➡️ But the wrong person studying the wrong course at the wrong time can become jobless.In today’s world, so many graduates are roaming the streets—not because they are lazy, but because they chose courses without understanding what opportunities, skills, or career paths those courses require.This article breaks down three major courses that can make you jobless if you choose them wrongly, why this happens, and how to make any course valuable even if it has low job prospects.Let’s dive deep.
Nigeria produces over 600,000 graduates every year, yet the available job opportunities can barely accommodate a small fraction of them. Companies are cutting down staff. Government jobs are shrinking. Even private sectors are automating their processes using technology.Now more than ever, your course must tick at least ONE of these boxes:✔ In high demand
✔ Has a clear career path
✔ Teaches employable skills
✔ Allows entrepreneurship
✔ Can be monetized online
✔ Has global relevanceUnfortunately, many courses do not automatically provide these advantages—UNLESS the student studying them is strategic, intentional, and skilled.That’s why the same course that makes one graduate successful can make another jobless.
Mass Communication is one of the most popular courses in Nigeria. Almost every university offers it, and thousands of students choose it every year. But here is the reality:➡️ Mass Communication does not guarantee a job.
➡️ The industry is over-saturated.
➡️ Traditional media companies are declining due to social media and digital disruption.
TV stations, radio houses, and newspapers are not expanding—they are surviving. Many no longer recruit. Some depend on interns or underpaid staff.Only a handful of media organizations recruit yearly, but thousands of graduates compete for those positions.
Today:– Bloggers have replaced newspapers
– YouTubers and TikTokers have replaced broadcasters
– Influencers drive marketing campaigns more than traditional advertisers
– AI tools now handle news writing and content creationIf you study Mass Comm and you don’t master digital media, content creation, SEO, video editing, copywriting, or social media management, you may be unemployable.
Gone are the days when you graduate and become a presenter immediately.Now employers want someone who can:✔ write scripts
✔ edit videos
✔ manage social media
✔ design graphics
✔ take photographs
✔ run online ads
✔ analyze audience dataA graduate without these skills will struggle.
Mass Comm becomes powerful when you combine it with digital skills:✔ Content creation
✔ Video editing
✔ Social media marketing
✔ Blogging & SEO
✔ Public relations
✔ Digital journalism
✔ YouTube content production
✔ Podcasting
✔ CopywritingStudents who master these areas don’t wait for jobs—they CREATE opportunities.
Political Science sounds prestigious and intelligent—but can easily make you jobless if you don’t understand how the labour market works.Most Nigerian students enter Political Science expecting government jobs, political appointments, or embassy work.But reality says otherwise.
The common career paths include:– Government agencies
– Public administration
– NGOs
– Civil service
– Diplomacy
– Political consultancyBut these fields recruit rarely and often require:✔ years of experience
✔ postgraduate degrees
✔ political connections
✔ strong networksWithout these, a Political Science graduate may struggle after graduation.
Unlike courses such as Engineering, Nursing, Accounting, or ICT, Political Science does not produce a specific technical skill that employers urgently need.So many political science graduates join the long list of job seekers applying for general jobs like:– Customer care
– Bank teller
– Sales rep
– Admin officerThis increases competition and reduces employment chances.
Many students pick Political Science because they don’t know what to study or because their UTME score was low. Without genuine passion for public affairs, research, or governance, the course becomes empty.
Political Science becomes powerful when you pair it with market-relevant skills such as:✔ Public policy analysis
✔ Data analysis
✔ International relations specialization
✔ Research skills
✔ Diplomacy training
✔ NGO project management
✔ Grants writing
✔ Public speaking
✔ Advocacy & human rights trainingStudents who complement the course professionally can get roles in:– NGOs
– International organisations
– Research institutes
– Policy analysis organisations
– Foreign embassies
– Development agenciesBut without extra skills, Political Science can leave you jobless.
Theatre Arts is a beautiful and creative course. It builds confidence, creativity, communication skills, and emotional expression. However, it is one of the courses that can easily make you jobless if you choose it wrongly.
Thousands of young Nigerians want to become:– Actors
– Dancers
– Scriptwriters
– Film directors
– Comedians
– PresentersBut the entertainment industry is extremely competitive and unpredictable. Success in acting or filmmaking is not automatic—even after earning a degree.
You can have a first-class degree in Theatre Arts and still struggle, because success in this industry depends more on:✔ Talent
✔ Branding
✔ Connections
✔ Marketability
✔ Social media presence
✔ Opportunity
✔ Strategy
✔ LuckNot classroom work alone.
Except you work in:– Cultural centres
– Media companies
– Secondary schools
– Entertainment companies
– Drama academies…there are very few formal jobs available.Most Theatre Arts graduates end up freelancing or waiting for auditions.
A lot of Nigerian students pick Theatre Arts because:– They want to become celebrities
– They love dancing or acting
– They think Nollywood is easy
– Their friends recommended itBut they don’t realise that a degree is not enough to break into the industry.
To succeed with Theatre Arts, you need to build skills beyond your degree:✔ Scriptwriting
✔ Film production
✔ Cinematography
✔ Editing
✔ Content creation
✔ Graphics & animation
✔ Acting workshops
✔ Stand-up comedy
✔ Voice-over skills
✔ Stage production
✔ Film business & marketingMany successful people in Nollywood or comedy did not depend on their degree—they built personal brands, networks, and skills.
Choosing a course to study in Nigeria is one of the most important decisions a student will ever make. For many young people, this choice can determine their job prospects, financial stability, career growth, and even overall satisfaction in life. Unfortunately, the Nigerian education system sometimes pushes students into courses with very limited opportunities, outdated relevance, or extremely slow career growth—especially if you do not genuinely love the field.The truth is simple:There are no completely “useless” courses, but there are courses in Nigeria that offer very limited opportunities, except for people with strong passion, connections, deep creativity, or specific long-term career plans.This article highlights three courses Nigerian students should avoid, unless they have serious passion, clear career expectations, and the willingness to create opportunities for themselves.
Examples include:
These courses are interesting, intellectually stimulating, and valuable for society. However, Nigeria’s job market does not heavily demand graduates from these fields. Many students end up in these programs because they did not meet cut-off marks for preferred courses, or because they think the workload will be easier.But after graduation, reality hits.
You should study philosophy, history, linguistics, or sociology ONLY IF:
Examples include:
Agriculture is extremely important in Nigeria, and ironically, it is one of the most undervalued fields. Many students entering these programs assume the government or private companies will provide jobs, but this is rarely the case.Traditional agriculture degrees are often outdated, with very little exposure to modern farming technology, agribusiness, export markets, or mechanized systems.
Choose an agriculture-related course ONLY IF:
Examples include:
Library and Information Science is an important field, but in Nigeria, libraries are disappearing, reading culture is declining, and government investment in library infrastructure is low.Most graduates end up competing for:
Unfortunately, the demand is far lower than the supply.
Many institutions do not teach these thoroughly.
Consider Library Science ONLY IF:
A degree is a serious investment. Courses that seem simple or convenient often offer fewer job opportunities.
If you are not passionate and the career opportunities are low, consider a change of course or wait for another admission cycle.
Even the three courses listed above can be powerful when combined with the right skills.For example:
The problem is not the courses themselves—it is the lack of preparation and lack of information.
Employability today depends more on:
Your degree is only the starting point.
Before choosing a course in Nigeria, ask yourself:
If your answer is YES, you can study any course—because passion, strategy, and skills will always create opportunities, even in fields with limited demand.But if your answer is NO, then avoid courses with low employment prospects unless you are prepared for the challenges.Your future deserves intentional planning.
While the article focuses on three courses, here are others that also require extra skills to prevent unemployment:– Sociology
– Philosophy
– History
– Guidance & Counselling
– Library Science
– Religious Studies
– Linguistics
– Adult Education
– Marketing (without digital skills)Again—no course is useless, but some require more effort, strategy, and extra learning.
Whether you study Medicine or Theatre Arts, the world is changing fast.Employers now want:✔ Skills
✔ Creativity
✔ Problem-solving
✔ Digital competence
✔ Adaptability
✔ Emotional intelligence
✔ Practical experience
✔ Ability to work independentlyA degree alone is not enough. You must upgrade yourself.
To avoid joblessness, follow these strategies:
Every student should know:– Basic computer operation
– Content creation
– Social media skills
– Presentation tools
– Online research
– Email communicationThese are now essential.
During school:– Volunteer
– Join associations
– Take internships
– Work with NGOs
– Do projects
– Build a portfolioExperience gives you an advantage.
Create:✔ A strong CV
✔ A LinkedIn profile
✔ A personal brand
✔ A portfolio
✔ A skill-based identityDon’t wait until after graduation.
Employers want:– Communication skills
– Leadership
– Teamwork
– Confidence
– Creativity
– Time managementThese skills can place you above thousands of applicants.
Pick one:– Digital marketing
– UI/UX
– Programming
– Data analysis
– Video editing
– Copywriting
– Graphics design
– Blogging
– Web design
– CybersecurityThis combination makes you more employable.
Instead of waiting for job opportunities, create:– Media agency
– Photography business
– Small consultancy
– YouTube channel
– Blog
– Online tutoring
– Social media managementMany successful graduates today built their own brands.
Choosing a course without understanding your strengths, the job market, and the required skills is one of the quickest ways to become jobless after graduation.These three courses—Mass Communication, Political Science, and Theatre Arts—are beautiful, powerful, and impactful, but only for students who know what they are doing.If you choose them wrongly, without passion, skills, or strategy, they can leave you jobless.But if you choose them wisely, build skills, and understand the industry, you can become highly successful.Remember:✔ No course is useless
✔ Only a careless student becomes jobless
✔ Skills matter more than certificates
✔ Your destiny depends on your preparationBe wise. Be intentional. And choose your future with sense.
