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  For most people, getting educated at a university or polytechnic is primarily a financial investment in their future. Whether they fund their education or are aided by guardians, there’s usually an expectation that this investment will yield results. It’s therefore not a surprise that most young Nigerians decide to study so-called marketable degrees at Nigeria’s institutions of higher learning.
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There are debates about whether this is the right approach to educational pursuits. However, this article won’t dwell on that (at least not primarily). Instead, we will explore the degrees that are likely to be the most marketable five years into the future, given current trends. You may find this information useful if you’re considering enrolling at a tertiary institution soon. But first, let’s take a look at what courses are currently the most sought-after among students in Nigeria—or at least what was about 5 years ago.

The Most Sought-After Courses in Nigeria in 2019

According to the National Universities Commission (NUC), the following degrees saw the most enrollments across Nigerian universities in 2019:
  • Computer Science, with 99,000 enrollments
  • Accounting, with 92,000
  • Business Administration, also pulling 92,000 students
  • Political Science, welcoming 77,000 students
  • Law, attracting 69,000 enrollees
It’s fairly easy to tell that a majority of these enrolments were driven by financial considerations, especially perceived Return on Investment (ROI) generated after earning the degrees. A clear-cut case of this is Computer Science. Over the last decade, it’s become one of the toughest programs to get into at top universities. And that’s solely because of a spike in applications, in turn fed by the tech revolution.

Expectations versus Reality: A Sobering Thought

Many of the people who study the courses listed above don’t land jobs related to them. The percentage of Political Science B.Sc. holders who end up in politics and government is anyone’s guess. The number of enrollees for the Law degree programs in 2019 is almost equivalent to a quarter of the registered lawyers in Nigeria at the moment (just over 200,000). It’s hard to see how they will all get hired by law firms. It turns out that the popularity of a degree isn’t a good indicator of its ability to get you decent employment afterwards. Perhaps a better way to determine the marketability of a program is to watch present trends and find out where the world in general is headed. That’s what we’ll do in this article.

What Degrees will be the Most Marketable in Nigeria in Five Years?

The list we’re going to present here is our prediction for what the corporate world will require five years from now. As we’ve said, it’s based on the latest long-term  job growth forecasts. Have a look.

Computer Science

This (and its allied fields) will supply the most in-demand technical skills for the foreseeable future. Jobs in FinTech, HealthTech, EduTech, and AI—all of which are expected to grow substantially –often require a degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. So do roles within organizations that are supported by tech in some way.

Cybersecurity

As the world (including Nigeria) becomes more dependent on digital technology, it’s also increasingly exposed to associated security risks. Public and private sector institutions recognize this and are investing an ever-increasing share of their budgets in cybersecurity. Demand for cybersecurity professionals is already up and climbing. This trend should continue well into the future.
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Data Science

The ongoing rave around data science isn’t just a fad. The world of the future will rely even more heavily on data processing than it does today. A growing number of universities in Nigeria offer degree programs in Data Science. Some even confer a M.Sc. in the discipline. While you can learn the ropes with a private months-long course, being thoroughly grounded may require more time and study, which is what a degree program promises.

Finance

People with a degree in finance can work as financial analysts and advisors, budget analysts, investment bankers, management consultants, credit analysts, and tax associates. These roles will still be important five years from now. There are also fast-growing FinTech subsectors like digital banking, digital loan provision, and WealthTech, in which a deep knowledge of finance comes in handy.

Economics

Economics gives its students a keen grasp of the economic landscape and of its constituent industries. Having this sort of knowledge means that economists can fit into many types of businesses. From bookkeeping at a small business to economic analysis at the largest multinational corporations, the opportunities are many and diverse.

Electrical Engineering

Power generation and distribution is still a challenge for Nigeria. Tackling it at every point of the distribution chain demands the expertise of electrical engineers, among others. But most electrical engineers work at the installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting end of things. Those aren’t going away anytime soon. The emergence of renewable energy solutions also expands the scope of employability for electrical engineers.

Civil Engineering

Nigeria needs more roads, bridges, and rail lines. But, more obviously, it needs housing—a lot of it. At the moment, the country’s housing deficit stands at 28 million units. Plugging that gap will mean putting numerous civil engineers to work, as would the construction of public transportation facilities. That’s why we’re bullish on this program.

Mechatronic Engineering

Newer factories are largely automated. Older ones are retooling to catch up with them. These days, you need more than just regular mechanical engineering knowledge to work in these settings. A decent understanding of computerized systems is just as important. Mechatronic engineering (which is still relatively new to Nigerian universities but is gaining broad acceptance) meets this challenge.

Medicine

Medicine has been competitive for decades. Forecasts say it’ll remain so for a while still. Medical occupations aren’t being automated away. But there’s a qualifier. General practice isn’t as financially secure as specializations such as Neurosurgery and Orthopedics. The former has a large supply of graduates. There’s a severe shortage in the latter category, so professionals in those fields tend to be paid more.

Nursing

A lot of the uptick in enrolments for nursing degrees in the past few years has been driven by the Japa phenomenon. While that trend may cool off in the coming years, there’s still plenty of room for nurses locally. As Nigerians become more accepting of formal medical care, we’ll see greater demand for healthcare providers, including nurses.
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Final Words

This concludes our review of what could be the most marketable degrees in Nigeria five years from now. Now, here’s my note on seeking education for employment potential. Although it’s wise to think about employability and earning power when considering degree programs, that shouldn’t be the only thing you think about. The best performers in any given field are often the best paid in them. And they are great at what they do because they’re enthusiastic about it. That enthusiasm can sometimes be learned, but it is frequently powered by a natural inclination. In summary: go for the most viable path. But make sure it’s something you’re enthusiastic about. That’s what makes exceptional professionals stand out.
Got a suggestion? Contact us: editor@connectnigeria.com
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This article was first published on 22nd February 2025
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ikenna-nwachukwu

Ikenna Nwachukwu holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He loves to look at the world through multiple lenses- economic, political, religious and philosophical- and to write about what he observes in a witty, yet reflective style.

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