The Need to Acquire a directional certificate - My Verdict

The first challenge of those who intend to be part of the academic community is focus (direction). Acquiring certificates without due investigation of the relevance of the said certificate in your field of endeavor becomes a challenge and most times leads to nowhere and in most cases depression. As a young university graduate, it becomes paramount that you ascertain from your Lecturers the appropriate combination of degrees capable of getting you an academic or industrial position.

Most students don't know nor understand how precarious it is to jump from one department (chemistry) to another department (mathematics) or from one faculty (Physical sciences) to another faculty (pharmaceuticals sciences). Many are of the opinion that it doesn't really matter as much as you do a postgraduate diploma in the said department but that's far from the truth, in fact very far from the truth.

Employability in academics is not same with industries, academics requires that you stick to the original department/faculty. Moving from one department or faculty to the other reduces your chances of securing an academic position i.e the odds are against you. So far as academics is the reason behind your certificate acquisition you most stick to the original.

What if I bring to your notice that most people who have certificates from different faculties/departments do not really possess a postgraduate diploma. How come? The answer to the above borders mostly on online degrees. Most People are ill informed, nonchalant and hasty in decision making as it relates to academics. So, before you pick that postgraduate form, please go to your BSc supervisor and make enquiry. Make sure you clear all your doubts because any question you left hanging will come back to hunt you.

My Experience:
1) An industrial chemist became the HOD of civil engineering department in one of Nigeria state university. Her movement was BSc industrial chemistry, MSc Hydrology, PhD ( I can't recall her area but still it was civil engineering related). She could only become the HOD solely on connection but from her testament she wished she did all her degrees in chemistry.

2) while working for one of the state government in Nigeria for recruitment, I noticed these certificates in the following order without a postgraduate diploma: Bed, MSc public health, PhD Medical microbiology. Please, if you were in my shoes how do you employ this individual to teach in a secondary school? (I am still of the opinion that he got his certificates online)

3) Thirdly, this story https://www.nairaland.com/7076488/feel-like-wasted-time-education

My Verdict: Dr. Gaddo would say " Because of the politics in the university stay where you are". If academics is your goal stay right there, finish that course, get a PhD in that course and the sky will beg to catch up with you. The university is an ocean of opportunities.

Conclusion: Converting your passion (fun) into pay (Fund) is a very tricky and subtle means but a higher degree in the hands of an enlightened mind is a weapon and if utilized in it's fullness yields benefits beyond your expectations.

Assuming all variables remains constant and you spend more or less 1.5 million to acquire MSc in two years. If you get a job placement in a private university that pays at least 120k/month then 1.44 million/year for an assistant lecturer. So, in two years you have recovered all the money spent and raking in profits. The big question remains how many businesses can yield such profit in just two year with same capital. If I am to include a doctorate certainly a PhD will place you above your mates because your competitors are no longer your countrymen but foreigners. Do not be deceived directional hardwork pays both in academics and entrepreneurship.

Dr. E.E.M Kyari BSc, PGDE, MSc PhD.