Picture this,

It’s your graduation day, and after all the festivities and numerous coolers of jollof rice, you get home, and there’s a shiny car in your compound. Your dad hands you the keys to the car, a new apartment, and then tells you you have a job that pays ₦2m monthly.

Wake up, dear.

Imagination wan wound you abi?

For many Nigerians, stepping into real life is the most daunting part of graduating from university, especially because of the country’s concerning unemployment crisis and insane inflation – It reached a record 34.60% in November 2024, the highest it’s been in almost 30 years.

President Tinubu, we greet (screamingshoutingkickingcursingcryingwailing) you.

Just like many other life challenges, there is no set/foolproof way to start off after university.

There are many options; starting a business, getting a job, getting another degree, money laundering, fraud, blood rituals…

(If it wasn’t clear, the last three suggestions are a joke. If they catch you doing what you’re not supposed to do, we will deny you. Godspeed.)

As we were saying, there are a plethora of options to choose from, but simply making a choice is not enough, you have to understand what’s behind those choices.

Us getting into our therapist bag…

So, this is for undergraduates and graduates alike, because the final years will fly by and you’ll be left asking yourself,

What do I want to do with my life? 

Figuring this out can be overwhelming, but another way to look at it is,  what brings you the most fulfilment?

Pro tip: You don’t need to have it all figured out – no one does. Also, oversabi is annoying, please). Understand what makes you happy and drives you, then apply that to your decisions moving forward.

E no too hard, dear.

What paths lead me there? 

Once you know what fulfils you, the paths forward become clearer.

For example, a passion for teaching might lead to a postgraduate degree in education, while a love for photography could inspire a career in content creation, starting with something as simple as posting on Instagram.

So…

Even if you can only come up with the most basic answers to the above questions, remember, you’re young, with your whole life ahead of you.

Now, let’s talk about a few of the paths available to you.

Start a Post Graduate Degree

If lecturers love you, and you love the books (very love triangle, Challengers, anyone?), maybe another degree is on the cards for you.

If you’re still an undergraduate, this is for you: getting a first-class degree is tough, but aim for a 2:1. It significantly improves your chances of getting opportunities and scholarships for further study or jobs.

Some people just managed to scrape past uni, so another degree is not for everyone, but for some careers – technical/knowledge-based professions like engineering, law, teaching… – it enhances your employability.

Example: If you are naturally curious about how things work and want to design and create new things, engineering may be your vibe. But because it’s a path that is so integral to society, a second degree means you really know your stuff and signals that to employers.

You see how it all ties back to what you want to do with your life?

Pro tip: You can check out The Graduate School Hub for help securing fully funded scholarships abroad.

So, do some research and see where it takes you.

Entrepreneurship, anyone?

According to a 2023 paper from Covenant University (Newo et al.), entrepreneurship is the “bedrock of Nigeria’s economy,” and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contribute 49.8% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

In other words, dear, without Nigerian entrepreneurship…

Anyways, entrepreneurship at its core is identifying a gap in a market and filling it yourself.

It sounds very business-ey, but it’s more than just building start-ups and having businesses.

Business

If the exchange of goods and services gets your motor running, like our girl, Edna, who is well-versed in turning skills to credit alerts, then there’s a good chance your head is in business.

Decide on what you want to sell, and how to provide value, then get into it – of course, there is a lot more to it, but this is the premise. You can check out Entrepreneurs.ng to get the skinny on how to start, set up, and scale your business, and/or take a project and product management course on Fuse Varsity.

The world? Just your oyster.

Content Creation

“I already knew the corporate life wasn’t for me and photography was already something I was in love with, so I put all my energy into it.” For Nekan, a 23-year-old University of Ilorin Business Education graduate, photographer and content creator living in Lagos, diving into his passion straight after uni was a no-brainer.

“Art is really all I’ve always known, it’s my purpose. I knew I had to make it happen”

For Nekan and many others, starting a career as a content creator is the easiest it’s ever been, because the barrier to entry is so low. All you need are a functional smartphone and a dream.

If you’re the friend who’s always capturing aesthetic moments, or you’re passionate about the intricacies of film – production, sound design, color – consider creating your own content.

A good starting point is finding a creator whose work you admire and using their style as a template. Don’t outright copy them (make them no sue you), but by following their lead, you’ll figure out what works for you and how to make your content your own.

If you’re still in your final year, why not make some content off the shege some of your lecturers are most likely showing you?

Freelancing

A freelancer is essentially a self-employed person who offers their skills and services to multiple clients on a project-by-project basis.

While there are disadvantages, it can be a pretty sweet deal.

For Nigel, a freelance product designer, and Electrical Electronics graduate of Afe-Babalola University, “It was scary” when he graduated three years ago and faced the real world.

“I just knew I wanted to have something doing that wasn’t a 9-5 and I also wanted to take it step-by-step”

So you see, anyone can be a freelancer, as long as you provide value.

Most freelancers market themselves using word of mouth – this is how Nigel got his start – referrals, social media, and services like Upwork and Jobberman.

Oya, time to go and start screaming (advertising yourself) in the middle of the express.

Goodluck, Babe!

Apply for a Graduate Job

A graduate programme is essentially an entry-level job offered by a company. They offer structured learning, on-the-job training, mentorship, and sometimes formal coursework.

Ideal for those aiming for corporate careers, these usually well-paid, annual programs are highly competitive because you don’t need experience to apply.

Clement, an International Relations graduate, had no idea what his path was going to be when he graduated almost three years ago, he just knew he wanted “something stable”.

“Honestly, I applied to [an investment bank] graduate programme because I heard it was a great way to get into finance without any prior knowledge. I just wanted to make serious money.”

At 22 years old, after passing a year of classes, coursework and training, he is now an investment portfolio manager and having a smashing time.

Anyway, keep an eye on any big corporate companies you’d like to work in, they’re the ones more likely to offer graduate programmes as they have the resources to facilitate such extensive training.

If your mother’s prayers work, you just might get into one!

Buy yourself more time with the National Youth Service Corps

Although the thought of NYSC (a year of government service) may not be the most appetising, consider it extra time for self-discovery.

Think of it as an involuntary gap year…

“NYSC just felt like the natural next step after university. It felt like what I was supposed to do, so I did it, even though the whole experience was kind of annoying.”

For Dami, who graduated from The University of Lagos with a degree in Mass Communication in 2022, NYSC was the logical next step.

“Even though it wasn’t my favourite experience, I got some clarity from it, because I got retained at Poke, the advertising agency I was posted to, and now I work in marketing communications, a field I’m excelling in”

Moral of the story: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Get an Internship/apprenticeship

Internships, popularly called “IT”, are like temporary gigs that give students and recent grads hands-on experience, especially in fields like comms, finance, and tech.

Apprenticeships are similar but focus on trades like photography, painting, or fashion.

For Hadiza, a Fountain University graduate and entrepreneur, her student internship at Nasco was pivotal.

“I studied accounting, so naturally I got an internship in the books department of a big company, and omo, it was what made me realise I didn’t want to even use my degree when I graduated. I hated it so much.”

So, obviously, they’re great at helping you decide the right career fit.

Internships, especially as a student, are a great opportunity to forge professional bonds that might give you a leg up when you graduate, so, treat them as a valuable resource that could potentially springboard you into your dream career.

While often unpaid (sorry), they bridge the gap between school and the real world – especially for jobs needing experience. Loads of companies and creators offer internships, so if you have a career path in mind, there’s probably one for you.

Ma fo, you’re in the driver’s seat.

Run away (Japa)

Would this guide be complete without the option to run away from the danger that is Nigeria?

Okay, but seriously, we know that leaving the country can be hard, from the tighter immigration restrictions on Nigerian passport holders (dual citizens please, get out), to the expenses of visas and tickets.

No be small thing.

The most common “japa” routes are studying abroad (getting a degree and then a job or graduate visa), landing a job with visa sponsorship, or having a close relative abroad sponsor a family visa.

These aren’t the only options, and even if you’re short on resources now, it’s worth looking into, especially if you aced your first degree, there are competitive scholarships that could help with the study route.

You’re welcome.

 

After reading this article, you may be thinking, wow, look at all these gems! And yes, of course we are generous, benevolent, wise, insightful, and all-round amazing – we prefer spectacular but, your words, not ours -  but that’s not the point.

The point is, life after university can be scary and it will challenge you, but one thing that will make it easier (Ahmad’s Journal guarantee) is knowing what drives you, and following that path, even if it isn’t straightforward.

That’s why in conjunction with the recommendations in this article, we also took time to craft The Post-Graduation Index.

We believe the word you’re looking for is “spectacular”.

The Post-Graduation Index

 

Let’s put aside all the long talk and boil things down.

Your life is your own.  So, what will you do with it? 

No pressure, of course.

Apart from that existential quezzie, what item on this list are you open to exploring? Are you looking forward to NYSC?

Indulge us in the comments below.

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