The State of Higher Education Jobs in Nigeria

Nicholas Idoko 11 min read

Last Updated on August 12, 2023

Introduction

The importance of discussing the state of higher education jobs in Nigeria cannot be overstated. Nigeria’s population is growing, and with it comes a need for more opportunities in higher education. However, the current situation in Nigeria is grim.

There is a significant lack of funding and infrastructure, leading to a lack of job opportunities for qualified candidates.

This has led to a significant brain drain, with many leaving the country to pursue better opportunities elsewhere.

Read: The Influence of Education Policies on Nigerian Jobs

Overview of the Nigerian Higher Education Sector

The higher education sector in Nigeria plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, with several notable achievements credited to the sector.

Let’s provide an overview of the Nigerian higher education sector, including its historical background, structure, and contributions to the economy.

Historical Background

The history of higher education in Nigeria dates back to 1948 when the University of Ibadan was established as the first university in the country.
Since then, several other public and private universities have been established, increasing the overall number of higher education institutions in Nigeria.
The establishment of these institutions aimed to cater to the growing demand for tertiary education in the country and to support economic growth and development.

Structure of the Higher Education Sector

The Nigerian higher education sector is structured into three key segments, namely universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The universities constitute the highest level of the sector, while the polytechnics and colleges of education provide technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to address skills gaps in the economy.
Other specialized institutions, such as the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), also contribute to the sector’s overall structure and growth.

Contributions of the Sector to the Nigerian Economy

The Nigerian higher education sector has contributed significantly to the country’s economic growth and development through several notable achievements.
Firstly, the sector has played a key role in producing a skilled workforce that drives economic growth and development in the country.
Secondly, the sector has also generated employment opportunities for graduates, stimulating economic growth and reducing unemployment rates.
The sector enhances R&D, fostering innovative solutions to socio-economic challenges.
It generates export earnings through educational and research services.
The Nigerian government invests in improving quality and relevance.
Recent policies and initiatives improve overall higher education quality and relevance in Nigeria.
Despite these achievements, the sector still faces several challenges, including inadequate funding, inadequate facilities, and low student enrolment rates.

All in all, the Nigerian higher education sector has contributed significantly to the country’s economic growth and development, providing a skilled workforce, generating employment opportunities, and boosting R&D.

However, the sector still faces several challenges that need to be addressed to ensure its continued growth and contribution to the economy.

Read: Becoming an Educator in Nigeria: Step-by-Step Process

Current State of Higher Education Jobs in Nigeria

The higher education sector in Nigeria has been facing various challenges, which are affecting the jobs in the sector. Some of these challenges include:

Challenges faced by the sector

Inadequate funding: Most institutions lack the necessary funding to support their operations, research, and overall growth. This affects their ability to hire new staff and provide competitive salaries and benefits.
Lack of infrastructure: Inadequate infrastructure hinders research quality and staff and student recruitment.
Political interference: Political interference affects institutional autonomy and staff’s ability to work without pressure.
Inadequate training: Insufficient training results in substandard research and graduates.

These challenges have significant implications for the jobs available in the sector, including issues of salaries and benefits, job security and career progression, and employment opportunities in different fields.

Read: Top 10 Highest Paying Professions in Nigeria: 2023 Edition

Salaries and benefits

Low staff morale and high turnover rates result from uncompetitive salaries and benefits in the higher education sector in Nigeria.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) states that the current salary structure for academic staff is inadequate, with months of unpaid salaries and allowances. Institutions lack sufficient benefits, impacting staff well-being and work effectiveness.

Job security and career progression

Various factors, including political interference, inadequate funding, and limited professional development opportunities, affect job security and career progression in the sector.

Contract appointments create job insecurity and hinder career planning. Few merit-based promotions exist, with nepotism and political connections prevalent, impacting staff quality and effectiveness.

Employment opportunities in different fields

The higher education sector in Nigeria traditionally focuses on law, medicine, engineering, and education, resulting in an oversupply of graduates in these fields.

Institutions lack strong industry linkages, impacting relevant training in emerging fields. Graduates are ill-prepared for the job market.

Higher education jobs in Nigeria face challenges impacting staff and graduate quality. Addressing these challenges requires improved funding, infrastructure, training opportunities, and merit-based appointments.

Read: Insights into the Teaching Profession in Nigeria Today

The State of Higher Education Jobs in Nigeria

Policies and Reforms

The Nigerian government has, over the years, introduced several policy initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges in the higher education sector.

Some of these policies have had an impact on employment opportunities within the sector, while others have been met with varying degrees of success and failure.

Government Policy Initiatives Towards Addressing the Challenges in the Sector

The government established the Education Trust Fund (ETF) in 1993 to fund research and develop academic staff training.
In 2001, the National Universities Commission (NUC) introduced Minimum Academic Standards (MAS) to enhance education quality.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) replaced the ETF in 2011, providing infrastructure and research funding.
In 2016, the Federal Government launched the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) to ensure transparent and accountable fund allocation.

Impact of the Policies on Employment Opportunities

The policies implemented by the Nigerian government have had varying degrees of impact on employment opportunities within the higher education sector. Some have led to an increase in the number of academic and non-academic staff employed, while others have had little to no effect.

The ETF and TETFund fund training and development, increasing the number of qualified lecturers in tertiary institutions.
The MAS introduced by the NUC enhances education quality, driving demand for experienced staff.
The PICA combats corruption, ensuring fair fund allocation and reducing nepotism’s influence on employment opportunities.

Successes and Failures of Policy Initiatives

While some policy initiatives have been successful in improving the education sector and creating employment opportunities, others have been met with varying degrees of failure.

The ETF successfully funds research, but fails to address brain drain as qualified staff seek better opportunities abroad.
The MAS improves education quality, yet lacks sufficient funding, resulting in a shortage of qualified staff.
The TETFund, providing infrastructure and research funding, faces criticism for lack of transparency, leading to corruption allegations.
The PICA combats corruption but neglects inadequate funding, causing a decline in education quality and job scarcity.

The policies and reforms introduced by the Nigerian government have had varying degrees of impact on the higher education sector and employment opportunities within it.

While some have been successful, others have been met with varying degrees of failure.

The government must continue to invest in the sector, provide adequate funding, and ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation of funds in order to create a more vibrant and successful higher education sector in Nigeria.

Read: A Closer Look at Special Education Jobs in Nigeria

Future Prospects

Population growth and economic development will impact the higher education sector in Nigeria.
As the population grows, the demand for higher education will increase, leading to more jobs in the sector.
Economic development will also play a role in job creation, as it will attract investment and lead to the growth of industries.
Technology has the potential to create new jobs in the higher education sector, such as online teaching and learning platforms.

Strategies for improving the state of higher education jobs in Nigeria include:

Investing in infrastructure: Infrastructure investment attracts students and faculty, creating jobs.
Enhancing teacher training: Teacher training equips educators with skills for quality education, attracting students and generating jobs.
Encouraging private investment: Government-private investor partnerships establish new institutions and increase opportunities.
Promoting research and development: Research and development investment leads to new knowledge, innovations, and job prospects for researchers and academics.
Encouraging entrepreneurship: Encouraging entrepreneurship in the higher education sector will lead to the creation of new businesses and job opportunities.
Strengthening academic-industry partnerships: Partnerships between academia and industry will lead to the creation of new jobs and innovations.

In general, the state of higher education jobs in Nigeria is facing challenges, such as inadequate funding, poor teacher training, and a lack of infrastructure.

However, there is hope for the future, as the population is growing and the economy is developing.

Technology can also create new job opportunities in the sector.

Improving higher education jobs in Nigeria requires investing in infrastructure, enhancing teacher training, encouraging private investment, promoting research, entrepreneurship, and strengthening academic-industry partnerships.

Implementing these strategies attracts students, faculty, and fosters sector growth and job creation.

Conclusion

The higher education sector in Nigeria faces challenges, but opportunities for growth exist.

The sector plays a vital role in socioeconomic development and demands government and stakeholder attention.

Inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and limited teaching and research facilities are key issues discussed.

To address these challenges, the government should increase funding, improve infrastructure, and invest in training programs.

Collaborations with international universities and organizations will enhance higher education quality. All stakeholders must prioritize and strive to make the sector globally competitive.