Nigerians attach so much importance to getting a university degree. This is probably a result of the outdated mentality or mindset that education is the route to success.
The craze for University education is clearly reflected in the number of young secondary school leavers who sat for the annual Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination. For the 2021 examination, JAMB said 1,415,501 registered for both UTME and Direct Entry (DE).
When the results were released, it was an eyesore. The Jamb registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede said the percentage of those who scored 120 marks and above out of the possible 400 is 99.65% of the entire candidates. The registrar concluded, stating that the 2021 result was one of the worst performances when compared with the 2018 and 2019 performances are taken into consideration.
Interestingly, some of these applicants plan to study IT-related courses at the university. Since they think they have no other option, they will wait until the following year to re-sit for the same UTME and probably score below the cut-off mark.
For those who are already at the university studying any form of software course, they are either paying through their teeth to get such education in a private university or paying little at a public university where most of what they learn is theoretical.
Regardless, some universities stand out when it comes to ICT or tech-related courses. They include Covenant University, University of Ilorin, Babcock University, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Nigeria, and the Federal University of Technology, Akure.
But the question still remains- do you really need to go to the four walls of a university to become an IT professional? It is important to ask this question because there are now innovative edtech startups like Zwart Talent Foundation that train young Nigerians to kick start their IT career within a short period of time via thorough and efficient training.
Factors Against Pursuing ICT Education at a Nigerian university
Strikes
Strikes are inseparable from Nigerian public universities. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has embarked on uncountable strikes to disrupt the academic calendar and prolong the university stay of students. Unfortunately, students are at the receiving end of these incessant strikes.
Time
To receive a software certificate from a university, you have to spend 4 or 5 years plus the strikes. Time does not wait for anyone. But, the student has no choice but to just wait to graduate, attend NYSC, and start job hunting for limited jobs.
School fees
Not many Nigerians can afford private universities. Those who can afford it attend private institutions, spend money and time getting the certificate. In this, they do slightly better when compared to their public university counterparts. You can cut the time and money by joining the Zwart Academy.
Meeting the qualifications
With the current JAMB score, it will be difficult for many school leavers to secure admission to polytechnic let alone a university. The alternative is to join one of the innovative edtech startups in Nigeria that offer quality IT and software education. Applications are evaluated and outstanding candidates selected.
Quality of Education
The quality of education in Nigeria has raised a lot of concerns. For those studying IT-related courses, they have lamented about it being too theoretical. Without any doubt, becoming an IT professional, it should involve a lot of practicals.
Practical, Innovative and Affordable Approach to ICT Education
Currently, there are educational startups that offer young Nigerians ICT education that does not consume time and money.
One of such startups is Zwart Academy, an arm of Zwart Talent Foundation. The Academy offers training to students for 6 months and it covers technical skills, soft skills, creative and logical reasoning. The training is free and 100% practical.
After the completion of the training, graduates then move on to 12 months of intensive internship with Zwart Tech and other associate companies. The graduates get to work on projects to enhance their skills and build their portfolios.
