I was teaching a group of youths and I got to a point where I asked what each of them wanted to study in the university. Some mentioned medicine and surgery, one said neurosurgery, another said engineering, another said law. I knew they spoke out of what they must have heard. Maybe they like the names but I knew they do not know what those courses actually involved.
Yes, those courses mentioned are great with good prospects. When were getting admission to the university, there were no much counsellors both in the church, school, home and among friends. She of us were born and bread in the rural communities, so whatever came our way then was quite okay. Some us went into the university just for the fact that we entered the university. Some of us studied courses that we couldn’t have studied these days.
In this present day, the growth and explosion of information has made life easier and clearer for everyone, though few in the villages are yet to grasp the reality of the innovation in science and technology. The world now is technologically driven and only those who can fit into the system will make a desired breakthrough. The world of today is ruled by science and technology.
The days when courses like Accounting, Business Administration, Secretarial Studies, Banking and Finance, and a host of other theoretical courses were fashionable have long disappeared into oblivion. Anybody can fit into the supposed places reserved for people who studied these courses. The knowledge of computers which anybody can acquire from the roadside can land any graduate into the bank with necessarily studying accounting or banking and finance.
Then, for those interested in journalism practice, the knowledge of writing good English is enough to join a media house and grill oneself while on the job. Thereafter, you.move to one of the journalism training institutions and acquire the certification for one or two years, that has made you a professional journalist. While this practice has led to the growth of quack journalists, the free entry into the profession has made it an all comers affairs.
But there are courses which are sellable irrespective of the economic situation in the country. There are courses you study that you do not need carry curriculum vitae to offices and begging for jobs from whoever. For those who studied medicine and surgery, they know that they are in a sellable courses. Doctors are highly neee d to work in hospitals, both private and public hospitals.
So, as a graduate of medicine you are sure of a job after graduation. I remember when I was in my youth service in Kwara state, while other corps members were collecting N1500 from the Patigi local government, veterinary Doctors who were only treating animals were receiving N40,000 as monthly allowance from the council. If this is for veterinary doctors, what would be the allowance for medical doctors? Medical doctors are in high demand globally, especially these days of coronavirus. It has never been a dull moment for medical doctors
The field of engineering is also another lucrative area in this present day. For those interested in civil and electrical engineering, the world is bright for them. It is much brighter for those in electrical and electronics. There are many areas they can specialise and create great opportunity for themselves without waiting for the governmentt of the state or nation. These people are the leaders in the world of telecommunications.
For those in the world of information and communication technology (ICT), they also have a great opportunity for themselves. The present world is digitally driven and it is incumbent on anyone who wants to break even to have knowledge of the working of ICT. For the fact that the world is now ruled by ICT, those buried in the ICT are some of the biggest employers in the world.
We also have land surveyors as another money spinning field in the world. For the few friends I know who are surveyors,they are leaders in their own world. They are living large and cruising the cities as big boys. I have decided to gather these areas as guide to some youths who may be confused on what to study as they are leaving secondary schools and for those in secondary schools to position their minds so as to make right choice of career.
