20+ Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria

Stating that there are up to 20 useless courses to study in Nigeria might sound harsh but it is the reality of millions of Nigerian graduates.

The realization kicks in after they have spent between four to six years in the Nigerian education system only to revert to learning skills or schooling themselves – in the way of online courses- just to be qualified for an entry position.

This epidemic can be attributed to a lot of things which include, poor and obsolete curricula, underfunding of our higher institutions, and the state of the Nigerian economy.

Let’s face it, even students who are supposedly studying courses that are not tagged “useless” do not have jobs falling on their laps as they graduate.

So how do you make sure you or your wards don’t fall into this vicious unending cycle that has truncated the future of millions of Nigerian youth?

You can start by reading this article as we will be highlighting the said useless courses to study in Nigeria.

We aim to help you identify these courses, so you can avoid them while seeking higher education or so you can start making alternative plans if you are already studying any of these courses.

Whatever be case, it is important to note that no knowledge is a waste and that if you are passionate about this course, you should study it regardless.

What is the best course to study in Nigeria?
Top 21 Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria | 2024
1. Political Science
11. Library and Information Science
21. Law
What courses pay the most In Nigeria?
FAQs: Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria
Conclusion
References
Read Also

What is the best course to study in Nigeria?

There is no way to determine the best course in Nigeria, However a few of the courses we are about to list can comfortably be said to be among the best for the following reasons:

They are marketable
The job outlook is favorable
They are in high demand
They offer easy access to higher education abroad.
Their expertise is highly sort our for overseas

The courses include but are not limited to:

Nursing Science
Medical Laboratory Science
Medicine and Surgery
Computer Science
Cyber Security
Petroleum Engineering
Accounting
Business Management/Administration
Architecture.

For art-inclined students, you could take a closer to the best Art courses to study in Nigeria in this article.

Top 21 Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria | 2024

1. Political Science

Political science graduates can pursue professions in the public sector, working for elected officials or government organizations, or in the private sector in industrialized nations.

Policy analyst, legislative assistant, political consultant, social media manager, and market research analyst are a few examples of jobs in political science.

But given Nigeria’s political landscape, there isn’t much of a need for political scientists. Therefore, pursuing a lucrative job in political science would be difficult, making it one of the most pointless subjects to study in Nigeria.

While this may not be a good course to study in Nigeria, it’s okay to study it overseas as a first or second course and you can get started by reading our article UK Student Visa Fee in Nigeria | Eligibility and Application Fees if you are interested in the UK study route.

Course Duration: 4 years

2. Botany

Plants are studied scientifically in the field of botany. This is a great education, and as a botanist, you use your understanding of biology to enhance and protect plant and human life.

A degree in botany should land you a career as a florist, naturalist, arborist, forestry professional, biotech consultant, or even environmental scientist in much-developed countries like Nigeria.

Because botanists have an extremely low employment rate, they have difficulty finding well-paying occupations.

Course Duration: 4 years

3. Animal Science

Animal Science involves studying animals’ biology, behavior, and roles in our society. The program covers biology, nutrition, breeding, and disease prevention.

As a graduate with a degree in Animal Science, you should be able to pursue several careers, such as a veterinarian, animal nutritionist, livestock manager, wildlife biologist, or animal behaviorist.

The degree is valuable for people who love animals and care about their welfare and sustainable agriculture.

However, you may not achieve so much career-wise in Nigeria because little or no attention is paid to Animal studies – except if you want to teach the course at a university.

There are just a few functional zoos in the country. Hence, getting a job with a degree in Animal Science may be challenging – which is why it is considered one of the useless courses to study in Nigeria.

Studying Animal science in a country like Germany will be the right fit, check our article on How to Get a Germany Student Visa from Nigeria to get started.

Course Duration: 4 years

4. Music

A university education in music should equip you for a wide range of graduate opportunities beyond performance and composition, including teaching and positions in the creative industries.

A music school can help you hone your skills and find new ones. With a degree in music, you should be able to find well-paying positions as a private music instructor, editing and marketing assistant, program researcher, music therapist, and television production assistant.

However, in Nigeria, this is one of the courses you may not want to spend your four years learning because it is less valued.

The music industry might be lucrative and quite tempting, but you can find many successful music performers who never passed through a music school.

Course Duration: 4 years

5. Geography

Geography is the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources and political and economic activities.

As important as it is, it’s not something we take very seriously in Nigeria. This is why it’s on our list of useless courses to study in Nigeria.

It is also on this list because building a career in this field might be challenging in Nigerian society, where little or no attention is paid to climate and soil topography

Course Duration: 4 years

6. Anthropology

A major in social science that focuses on the in-depth analysis of social and human behavior is anthropology. The employment rate for this degree is extremely low in a nation with a weak economy like Nigeria.

Many disciplines in social sciences, like anthropology, have little bearing on advancing Nigeria’s economic development. The field of anthropology, which examines the human bodily system and social behavior, is not very popular in the nation.

For this reason, if you want to work in Nigeria after you graduate from college, this is one of the worst majors you can pursue.

Course Duration: 4 years

7. Soil Science

Every productive nation’s future will always lie in agriculture and the environment. It is required of crop scientists to handle climate change and sustainable agriculture, safeguard the environment and water resources, and assist in feeding the world’s expanding population.

You might become an agronomist, crop advisor, plant breeder, agroecology professional, or waste management specialist with a degree in soil science. However, there isn’t much focus on the course or its employment prospects in Nigeria.

Course Duration: 4 years

8. Zoology

Zoo keepers may make a respectable living outside of Nigeria, but not here. Because there aren’t many zoos all across the country, the course is currently not very profitable in Nigeria.

Employment as an ecologist, zookeeper, naturalist, conservation specialist, marine scientist, or field researcher should be possible for someone with a degree in zoology outside of Nigeria.

Course Duration: 4 years

Check Out: 20 Apps to Make Money Online in Nigeria as a Student

9. Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry is cool, you get to work with animals, take care of them, and sell them to make money. However, I don’t think anyone should spend four years of their time learning how to do that.

Not when millions of Nigerians are already into farming and not when we have YouTube. Additionally, Fulani herdsmen from the north have already conquered this space especially when it comes to cows.

This is why we have it on our list of useless courses to study in Nigeria.

Duration: 4 years

We can also include social studies as one of the pointless subjects to study in Nigeria. Gaining a degree in social studies can provide you with fundamental information and make you employable in a wide range of fields.

Regretfully, the Nigerian economy has no place for this course. The majority of Social Studies graduates become high school teachers due to a lack of employment opportunities.

A social studies graduate can find employment as an urban planner, a human resource manager, or even as an analyst of market research outside of Nigeria.

Course Duration: 4 years

11. Library and Information Science

Nigeria simply does not have enough libraries for anyone to want to study library and information science, unless you have an Oga at the top that has guaranteed your employment do not study this course.

ideally, studying this course means that you can work as a Librarian, a teacher, or a lecturer. But to become a lecturer you will need to get higher studies after your degree.

To hope to work in a library would only be a waste of your time as the majority of us have non-existent reading habits, let alone fully functional libraries that can accommodate the thousands of graduates this course churns out.

This is why it’s on our list of useless courses to study in Nigeria. But if you have plans to leave the shores of this country, please go ahead and get the degree. It will be worth it eventually.

Course Duration: 4 years

See 10 Online Businesses That Pay Daily For Students In Nigeria

12. History

A degree in history gives you a strong understanding of the background of the issues you’re covering, which allows you to conduct high-quality investigations.

But sadly our shared history which should bind us together drives us further apart.

And as for not studying it, it’s a no-brainer especially since it has been removed from the Nigerian school curriculum a few times – even though it has been reintroduced as a compulsory subject for primary and secondary school students.

Course Duration: 4 years

13. Religious Studies

As a religious expert, you will get the opportunity to examine the range of human beliefs as well as the function of religion in assisting people in comprehending many facets of spirituality and the ideas of life and death.

Because there is little demand for Religious Studies graduates in Nigeria, the majority of career opportunities in the field may be limited to academic or research roles.

Unless you want to be a pastor or imam, which there are specific religious studies for. I’d advise you to study something else.

Course Duration: 4 years

14. Horticulture

Horticulture is the study of plants, trees, and vegetables. Even though agriculture is quite profitable in the nation, graduates with a degree in horticulture can find themselves in a never-ending job search.

Nigeria’s economy is incomparable to those of the industrialized world’s nations, where ornamental plants are highly prized.

You might wish to open a flower shop, but Nigerians don’t seem to be very interested in flowers, so this business plan might not work out.

On the other hand, if you leave Nigeria’s borders, you could be able to work as a horticulture inspector, plant care worker, nursery staffer, landscape designer, or pest manager, all of which can pay well.

Course Duration: 4 years

15. Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of history by collecting and examining ancient artifacts. This study has been confined to only theoretical education in the Nigerian university education curricula with little or no attention paid to its practical aspect.

This is because Nigeria currently does not have the facilities to encourage the practical training of archeologists.

So when you do graduate from studying this course you will have to seek alternative employment, unless you have other essential skills employers are looking for.

However, if you find yourself out of the shores of Nigeria. you might be able to work as a museum director, a historical archaeologist, or a researcher.

Course Duration: 4 years

16. Physical and Health Education

Physical and health education is an important part of general education which helps to develop the body through physical exercise

The fact that Physical and Health Education (PHE) is listed as one of the useless courses to study in Nigeria is a testament to the systematic decay of our beloved country.

This is because Physical and Health Education (PHE) are highly sought after overseas. They help teach students as fitness instructors and could also work in Gyms or for sports teams.

They also work with physiotherapists to help people regain their body functions and also help those who might need help keeping fit.

Unfortunately, Nigeria does not have a robust sports industry to accommodate them all nor do the Gym owners pay them well enough.

Course Duration: 4 years

Check Out: Which Course is Best for Art Students in Nigeria? Top 20 Art Courses

17. Philosophy

Studying philosophy as a prerequisite for another course is fine by me. But as a lone course that would be a waste of time and money.

Even if you want to be a pastor or a priest, a seminary or bible school would be much better as you would also do theology.

While the course requires highly critical, analytical, and argumentative skills, and often leads students to pursue legal studies, and MBA programs, studying philosophy in 2024 at a university is a useless course to study in Nigeria.

Outside Nigeria, jobs for philosophy majors can include a lawyer, systems analyst, cultural affairs officer, technical writer, and critic. This is usually after you complete some other program to support the philosophy degree.

Duration: 4 years

18. Home Economics

If you don’t know how to manage your home, the Nigerian economy will help you do so, that’s on a lighter note.

Studying home economics used to be a thing. Now? Not so much, even with the proliferation of hospitality businesses.

The truth is anywhere else in the Western world you are thinking of working as a concierge, but in Nigeria, you have Tourism and Hospitality management graduates to contend with. Plus thousands of other people are simply unemployed.

As a leisure course, I find it interesting, but not interesting enough to be studied for years, especially if you have no plans for Japa.

However, if you are really into food and you think you can start up a business with it, studying home economics might not be a bad idea. Just don’t do it in a university for four years, not when we have elite catering schools. Thank me later.

Course Duration: 4 years

19. Secretarial studies

Anyone can become a secretary today and they don’t need to study Secretarial studies for four years to excel in the job. With the growing technological solutions, today’s secretary needs only to be organized, sharp, fast, and computer literate.

Any other thing they need will be taught or learned on the job. This why Secretarial studies is on our list of useless courses to study in Nigeria.

So if you are studying this course already, you must bring something to the table that other candidates may not have to be gainfully employed in today’s Nigeria.

Duration: 4 years

20. Sociology

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior – Case Western Reserve University.

It’s found in the social sciences and has been dubbed as one of the useless courses to study in Nigeria even as deals with understanding humans and their social changes.

And the reasons aren’t far-fetched – sociology is not very profitable in a country such as ours with a shambolic economy.

This is why some graduates of sociology might end up unemployed because the economy has made no room for people with such degrees.

Whereas in saner economic realities, a graduate of sociology will be able to work as a Social worker, an HR personnel, or a teacher.

Duration of course: 4 years

21. Law

This might come as a surprise to a lot of people, but other people will be nodding right now in agreement. Whichever side you pick, you are not entirely right or wrong.

It’s all about perspective with most of these courses especially when you are in Nigeria.

Studying law isn’t entirely bad but when you are studying it in a lawless nation like Nigeria where the so-called high and mighty give no thought to the rule of law, I dare say it’s a useless course. This is why it’s on our list of useless courses to study in Nigeria.

However, when you look at the few times the rule of law has been the last hope of the common man, you can’t help but appreciate it and its study.

Again, it’s about your perspective and experience with this course, and if you are willing to trade in the muddy waters.

Duration of course: 5 years, plus 1 year of law school, which you are expected to pass if you want to practice in Nigeria.

This said if you are starting law school anytime soon you should check out things a Law school newbie should know.

What courses pay the most In Nigeria?

Below are some of the best-paying courses you should consider studying as a Nigerian student.

Petroleum Engineering

Nigeria is oil-rich, making petroleum engineering one of the highest-paying majors there. The exploration, development, and extraction of oil and gas resources are the topics covered by this field.

Petroleum engineering graduates have access to competitive pay scales and a wide range of employment options in domestic and foreign oil corporations.

Petroleum engineering is one of the top degrees in Nigeria since it can lead to a fulfilling and financially secure profession given the rising energy demand.

Medicine And Surgery

In Nigeria, the medical industry is highly recognized and has excellent job options. Although becoming a doctor of medicine involves years of intense study and effort, the benefits are great. Due to their knowledge, medical professionals are in high demand and receive competitive compensation.

Graduates have the option to pursue specializations in obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, pediatrics, and many other fields in addition to standard medical practice.

Global demand for medical and surgical services means that those who work in these fields can command high salaries and have noble lives.

Information Technology

Information technology has become one of the highest-paying courses in Nigeria due to the quick development of technology and the growing need for qualified workers in the digital era.

Learning information technology gives you the know-how to create, maintain, and secure computer networks and systems.

Information technology graduates can work in a variety of fields, such as database administration, cybersecurity, software development, and IT consulting.

Computer Science

In the current digital era, computer science is becoming more and more important to all industries. Gaining knowledge in programming, software development, and data analysis is possible with a computer science degree.

Graduates in this sector have great employment opportunities and can launch their businesses or land well-paying jobs in financial institutions and technological organizations. Computer science is becoming more and more in demand in Nigeria, which makes it a very profitable field of study.

5. Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. This field is crucial for the development and maintenance of power systems, telecommunications networks, and various electrical devices.

Electrical engineers are in high demand across industries, including power generation, telecommunications, and manufacturing. Graduates can expect attractive salary packages and numerous career advancement opportunities.

FAQs: Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria

What courses are considered “useless” to study in Nigeria?

It’s important to understand that there’s no single definition of a “useless” course. A program might have limited job opportunities in Nigeria right now, but the skills learned could be valuable in other fields. However, Programs like Archaeology or Religious Studies might have fewer direct job opportunities compared to fields like Engineering or Business.

Isn’t any degree better than no degree?

In some cases, yes. A degree demonstrates your ability to commit to and complete higher education. However, the value really depends on the job market and how well the program aligns with your career goals.

Should I avoid these courses altogether?

Not necessarily! If you’re passionate about a particular field, even if it’s listed as “useless,” consider these points:

Marketable skills: Can you develop transferable skills like research, communication, or critical thinking through the program? These are valuable in many workplaces.
Entrepreneurship: Could the knowledge from the course help you start your own business?
Further studies: Can the program be a stepping stone to postgraduate programs in a more in-demand field?

What resources can help me choose a course?

University career guidance centers: These can offer personalized advice based on your interests and skills.
Job market reports: Researching job trends in Nigeria can give you an idea of fields with high demand.
Talk to professionals: Network with people in your desired industry to understand the skills they are looking for.

Isn’t there a risk these “useless” courses might become relevant in the future?

The job market is constantly evolving. Fields like Data Science or Digital Marketing, once niche, are now in high demand. So, even a program considered “useless” today could become valuable in the future.

Conclusion

Whatever course you decide to study or you are currently studying is not useless. It is not our intention to make your academic journey or your intended academic pathway appear so.

We are only trying to shine a light on the issues you might experience if you graduate from any of these departments.

However, these are not only peculiar to the above-listed courses as virtually every graduate can feel the heat of unemployment regardless of whether their course study has been listed as useless courses to study in Nigeria or not.

The unemployment of course is proudly sponsored by the bad economic decisions our leaders continue to make, which is why you must restrategize as these courses listed above might take the worst hit in difficult economic situations such as ours.

Whatever the case, I encourage you to mentally prepare for life outside school and your comfort zone or courses of study.

This would sound crazy in an ideal world where systems work, but unfortunately, we are not in an ideal world, and our economic problems are far from ideal. Good luck.