Lecturing is one of the most respected professions in Nigeria. As a lecturer in the university, I can confidently say that there is great room for growth and productivity for anyone in this sector.
If you are applying for lecturing positions in Nigeria, here are a few things to do to give you an edge:
1. Revamp your CV:
Present your CV in a way that portrays your academic competencies and scholarship. In addition to your education and provide sections such as:
- Academic publications
- Scholarly awards
- Teaching experiences
- Skills (here you project soft skills that are related to research e.g data organisation, data analysis and reporting. Even more important, highlight technical skills that project you as an excellent “research material”. E.g. expertise in Quantitative data analysis with SPSS, E-Views, NVivo etc). You can find affordable and free courses that can give you relevant technical skills on the Academic Hive course page.
For starters, I’ll recommend this downloadable course: Every Researcher’s Toolkit. It comes with research CV samples that you can adopt for any academic/research position (in and outside Nigeria).
2. Apply to Private Institutions:
I’m not so sure about the salary scale of private universities, but I am certain that your application would be more likely to be considered on the basis of merit at private institutions. Also, many of these private universities take staff development seriously. At least, unlike the public universities, you don’t have to use your personal funds to pay for publication and attend conferences that would still count towards the university’s growth/ranking. The reason why many people “rush” the public/government institutions is because of job flexibility, and overrated pension schemes.
In my honest opinion, if you want to appreciate academia for what it is, get hired quickly based on merit, and experience real growth as an academic, I’ll recommend that you apply to private institutions. Jeez! there are a lot of opportunities to bag. Later on, you can decide to switch to a public university (perhaps, when the working conditions are improved).
Here are the key takeaways:
1. Present a scholarly CV and convincing cover letter
2. If you are a newbie, apply to private universities first. This is the list of accredited private universities in Nigeria.
Bonus point: Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate that you have a lot to offer to the growth and ranking of the university if hired.
Academic Hive can work with you to get started. Book a session to discuss your needs in detail (the first 30-minutes are FREE).
Scholarly love ❤️
Juliet Inyang
Co-Founder, Academic Hive
