How To Become A Lecturer In Nigeria (2024)

In this write-up, you will learn the process on how to become a lecturer in any Nigerian university. While the educational system in the country isn’t lucrative as it seems, teaching as a lecturer is a career most Nigerian undergraduates or graduates would love to start a career in. The lecturing career, as you advance will see you become a professor especially when you have the right educational qualification. The highest stage a lecturer in Nigeria can achieve is being a professor and the salary for Nigerian lecturers is somewhat lucrative, depending on the level and type of school.

Nigerian Lecturer Teaching Students Image Credit: Nigerian Infopedia

You should know that every lecturer is expected to develop a unique teaching style which should be used to be able to impact and impart your teaching ideas into the students you are lecturing. He or she must be calm, patient and must be able to be open to new ideas and criticisms. Chief of all, you have to be intelligent in the course you are teaching. Since starting an academic career in lecturing can be tasking, its best you know the responsibility that lecturers in higher institutions undergo in the academic world

HOW TO BECOME A LECTURER IN NIGERIA (2024)

Here is a step by step guide on how to become a lecturer in Nigeria this 2024.

STEP 1: GET THE RIGHT QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

There are educational qualifications required for anyone who wants to become a lecturer in any Nigerian university, polytechnic or even college of education. You are required to be a graduate of any recognized higher institution in the country or abroad. You also must have a first class upper or second class upper as the case may be for the course you are applying as a lecturer. Most Nigerian academic institutions, especially colleges of education require that you have a qualification in educations (teaching practice) before you are even considered to becoming a lecturer. If you are not fortunate enough to earn this, you can apply as a postgraduate diploma in Education.

STEP 2: DEVELOP YOURSELF VIA INTERNSHIP & NETWORKING

There exist many internship opportunities in the lecturing field. With interning, you get to build up your experience into your lecturing career as your grow in it. You should also get to network with other lecturers in and outside your field to widen your scope. Carrying out research works, writing journals and term papers, attending conferences and fellowships are just a few ways to network with other teachers just like you. With this act, you improve your skills by taking advantage of the many teaching opportunities at various educational facilities that will beef up your qualifications. If you can also join professional academic groups before getting a lecturing job, it will avail you the opportunity to get scholarships, awards or grants that will surely improve your Curriculum Vitae or Resume.

STEP 3: PREPARE A STANDARD CURRICULUM VITAE OR RESUME

In this step, you would have to write a very professional academic Curriculum Vitae or resume if you want to be able to get a job as a lecturer in any Nigerian university. Within your CV, you must list out your achievements, feats, skills in the academic field to prove that you have the experience to take on the lecturing job. A well written CV is the mirror of one’s personal achievements, academic qualifications, research works, etc. that will enable the employer know more about the employee.

STEP 4: MEET THE REQUIREMENTS

Ensure you meet the requirements of the tertiary institution before you apply. This can only be done by researching on the school and department of your choice. Nigerian universities for example requires one to obtain a Master’s degree in order to be employed first as a University Level Assistant Lecturer, before he or she is promoted to becoming a lecturer or an associate professor after gaining a doctorate degree. As earlier stated, being a professor emeritus, is the highest point in a lecturers career, which is based on experience and achievement in the academic world in totality.

STEP 5: SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR THE LECTURING JOB

Unfortunately in Nigeria, earning a masters degree is one of the prerequisite to becoming a lecturer and this has proved a hinderance to many who wants to take on the lecturing job. Either ways, you should apply to various higher institutions or check top job sites, newspapers, school websites, etc. to find out if they have vacancies for the lecturing job of your choice.

STEP 6: EARN A DOCTORATE DEGREE IN AN ACCREDITED UNIVERSITY

Even if masters degree is the minimum requirement to become a lecturer in Nigeria, you will still have to acquire a doctorate degree even after getting a job as a lecturer. This is so because a PhD is compulsory if you must climb the ladder to the top in your lecturing career. There are good universities where you can start your post-graduate training in Nigeria even if you are still working as an Assistant Lecturer.

STEP 7: KEEP LEARNING TO IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS

One essential trait of a lecturer is to keep on learning. There are new trends in the academic field that you have to be aware at all times, keeping yourself abreast in the technical know how of new skills you must possess in order to be a successful lecturer. Public speaking is an area in which a lecturer must improve, since he or she stands and teaches in front of a large group of students at all times. You mustn’t be shy and must be able to pass across information and ideas to students in the lecture hall

A lecturer must improve in speech and audibility. Even if the lecturer is intelligent and can not articulate his or her teachings through the use of good language and speech, it will make the course boring and the goal of student understanding the lecturer becomes defeated. That’s is why an aspiring lecturer must perfect his or her public lecturing techniques before applying for a lecturing job.

CONCLUSION

From the above, you can see that it takes dedication and hard work to become a lecturer in any academic institution in the country. Aside the above listed steps, one must first have the passion for teaching, solving problems and research to even become a successful lecturer in Nigeria. One secret about the lecturing job is that as long as you continue teaching, you learn and grow more in the field. Lecturing job in Nigeria is a lucrative profession that can take you places if you are really good at it.