By Moses Ochonu

In the early to the mid 2000s, as the quality of Nigerian university education plummeted and graduate unemployment soared, many Nigerians began seeking foreign degrees, especially advanced degrees, to gain an edge in the employment market.

Back then, foreign, especially Western, degrees had great purchase and enjoyed a social cachet. Holders of such degrees, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds, had their pick of jobs. Even when their numbers increased in the late 2000s, they still frequently rose to the top of interviews and hiring lists, with employers automatically according them priority consideration on account of their foreign training.

Today, there is a saturation in the number of foreign degrees being paraded, and there are many holders of foreign Masters and PhDs who are unemployed or underemployed. Such degrees have lost their worth; their holders their advantage in the hiring process.

The deluge of degrees, both local and foreign, and dwindling opportunities have equalized the terrain. Everyone, foreign or local graduate, is now in the same pot, scrambling for the same opportunities and being subjected to the same scrutiny. Employers now have the luxury of insisting that every graduate, local of foreign, prove their skills, aptitude, and suitability for the position they’re applying for.

Those who thought they could bypass the broken Nigerian university system now have a different experience from that of the first millennial cohort of foreign degree returnees.

First, their foreign educational adventure now gives them little to no advantage.

Second, they, too, like local graduates, meet the sons and daughters of the rich and powerful in NYSC camp and watch as these children of privilege, regardless of where or how they obtained their degrees, go from service to choice jobs without going through any rigorous hiring processes.

Third, they now realize that unless there is a fundamental change in the political economy to expand opportunities for those without political connection or privilege, your foreign MSc or PhD will no longer open any doors for you as the children of privilege continue to monopolize available white collar jobs and send the children of regular folk scrambling for N-Power and other dead-end jobs.

Fourth, if the scramble for foreign second degrees was meant to make up for the widely acknowledged inadequacy of the local first degree and make employment and personal professional fulfillment easier for holders, the present absence of hoped-for opportunities should cause a realization that we need to fix the Nigerian university system so that the first degree is a quality credential that equips young Nigerians with the critical thinking skills and the aptitudes to be competitive and employable not just in Nigeria but elsewhere.

There are no short cuts in life. And short term personal work-arounds are just that. The acquisition of a foreign second degree is not a solution to a broken tertiary education system. And it no longer guarantees any socioeconomic advantages. We have to insist on our universities getting better at teaching, mentorship, and research.

Ochonu, a history professor, writes from Nashville, USA

Source: https://educeleb.com/rise-fall-foreign-second-degree/

To be honest, I didn't read this long epistle. Story too long.

I did. It's a compelling piece.

Nice write up OP, well done.

U still wrong though.

Reduced but value still sustained till date.

Well done

Op your write up is purely your opinion. It is only an idiot that would go abroad to get a degree just to come and land a job in naija. Your abroad degree gives you international experience, exposes you on how to interact and collaborate with multinationals, exposes you to latest in technology and how to conduct independent study, most importantly how to make logical arguments and present your information. There are other benefits. You cannot compare the efficiency of someone who schooled abroad and someone in Nigeria to a job, they are miles apart. So dont judge the quality of a degree from the point of getting local jobs but what impact it creates in the economy. Afterall it is not their fault that Nigeria rewards mediocrity.

Nigeria My Country

Coming back to Nigeria immediately after your studies without oversea experience, is a mistake. You must try and engage yourself in something to have at least 2-years working experience before starting your application from your base. Beside, you can choose to become permanent resident of some countries before coming down.

seguntijan:
By Moses Ochonu

In the early to the mid 2000s, as the quality of Nigerian university education plummeted and graduate unemployment soared, many Nigerians began seeking foreign degrees, especially advanced degrees, to gain an edge in the employment market.
Back then, foreign, especially Western, degrees had great purchase and enjoyed a social cachet. Holders of such degrees, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds, had their pick of jobs. Even when their numbers increased in the late 2000s, they still frequently rose to the top of interviews and hiring lists, with employers automatically according them priority consideration on account of their foreign training.

Today, there is a saturation in the number of foreign degrees being paraded, and there are many holders of foreign Masters and PhDs who are unemployed or underemployed. Such degrees have lost their worth; their holders their advantage in the hiring process.
The deluge of degrees, both local and foreign, and dwindling opportunities have equalized the terrain. Everyone, foreign or local graduate, is now in the same pot, scrambling for the same opportunities and being subjected to the same scrutiny. Employers now have the luxury of insisting that every graduate, local of foreign, prove their skills, aptitude, and suitability for the position they’re applying for.

Those who thought they could bypass the broken Nigerian university system now have a different experience from that of the first millennial cohort of foreign degree returnees.

First, their foreign educational adventure now gives them little to no advantage.

Second, they, too, like local graduates, meet the sons and daughters of the rich and powerful in NYSC camp and watch as these children of privilege, regardless of where or how they obtained their degrees, go from service to choice jobs without going through any rigorous hiring processes.

Third, they now realize that unless there is a fundamental change in the political economy to expand opportunities for those without political connection or privilege, your foreign MSc or PhD will no longer open any doors for you as the children of privilege continue to monopolize available white collar jobs and send the children of regular folk scrambling for N-Power and other dead-end jobs.

Fourth, if the scramble for foreign second degrees was meant to make up for the widely acknowledged inadequacy of the local first degree and make employment and personal professional fulfillment easier for holders, the present absence of hoped-for opportunities should cause a realization that we need to fix the Nigerian university system so that the first degree is a quality credential that equips young Nigerians with the critical thinking skills and the aptitudes to be competitive and employable not just in Nigeria but elsewhere.

There are no short cuts in life. And short term personal work-arounds are just that. The acquisition of a foreign second degree is not a solution to a broken tertiary education system. And it no longer guarantees any socioeconomic advantages. We have to insist on our universities getting better at teaching, mentorship, and research.

https://educeleb.com/rise-fall-foreign-second-degree/

Very well said

jesmond3945:
Op your write up is purely your opinion. It is only an idiot that would go abroad to get a degree just to come and land a job in naija. Your abroad degree gives you international experience, exposes you on how to interact and collaborate with multinationals, exposes you to latest in technology and how to conduct independent study, most importantly how to make logical arguments and present your information. There are other benefits. You cannot compare the efficiency of someone who schooled abroad and someone in Nigeria to a job, they are miles apart. So dont judge the quality of a degree from the point of getting local jobs but what impact it creates in the economy. Afterall it is not their fault that Nigeria rewards mediocrity.

im telling you after he said that I just hissed and scrolled down my friend sometime ago that wasn't financially stable had to go to a top class naija uni was frustrated to the core by outdated teaching lack of equipment unsuitable living and learning conditions all wrapped with insecurities on campus upon him being very very smart in school lectures frustrated him he left with 3rd class my guy vex hustled serious hustle got visa went to Canada entered a small community uni and started working from there God picked his call he entered university of Toronto now see my boy working in a top it firm in the country so basically what I'm trying to say is it's how you plan yourself that matters

And majority of people with foreign degrees are from average Nigerian homes? This article makes no sense whatsoever as even being able to afford education abroad already places you amongst the privileged people in the society. Foreign education doesn't come cheap at all and you could start a proper business with that money. For every year you study in the UK for example you’d be spending about £20,000 minimum. Do the maths, thats about 10million Naira.

jesmond3945:
Op your write up is purely your opinion. It is only an idiot that would go abroad to get a degree just to come and land a job in naija. Your abroad degree gives you international experience, exposes you on how to interact and collaborate with multinationals, exposes you to latest in technology and how to conduct independent study, most importantly how to make logical arguments and present your information. There are other benefits. You cannot compare the efficiency of someone who schooled abroad and someone in Nigeria to a job, they are miles apart. So dont judge the quality of a degree from the point of getting local jobs but what impact it creates in the economy. Afterall it is not their fault that Nigeria rewards mediocrity.

May your days be long! You hit the nail on its head @bolded

it is well

Huh..I don't think foreign second degree is devalued. Why would someone possess such and still want to scout for Nigerian jobs?Didn't you read the story of a Nigerian street cleaner in UAE, who earns more than some Nigerian bankers,engineers, lectures, etc on monthly basis?
Anyway by God's grace, my children tertiary education will be in a foreign land with well equipped facilities and conducive environment for learning and working as well

If you fortunate to study abroad for your second degree you should as well do well to gain all the required experience needed in the working environment if possible continue your career there and if you want to come to Nigeria make sure you coming as a consultant to big multinationals or establishment such as NNPC and the likes or You become a commissioner or minister to government of the day.

Never I advise to finish your second degree abroad and then come to Nigeria to look for job in Nigeria

Not easy anywhere at all.

In summary ?

Nice piece

Well, it still adds value to one's experience.

seguntijan:
By Moses Ochonu
Ochonu, a history professor, writes from Nashville, USA

Thanks for sharing

Without even considering the irony that the writer is writing from a foreign country himself, this is solely HIS opinion

Your career path is determined by what you CHOOSE to do with the skills and experience you acquire, not necessarily based on the shade of your degree certificate...

The value or worth of the foreign degrees didn't/haven't fallen, the issue is the rise in unemployment as a result of poor economy, everybody de manage to keep their heads above the waters

There is this Indian PhD and MSC group I joined sometime ago, when i read comments there, its just obvious that higher degree is overrated. There are plenty of PhD holders in that group still looking for job. Many attended the best of schools, had the best scholarship, at the end it turns to wasted years and no job. If you are not a lecturer, forget it. If you manage to get MSc, just stop there. My in-law who stays in US told me he will rather do MBA than do MSc and PhD, I am beginning to see reasons with him.

sorextee:
To be honest, I didn't read this long epistle. Story too long.

Read it.

Succinctly put: foreign degrees and certificates have lost it's flavour.

We need to revamp our educational system.

Funny enough, most people obtain such degrees in "foreign" countries like: Cameroun, Benin, Ghana, Egypt and so on.

That one na foreign