© Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 12, Number I, March 2014
Career Choices of Nigerian Youths Entering Public-Funded
Universities
Nyitor A. Shenge .-
Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Choosing a career is a very challenging process especially among youths. Although
career choices and career dynamics are given considerable research attention in the
developed countries, these subjects do not attract sustained attention in developing
countries. This study tried tofill this research gap and also rekindle desired attention in
this research area. The study analyzed Nigeria s publicly available Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examin~tions (UTME) s statistics for 2003 and 2007. Thefocus was on
public universities. Results showed that for 2003 and 2007, there were: significant
variability in the choices of courses by male andfemale university admission applicants
(more males thanfemales chose science, engineering, and other "hard" courses) ; and
significant variability in admission trends for Northern and Southern Nigerian regions
(more southern than northern applicants sought to enter the university and chose science,
engineering, and other "hard" courses). It was noted that these findings have serious
implicationsfor Nigeria sfuture educational planning and outcomes. Further suggestions
were proposed.
Key Words: disciplines; disparities; gender; Nigeria; region; universities
Introduction
The term "career" broadly refers to sequence of Careers are very central in the lives of individuals and
occupations.jobs and positions engaged in or occupied they help build societies too. Therefore the concept of
throughout a person's lifetime (Makinde & Alao, 1987; "career" has become increasingly important in today's
Olade1e, 1992; Shenge, 1997). Career is also a world of work. Its meaning and choice may mean
manifestation of a person's learned and acquired different things to different people. For some
abilities and relationship to society through work individuals, career begins with, or is influenced by,
(Makinde&Alao, 1987; Oladele, 1992; Shenge, 1997; choice of discipline or course of study. In this context,
Herriot and Pemberton, 1996; Kanter, 1989). Many career is used in connection finding a career path,
people loosely use the term "career" in relation to which could also mean choice of discipline or course.
occupation, vocation, job, position, and profession. An individual's career partly shapes
However, career is a term that is broader than the organizational behavior. According to Kidd (2001),
popular idea of hierarchical progress within an career encourages the study of individuals and
occupation or organization (Kidd, 2001). institutions and the relationship between them. Many
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
~ Ibadan Journal of the Social; Sciences
university or college students have difficulty finding include "What does the current job market want from
the "right" profession or career for themselves (Brown a prospective employee?" "How can one know if one
et al., 2000; Kelly and Pulver, 2003). Kelly and Pulver is suited for the job of one's fancy?" Is there evidence-
(2003) suggest that after vocational interests research, based 'research that could help a person to decide on a
vocational indecision is now the most important field career? An instructive career profile should ideally
of inquiry in vocational behavior. Students invest a address the above questions and other fundamental
great deal of their time, energy, and resources in variables relating to career and career choice
obtaining a higher education degree; hence, they have (McDonald, 2008;p.1).
high expectations regarding their future careers and Factors or attributes of interest in career
employment status (Wood, 2004). profiling include resourcefulness, dedication, resilience,
Often, choosing the right subject combination patience, management, personality orientation, critical
leading to the right profession can make the difference thinking, and assertive communication. Others are
between enjoying and detesting a career in the future. divergent thinking, autonomy, independence, ethics,
Dedicating oneself to career choices that are optimism, flexibility, reliability, dependability,
unattainable leads to frustration. Each individual commitment to continuous learning, responsibility, high
undertaking the process is influenced by many factors, self esteem and self-efficacy, self-discipline and self-
including the context in which they live, their personal reliance (McDonald, 2008). An evidence-based career
aptitudes, and educational attainment (Bandura, et al. profile allows the prospective employee to assess his/
2001). her abilities, interests, and personality type to link him!
Arnold's (1997) useful overview of some her with appropriate career options. Evidenced-based
influential definitions of "career" suggest that a common knowledge of career profiles can facilitate students in
feature of all definitions of career is that they refer to their future choices. It has been observed that
sequences of roles and positions over time. According information about these careers such as the growth
to Arnold (1997), two rather distinct bodies of rate, salary, training required, where to go to school
knowledge inform our understanding of careers. The and many other important characteristics can be useful
first is vocational psychology while the second is in assisting the individual in making the most
organizational behavior. Whereas vocational appropriate career choice.
psychology literature focuses on early career decision Career studies and career profiling are
making, organizational literature is concerned about routinely done in developed economies. However, there
later career development. According to McDonald is a paucity of research in this area in developing
(2008), evidence-based career profiling is very much countries (McDonald, 2008). Therefore, Stakeholders
needed in today's world where myriad opportunities such as students, employers, recruitment agencies,
abound for the average individual and making the right outplacement organizations, schools, colleges,
career choice has become difficult. Career profiling universities, career management professionals,
is defined as an eclectic approach that develops a psychologists, industry associations, executive coaches
behavioral pattern of an individual who is interested in and aspiring professionals stand to benefit from the
pursuing a particular career (McDonald, 2008). findings of this present study.
As students enter high schools and As information about admission patterns and
universities, many questions bordering on preparation students' career choices become available and future
for the job market surface in the minds of the students. students beneficially utilize the information, employers
McDonald (2008) has identified these questions to would have fewer mis-matches in their workplaces.
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Nyitor A. Shenge: Career Choices of Nigerian Youths Entering Public-Funded Universities
As well, employees would enjoy their work for and take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation
experiences. Hopefully, there would be a corresponding Examination (UTME). These choices probably
increase in productivity, job satisfaction, and career represent or point to the careers that the UTME
fulfillment. candidates intended to make in the future. The study
Despite the fact that much has been written analyzed UTME data for publicly-owned universities
about the individual variables affecting career in Nigeria covering 2003 and 2007 admission years. It
aspirations and of the relationships among them, a provided basis for understanding choices of courses,
survey of the literature, however, .revealed that very disciplines, university admission patterns and future
little empirical studies on this subject exist in Nigerian career outlook,
(Issa and Nwalo, 2008). Due to this knowledge gap,
many youths in Nigeria make wrong career choices UNIVERSITIES' JOINT MATRICULATION
due to ignorance, inexperience, peer pressure, advice (ENTRANCE) EXAMINATION IN NIGERIA
from friends, parents and teachers, or as a result of . Currently, there are forty federal (central) government-
the prestige attached to certain jobs without adequate funded and thirty eight state government-funded
vocational guidance and career counseling. universities in Nigeria. There are fifty one private
Consequently, many of them are unsuited for universities in the country. Altogether, there are one
their careers, as they usually find themselves in jobs hundred and twenty nine universities in Nigeria today
that do not satisfy their value needs. When this occurs, (National Universities Commission - NUC, 2013).
they constitute nuisance to themselves and their Each year, more than two million qualified applicants
employers. They are usually unable to contribute (potential students) compete for limited spaces in these
meaningfully to the society, and they ultimately become universities. The population of the country currently
liability to the nation. Therefore, this study aimed to fill stands at 170 million people. There are 36 states and a
the aforementioned knowledge gap. federal capital territory (FCT, Abuja) within the
Denga (1988) examined influence of Nigerian federation.
traditional factors on career choices of Nigerian The establishment and activities of all Nigerian
students (N=400) in their last year of secondary school. universities (federal, state, private) are regulated by
Results revealed traditional factors (social prestige, the National Universities Commission (NUC). Since
family occupation, religious beliefs, etc.) ranked very 1978, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board
high on the list of factors influencing career choice. (JAMB) has been conducting joint university
Psychological factors (interest, aptitudes, intelligence, matriculation (or entrance) examinations (UME), now
etc.) received relatively low rankings. In a study based re-designated Unified Tertiary Matriculation
on meta-analysis and aimed at investigating the Examination (UTME), into public1y-funded universities,
relationship between culture and vocational or career polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education
choice, it was reported that race/ethnicity differences in Nigeria. Since the past five to ten years, a few
do not significantly affect career aspirations. However, privately- funded universities, polytechnics,
they noted differences among racial/ethnic groups in monotechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria
perceptions of career-related opportunities and barriers have been included in the matriculation examinations.
(McDonald, 2008). More privately-funded tertiary academic institutions
The purpose of this present paper was to in the country are being expected to join the JAMB
investigate the choices of disciplines and courses that matriculations examinations in the years ahead. In this
potential university students make when they register paper, the researcher investigated career or discipline
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~ Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
(course) choices of Nigerian youths that entered public- objective and subjective fit. Career profiling must also.
funded universities in 2003 and 2007. Not enough take into cognizance personality orientation.
research has previously been done in this important According to Holland (1997), career profiling
area. needs to be cognizant of several sociological factors
of work. He proposes a Human Capital Theory which
Theoretical Propositions on Career, Career establishes a relativity between supply and demand in
Choice or Course of Study the marketplace. Because the supply of skilled labor
Cohen (2003) postulated a four-stage model of career is generally less than the supply for unskilled labor,
decision-making. His model is based on existential then one may expect higher wages for skilled workers.
themes such as freedom, responsibility, meaning, and However, a number of exceptions can and do occur
authenticity occurring across an individual's life span. (Holland, 1997).
According to Cohen, career satisfaction and stability Modem scholars do recognize the fact that
are obtained when the meaning and opportunities for career choice is a dynamic process that occurs
'authentic existence' that the vocation provides throughout the life span (Ashforth and Saks, 1995;
corresponds to the vocation. He adds that a failure to Price, 2009), and that people are likely to change
acquire opportunities for meaning and 'authentic careers several times (Lips- Wiersman and
existence' in an individual's occupations may McModand, 2006). As well, appreciable research
respectively lead to an 'existential vacuum' and exists on the concept of self-efficacy, which refers to
'existential guilt. ' a person's belief about his or her ability to mobilize
Neault (2002), preferring the term career requisite motivation, cognitions, and actions to
management to career development, found that successfully accomplish a specific task (Bandura,
optimism and flexibility predicted career success more 1990). Research finding point to a strong, positive
accurately than other given variables like 'planfulness' relationship between self-efficacy and work-related
and continuous learning. She notes that correct choices performance (Stajkovic and Luthans, 1998a, p. 255).
could greatly improve an individual's chances of Indeed, self-efficacy directly leads to the
educational success and the potential for a career that magnitude and persistence of effort that a person will
is rewarding. Correct choices could greatly improve exert toward accomplishing an objective. People with
an individual's chances of educational success and the high self-efficacy will expend sufficient effort to
potential for a career that is rewarding. execute a task, People with low self-efficacy will give
Lofquist and Dawis' (1984) in their Person- up when they encounter difficulty and will fail to
Environment-Correspondence (P-E-C) Theory complete the task (Stajkovic and Luthans, 1998b, p.
observe that the majority of problems presented to 66).
counselors stem from "discorrespondences" between However, Stajkovic and Luthans (1998b)
the client and his or her environment. They found that concede that self-efficacy alone will not spark people
while the individual brings unique abilities to the given to effort. People need to know that their efforts will
environment, s/he in turn has certain needs mandatory result in valued outcomes in the form of benefits and
for success in that setting. Both 'objective fit" (does rewards. Social cognitive career theory (SCCT) has
the client have the ability to do a specific job?) and applied theories of self-efficacy to careers. This theory
"subjective fit" (is the client's perception of the situation argues that people choose to enter career fields that
accurate?) are factored in. Clearly, career profiling will maintain their sense of self-efficacy and in which
would provide useful information for determining both they can expect continuing success (Lindley, 2005).
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UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Nyitor A. Shenge: Career Choices of Nigerian Youths Entering Public-Funded Universities
SCCT argues that people's current self-efficacy is for individuals to seek career-related information and
heavily influenced by past successes (or failures). try different work roles to form personal experiences
A related field of study concerns the research regarding potential careers. This career exploration
on core self-evaluations (CSE) conceptualized as a process helps individuals generate an appropriate
broad underlying trait that encompasses self-esteem, quantity or quality of information, on which a sound
locus of control, generalized self-efficacy, and career decision can be made (Atkinson and Murrell,
neuroticism/emotional stability (Judge, 2009). Judge 1988). Individuals who gather and use career-related
(2009) reviews the decade long research in this area information to assist in their career decision-making
~! •.}.
and concludes that people highe~n CSE have more process are more likely to choose a suitable career
successful careers and better job performance. (Osipow, 1983). In sum, career exploration results in
According to Nicolson and Arnold (1989), increased knowledge of career opportunities and a
career transition from higher education to employment greater awareness of what skills and behaviors are
consists of three phases: preparation/anticipation, necessary for career success (Noe, 1996).
encounter, and adjustment/stabilization. The Ferry (2006) examines students' initial interest
preparation/anticipation phase relates to readiness for in scientific careers, factors influencing career choice
change and steps that can be taken to help prepare for during college, and how these factors differ between
such change. The encounter phase borders on the men and women. Men who abandon career aspirations
shocks and surprises of new circumstances or demands appear to be driven by financial concerns, whereas
and identifies the necessary coping mechanisms. women who decide not to pursue scientific career
The adjustment/stabilization phase focuses on appear more concerned with the social good of their
the challenge of evaluating and minimizing any misfit career choice. Ferry (2006) asserts that adolescent
between person and situation, either by changing to occupational choice is influenced by many factors,
absorb the new demands, or by preparing for the next including life context, personal aptitudes, and
work-role transition. Although it is important for educational attainment. He contends further that
educators to prepare students for their future career whether college-bound or work-bound, meeting the
prior to this work-role transition, it is equally important challenge of this developmental milestone is critical in
for employers to ensure that this transition is smooth adolescents' lives.
through all three phases. . Almost all the theories.reviewed in this study
Career exploration is "the process of have dealt extensively with career and career choice
generating and assimilating career information relating issues. Each has, in a way, provided a clearer
to self and the world of work" (Atkinson and Murrell, understanding of these terms. However, not any of
1988, p. 374), and is a pivotal element in any career- the theories has provided a really holistic view of the
related decision-making process (Hurst and Good, issues under consideration. For instance, in what ways
2009). Individuals typically obtain career information do factors such as peer, family, spousal, and gender
through self-exploration of values, interests, skill influences, experience, abilities, aptitudes and other
strengths and weaknesses, and environment exploration factors combine to influence a person's choice of
(Noe, 1996). Thus, it is important for individuals to career? Why do people switch careers midway? What
recognize how their own personal values, wants, needs really constitute good and bad career choice and
and interests could influence future career choices. exactly how much do "right" or "wrong" career
Furthermore, to gain a more comprehensive choices contribute to success or failure in workplaces?
exploration of the self and world of work, it is important
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~ Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
These are issues that further research need to focus website had statistics of candidates who took its
more on. examinations. The statistics included candidates'
information such as gender, state of origin, course of
Specific Research Questions study,and faculty.They covered only a period of about
This researcher asked and answered the following eight previous years, somewhere around 2000 and
specific research questions: 2008. The researcher selected and analyzed data for
• Is there major variability 'in the choice of years 2003 and 2007 because data for these years
disciplines that male and female students had the least missing information about candidate. As
choose in publicly-owned Nigerian well the years spread out (not so closely followed each '
universities? I other) and appeared to be most representative of
• Is theremajor variabilityin theadmissiontrends ~ JAMB candidate's information within the years shown
for Northern and Southern Nigerian students on the website.
at publicly-owned Nigerian universities? ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
• Which disciplines have the highest intakes of Data (gender, state of origin, course of study, and
students in publicly-owned Nigerian faculty gender) were analyzed using simple charts and
universities? percentages.
• Which disciplines have the least intakes of " ' As could be seen in Table 1, there were major
students in publicly-owned Nigerian differences in the number of males that were admitted
universities? in the various academic disciplines (Social Science,
• Has the trend in the choice of disciplines by Science, Medicine, Law, Engineering and
students in publicly-owned Nigerian Environmental Science, Education, Arts, Agriculture,
universities changed noticeably in 2003 and and Administration) across publicly-owned Nigerian
2007? universities in the year 2003. This same trend persisted
Method in year 2007 and did cut across all disciplines and
To obtain data for this study, the author visited http:// states.
www.jamb.org.ng/which is the website of the Joint
Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The
TABLE 1:DISfRIBUTION OF MALE AND FEMALE UfME CANDIDATES ACROSS VARIOUS DISCIPLINES IN 2003
AND 2007
DISCIPLINE 2003 2007
Male Female Male Female
Administration 6279 7247 5279 5133
Agriculture 2059 2002 ,3798 2636
Arts· 4819 5752 4791 5319
Education 5753 6885 6994 6490
Engineering &
Environmental
Technology 13633 2719 11898 2149
Law . 3885 1396 1969 1494
Medical Science 6815 3291 3937 3111
Sciences 9603 7491 14853 8644
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NyitorA. Shenge: Career Choices of Nigerian Youths Entering Public-Funded Universities
Social Sciences 10194 6730 .11297 ·7678
Total 59742 45415 64706 42663
TABLE 2: DISTRIBUTION OF MALE AND FEMALE UTME CANDIDATES FROM NORTH AND SOUfHACROSS
VARIOUS DISCIPLINES IN 2003AND 2007
DISCIPLINE 2003 2007
Mate Female Male Female
North South North South. North South North South
Administration 1158 5120 585 6662 1492 3768 6964 432
Agriculture 250 1809 98 1904 1086 2710 415 ' 2220
Arts 1119 3700 686 5064 2136 2645 1617 3691
Education 586 6130 290 6695 2324 4664 1130 5356
Engineering &
Environmental
Technology 1294 12336 203 2516 2945 8935 479 1669
Law 354 3531 166 1230 723 1242 397 1092
Medical Science 498 3115 271 3020 1019 2912 654 2454
Sciences 1182 8420 497 6958 4781 10036 2090 6536
Social Sciences 2461 7732 781 5949 4367 6890 2152 5497
Total 8902 50830 3776 41636 20873 43692 9629 32947
Table 1 indicates that there were also major DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS"
differences in the number of females admitted in the The results in this study indicate that the first research
various academic disciplines across publicly-owned question "Is there major variability in the choice of
Nigerian universities in the year 2003. This trend also disciplines that male. and female students choose in
persisted in year 2007 and equally did cut across all publicly-owned Nigerian universities?" was answered
disciplines and states. in the affirmative. This shows that the socio~:economic
In Table 2, it has been shown that there were realities being faced by Nigerian youths (such as
significant differences in the number of students from unemployment - especially in some key sectors, the
the southern and northern states of Nigeria that were need to enter certain academic disciplines, and stiff
admitted into publicly- funded Nigerian universities. Not competition for admission slots or spaces) indeed
only did the southern states have more of their students influenced the choice of disciplines of men and women
admitted into publicly- funded universities, they also had in Nigeria.
more of their students in almost all the academic There was also major variability in the
disciplines under review. admission trends for Northern and Southern Nigerian
students at publicly-owned Nigerian universities. This
also answered research question 2 in the affirmative.
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~ Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
It similarly pointed to the often reported gaps in
education between the northern and southern parts of
Nigeria.
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students: The mediating effects of identity ·construction.
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Wood, FB. (2004). Preventing postparchment depression: a model ~O%
of career counseling for college seniors. Journal of 8J'''{'
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I~ • AfJl Ferrale South
Employment Counseling, Yo1.4 I No..2,-pp. 71-9. 70'''{'fIJ',.{, I I lil~If • AfJl Ferrale N:xth
Biographical Note ~,.{, I I I I I I I • AfJl MlIe Sa.th
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Nyitor Shenge(PhD) lectures in the Department of II I I -I:I)% 'I. II· • AfJl MlIe N:xth
Psychology, University ofibadan. He has published Xf',.{,
in national and international journals. His research 10'''{' I
-IiIIII ,II • ~ Ferrale SouthI I • ~ Ferrale N:xth
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interests include Industrial Psychology. • ~ MlIe South
• ~ MlIe N:xth
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UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY