MARRYING AGRICULTURE DEGREE WITH COMPUTER FLAIR

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Hi Jarus, I am a 200level student in a Nigerian university in the department of Animal Science. I got to know about Jarushub through a friend and when I checked your site, I was highly impressed by your laudable mentoring work.


I’ll like to make enquiry about the career path which I can follow and the programmes I can do apart from the course I’m currently studying to give myself an edge in the job market. Although, in seminars organized by the HOD, we were made to realize that an animal science graduate can be self-employed by setting up a poultry farm or livestock farm. But due to the risk involved, and the capital to set up the business, I think it is unrealistic. Also, I’m not so much interested in it. This has made me to start considering other career paths which I can follow.


Considering my analytical and problem-solving skill, my insatiable thirst for learning new things and natural interest in working with a computer, I’m confused about the career I can venture into that all the skills mentioned above will be put into use. Also, I’ll like to know other skills which I’ll need to develop to be highly successful in the field.

I’ll be very grateful for quick response.

Yours Faithfully

M.

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farm1

Dear M,

JELIL ADEBOLA, B.Tech (First Class), LAUTECH

I ran your case by friends that are more familiar with your field and they have these to say:

He can apply for a banking job after graduation. Some consulting firms like Accenture consider graduates from all fields, so he can also look into consulting (Management or Information Technology).

He will make a good programmer if interested, considering the skills he listed above.

ADAM ABULRAHMAN, B.Agric (UNIMAID)

After graduation, he should write GASE( Graduate animal science examination) and if he passes he will be inducted as a member national institute of animal science (NIAS)…I wanted to study animal science but was placed into agric economics…With animal science you don’t need government to survive after graduation.

ABDULMAJEED KABIR. Bsc Electrical Engineering (First Class), Osun State University

Animal science and computers don’t contradict. Infact I don’t think computers contradict anything. With passion for computers, he can always think of how to optimize and incorporate both, revolutionize his field. To drop from an Agric course after 2 years and re-write UTME (Since I don’t think he can cross from Agric to Computer Science in school) all in the name of an almost inexistent job could be suicidal. I would say he should plan to be an entrepreneur and that’s what his course is all about. It’s also not really clear; ‘career path’; course of study or technical skills?. Most importantly, God is the best planner.

ROAD TO VI PRINT2

[ROAD TO VICTORIA ISLAND: FROM SCHOOL TO THE WORKPLACE, TIPS TO FLYING HIGH]

T.T. LAWAL, Bsc Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Ife

Not all students that studied in the faculty of agriculture, I mean agriculture graduate, will find themselves in the farm. It’s just a personal decision that each individual has to make. I will advise him to look into his niche while he is still in school and look for the enormous opportunities that he can harness. He should ask himself what he really wants from the field and decipher how to actualize his dream. What I realized is that B. Agric is just a MEANS of reaching an END. The rule is that he should be contented with what he is doing, be sure he makes the best out of it. And afterwards several opportunities will come his way. He will only be able to explore the opportunity if he stand tall among his pairs.

In my case, the thing that helped me was my decision to do participatory learning. I enjoyed every part of the faculty. I set a target for myself. I told myself, I don’t want a first class although initially I had the potential to be a first class student.

In my part 2, I contested and became the Secretary of my faculty association. And throughout I held one post or the other even in the student union of the university. Yet, my target was 4.0/5.0. These activities afforded me the opportunity to meet different people and develop myself to the level I want.

Today I am a certified occupational, safety health and environment personnel, IOSHE AND NEBOSH certified. I am pursuing my graduate degree in environmental science. And I hope to pursue a career in industrial hygiene.

He should just set a target for himself and should avoid youthful exuberance and some good things associated with social life. His friends would call him all sort of names – alfa, impotent, bush boy etc. But he should remain focused

I know it was not easy being myself. But I did. he should do, too.
So there you have it. Just pursue it diligently and try to make a good grade (minimum of 2.1). You may or may not go into agriculture field, but you have to face it first. Like Jelil mentioned, you can actually use Agric degree to get job in a company like Accenture, which doesn’t specify field when recruiting fresh graduates, once someone made 2.1. Accenture has technology consulting arm, so you can kickstart your computer career there, even with a first degree in Agric. In other words, what should be paramount in your mind is making good grade.
I wish you all the best.
Jarus
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