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“Degree” of relevance
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How relevant is a Nigerian Degree? I apologize for my absence from this column, juggling the demands of running West Africa’s standard career centre coupled with our mission to determine what true lasting value means to our end users towards delivering it at little or no cost to them has been engaging.
My journey took me into another world yet again, prior to my departure the phrase “degree of relevance” played out in my head, how relevant is a Nigerian degree in the grand scheme of things, what is the value of a degree obtained from a Nigerian university in today and tomorrows business world?. What must we do now to guarantee a return on investment on our esteemed university education, what alternative vocational paths must we consider today to strategically move us in the direction of a developed nation?
I then stumbled on an advertisement by a renowned university abroad; their value proposition to any intending graduate is first the use of their brain on graduation and second, the guarantee of a better job than their peers. Is life all about jobs though I reason? How about the often ignored expression of entrepreneurial aspirations and talents.
It led me to a series of questions, why did I go to the particular university I attended? Definitely not because they made a sales pitch to me or my parents, it seemed like a necessity at the time, perhaps acting on an obligation my parents had towards their offspring, a few years into my sojourn in University, I recall finding a university in Australia and trying to convince my parents I may have derived better value for my time there, even if it was situated at the uttermost ends of the earth, My parents disagreed whilst explaining the benefits of studying in my home country. The question is do people who go to university or institutions of higher learning in Nigeria get better jobs and make more money in life generally?
I always tell my staff that if I had the mindset that I have today (in terms of knowing what I really want to do, and what knowledge and tools I need to succeed at it years ago, I would definitely not have enrolled for the particular course I took in university as I had no business doing so.
At the time I had no clue where I was going, however, so getting a degree seemed like the smartest choice. Everyone else was doing it, after all
If you ask people why they go to the university, especially if you ask that before they go, most of them will answer with one word: knowledge! Now, I do believe that knowledge is something you will get out of university, but its neither the only one nor the most important.
The university has long served as a refuge for independent thought—a place dedicated to research, liberal education, and the advancement of knowledge for knowledge’s sake
What are the assumptions you have about going to university or a higher institution of learning, some of them include: University gives you more money because you are likely to get a better job and earn more money if you have been to university.
What should a university education do for you ?Some say University degrees gives you broader options, many employers ask for a university degree - often they don’t care what subject your degree was in, as long as you have one! Another school of thought says university gives you time to think about your future. Many people do not have a clue what they want to do when they start university. At university you should learn more about yourself, as well as your course of study. I remember looking forward to University because it gives you independence, being at university teaches you new skills like looking after your own finances, making new friends, keeping up to date with IT, how to do research, self motivation and discipline, feeding yourself and your friends, You will agree that university finds you friends...
You will meet a lot of new people from all over the country. People who are on your course, people who teach you, people who share your accommodation, people who have joined the same club or society, people who have the same interests, people who share your faith etc.
My journey took me into another world yet again, prior to my departure the phrase “degree of relevance” played out in my head, how relevant is a Nigerian degree in the grand scheme of things, what is the value of a degree obtained from a Nigerian university in today and tomorrows business world?. What must we do now to guarantee a return on investment on our esteemed university education, what alternative vocational paths must we consider today to strategically move us in the direction of a developed nation?
I then stumbled on an advertisement by a renowned university abroad; their value proposition to any intending graduate is first the use of their brain on graduation and second, the guarantee of a better job than their peers. Is life all about jobs though I reason? How about the often ignored expression of entrepreneurial aspirations and talents.
It led me to a series of questions, why did I go to the particular university I attended? Definitely not because they made a sales pitch to me or my parents, it seemed like a necessity at the time, perhaps acting on an obligation my parents had towards their offspring, a few years into my sojourn in University, I recall finding a university in Australia and trying to convince my parents I may have derived better value for my time there, even if it was situated at the uttermost ends of the earth, My parents disagreed whilst explaining the benefits of studying in my home country. The question is do people who go to university or institutions of higher learning in Nigeria get better jobs and make more money in life generally?
I always tell my staff that if I had the mindset that I have today (in terms of knowing what I really want to do, and what knowledge and tools I need to succeed at it years ago, I would definitely not have enrolled for the particular course I took in university as I had no business doing so.
At the time I had no clue where I was going, however, so getting a degree seemed like the smartest choice. Everyone else was doing it, after all
If you ask people why they go to the university, especially if you ask that before they go, most of them will answer with one word: knowledge! Now, I do believe that knowledge is something you will get out of university, but its neither the only one nor the most important.
The university has long served as a refuge for independent thought—a place dedicated to research, liberal education, and the advancement of knowledge for knowledge’s sake
What are the assumptions you have about going to university or a higher institution of learning, some of them include: University gives you more money because you are likely to get a better job and earn more money if you have been to university.
What should a university education do for you ?Some say University degrees gives you broader options, many employers ask for a university degree - often they don’t care what subject your degree was in, as long as you have one! Another school of thought says university gives you time to think about your future. Many people do not have a clue what they want to do when they start university. At university you should learn more about yourself, as well as your course of study. I remember looking forward to University because it gives you independence, being at university teaches you new skills like looking after your own finances, making new friends, keeping up to date with IT, how to do research, self motivation and discipline, feeding yourself and your friends, You will agree that university finds you friends...
You will meet a lot of new people from all over the country. People who are on your course, people who teach you, people who share your accommodation, people who have joined the same club or society, people who have the same interests, people who share your faith etc.
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