Our mentality here in naija is botany doesn't have numerous field to work in unlike other discipline.and this is very wrong. I have alot of friends here on NL both home and abroad doing exploits in botany. All you need to do is to sell yourself.. I think the best bet is to get a higher degree in botany most preferably a phd and concentrate in one thriving area be it Conservation, Ecology, Physiology, paleobotany.

ThePrekky:

I'm in UNIZIK, Awka, and the only thing that actually interests me in the field of botany is landscaping, you know creating gardens, lawns, patios etc.. You know it's like a work of art and the canvass is nature. I'm an artist too, a lifelong skill i developed so i naturally love the art that can be created with plants and nature and that's the area I focused on during my IT that will end this month. In terms of the core aspects you listed up there, well maybe Ecology.
So are you saying one has to venture into the lecturing line? well, because I don't really think I like the idea. And yes, I'll very much love to get to PhD level but the funding might be my ultimate problem

oracle009:
M a graduate of Botany. Frm OAU... Counted myslf indeed lucky to av studied dis course... Considering Environmental toxicology or Cell and molecular bio for my msc... Currently lecturing at d SLT dept of a polytechnic. I can humbly gv some insights into any query about dis course. Yea, Nigeria of then never took dis course so important, but we are in an era of wide knowlege about plants (herbs nd crops alike). We can do well to invite frnds, aspiring and certified botanists to dis page. Joinin BOSON isnt a bad idea also. Gracia

oracle009:
M a graduate of Botany. Frm OAU... Counted myslf indeed lucky to av studied dis course... Considering Environmental toxicology or Cell and molecular bio for my msc... Currently lecturing at d SLT dept of a polytechnic. I can humbly gv some insights into any query about dis course. Yea, Nigeria of then never took dis course so important, but we are in an era of wide knowlege about plants (herbs nd crops alike). We can do well to invite frnds, aspiring and certified botanists to dis page. Joinin BOSON isnt a bad idea also. Gracias

Akposy:

what is BOSON sir?
Profojah... Can i do my IT in Honeywell industries or Nestle Nigeria

Akposy:

what is BOSON sir?
Profojah... Can i do my IT in Honeywell industries or Nestle Nigeria

oracle009:


Botanical Society of Nigeria. U shld join as a student while in school. U can do ur IT in those places u mentioned. I did mine wt a prof in anoda schl (coz i luv rsearches nd academics). I ad colleagues wu did it at Nestle, Herbal clinics e.g Pax Herbals clinic. Jst go wt where ur interest lie. Google it nd mail those involved. As a Botanist, u will NEVER lack sumwhere to do ur IT

Akposy:

Tanx.
I only know of National Association of Botany Students. How do i join BOSON.
Whr is Pax Herbal Clinic located? I dont tink dere is Nestle in Delta state... U can give me other suggestions

profojah:

I don't really know what BOSON means...I only know of NABOS(National Association of Botany student).

Yes so many of my mates had their IT at Honeywell, Nestle, Funman, NBC, BAT(British america tobacco), Guiness,. Some Ethnobotany guys had theirs at some pharmaceutical company and Pharmacognosy dept in LUTH.. My friend, who specialised in Environmental botany, had his own at NIMASA

profojah:
Oracle009. Thanks for that insightful comment.. Most especially where you said Plant and Plant related course is a BOMB if and only if you know where you're specializing extremely well... I have so so many friends, most were my seniors from UNILAG, are doing fine NOW. I met one of them at Asaba last week, where he was nominated by the newly appointed Honorable commissioner for Environment in Delta state, for beautification and maintenance contracts in the state.. And this guy finished with a 2.5 cgpa because he wasn't interested in this botany at first but got the motivation in 300level when he had his IT .. My paleobotany lecturer will always be a consultant to shell and ExxonMobil till God wants it.. The man told me this in 200level that he's a consultant to shell but I ddnt believe at first until 300level where I met a shell representative in his office (during my undergraduate seminar research) for some researches and seminars on stratigraphy corellation and I over-heard how much the shell man said he will be paid. My mouth was open so wide..
The youngest PhD holder in Nigeria at 27( i won't disclose her name), Also my Forensic Botany lecturer told me how big her molecular lab is,

Akposy:

Wow!!! Forensic botany? That is my MSC course by Gods grace...... My cgpa is 4.05....can i still make a first class. I need dat ur forensic lecturer to mentor me oo

profojah:

No Msc forensic botany But one could apply to Msc Forensic science and Major in either Forensic Biology or Dendochronology.. In Forensic Biology, All what to be known (molecular and chemical aspect) as a forensic botanist will be taught like the Polymerase chain Reaction(PCR) techniques, the markers used in DNA amplifications like STRs, SSRs, other PCR based like AFLP, RAPD, DNeasy protocol; Post- mortem dating etc and how helpful they can be in detecting crime BUT if majoring in dendrochronology, you only get to know the physical knowledge of what actually happened and in crime scene like the application & effectiveness of growth rings in knowing time of death...
4.05?. What level are you, if still in 300level , you still have 3more semesters(with IT semester), Then yes, you can still make it.. My last two semester was my best, and it got my GP boasted from the Unilag lagoon lol cos I started very bad..

Akposy:

Sir. U seem to know much about forensic. Wich is better btw d 2. I just entered 300lvl, though i have nt cin my 200lvl second semester result

profojah:

The two are better, sometimes maybe in some schools abroad, both are been majored as one..Forensic biology will expose you more on molecular biology, taxonomy, etc. Dendrochronology will make one have a broad knowledge in archeology, paleobotany, taxonomy etc. So they are being taught as one in some school..

*Really, as at 200level, you were on 4.05, whaoo you started extremely well. You should be fine by the time you'd graduate if you can maintain the pace.. Nice one

Akposy:
.
Well...thanks for the insight.

I did not start well ooo.... To hit a first class in delsu is not easy at all. I had a cgpa of 3.81 in 100lvl...den 200lvl first semester i had 4.40.......i pray i hit a first class

OjaP:
Good job Prof. Ojah. For those who would like to switch to something oil-related; you can get your masters in geology with a concentration in paleontology. Several great geologists have a botany background.

Yes, Boss of all the bosses have spoken.... I pay homage sir.!..

Guys, If you really wanna know much about Geology-Paleontology-paleobotany.. We got a great boss in the house,. He's also making it big abroad(according to a researched-statistical data ). He's a great Geologist/Paleontologist.. Boss, I hail once again sir!!..

My application at ETSU in Msc Biology (Paleontology concentration) got denied cos of my low GRE 290 (below 300).. I knew already but I was just expecting God's miracle.. Though I could have re-written the exam but I felt I might not meet up with deadline.. Anyways, its how God wants it, for every disappointment is always a blessing in disguise.. Still waiting for other decisions tho, but I wish my first choice course had clicked..

profojah:

Yes, Boss of all the bosses have spoken.... I pay homage sir.!..

Guys, If you really wanna know much about Geology-Paleontology-paleobotany.. We got a great boss in the house,. He's also making it big abroad(according to a researched-statistical data ). He's a great Geologist/Paleontologist.. Boss, I hail once again sir!!..

My application at ETSU in Msc Biology (Paleontology concentration) got denied cos of my low GRE 290 (below 300).. I knew already but I was just expecting God's miracle.. Though I could have re-written the exam but I felt I might not meet up with deadline.. Anyways, its how God wants it, for every disappointment is always a blessing in disguise.. Still waiting for other decisions tho, but I wish my first choice course had clicked..