Hello Nairalanders,It is indeed a lovely weekend for me, free of stressful activities and crowned with a favourable weather. I will like to quickly address the misconception most Nigerians have about the career prospects of some academic disciplines and my focus today is on Zoology which has been a bone of contention on Nairaland.Without beating around the bush, it is only graduates who don't know their onions as Zoologists that will look down on the degree they suffered to earn.CAREER PROSPECTS1. Research/Academia: Zoology is a discipline that most Nigerian Universities offer as a course of study. Zoology is a branch of biological sciences that deals with the study of animals, their structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits and how they interact with their ecosystem. At the postgraduate level, graduates of Zoology can specialize in any of the branches of Zoology including entomology, parasitology, palaentology, ethology, histology, environmental toxicology, pollution management, ornithology and an array of other sub-disciplines under Zoology. There are a lot of opportunities for Zoologists in the academia today especially with the establishment of more private, state and federal universities.2. Teaching: Graduates of Zoology and indeed any biological science can have a successful career teaching Biology, Health Science or Integrated Science at the Secondary School level. Extra income can come through marking of scripts for national examination bodies such as WAEC and NECO. That is for those who have a flare for teaching though.3. Environmental Consultants: Environmental Management forms a large part of the Zoology curriculum in Nigeria. Zoologists are well trained on ecosystem utilisation and management. With the current environmental challenges we face today, the expertise of zoologists and environmentalists are required by private and state owned environmental companies/agencies.4. Medical Lab Assistant/Medical Sales Rep: I know a couple of Zoologists (some on Nairaland) who work as lab assistants in medical laboratories in Lagos and Abuja and also some as MSR for pharmaceutical companies. A google search here and there will be of assistance in this regard.5. Zoological Gardens/Game Reserves/National Parks: The expertise of zoologists are mostly required in the development and management of zoological gardens, game reserves and national parks such as the Yankari Game Reserve, Kainji Lake National Park, Old Oyo National Parks, University of Ibadan Zoological Garden, etc. Apart from the biodiversity benefits of these parks/gardens, they are also a potential revenue generator for government as we can see in Kenya and South Africa where ecotourism serve as a source of generating huge revenue.6. MDAs: This is the part I love most because it is the part I know the most. All parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Environment recruits zoologists at all levels. I believe same can be said about the state ministries too. To further stress my point, the current DG of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) is a zoologist. The current DG of National Biosafety Management Agency has a 1st degree in Agricultural Science but has a Master degree in Environmental Biology (a discipline closely related and even a sub-discipline of Zoology in many universities).Today, many zoologists are working as environmental officers under the Federal Ministry of Environment (NOSDRA, NESREA, NAGGW, NBMA, NPS, FRIN), Science & Technology (NABDA, NASENI and others). I know a couple of zoologists working as hydrobiologists and environmentalists with NIMASA and DPR. Yes, DPR.The last publicly announced recruitment of DPR in 2010 actually requested zoologists to apply.http://www./hotjobs/407/dpr-graduate-trainee-jobs.htmlAnother friend of mine who is a graduate of zoology from a Northern University in Nigeria worked for several years with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) under the Federal Ministry of Health as a public health consultant and recently just transfered to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control. He plans to pursue a postgraduate degree in Public Health at an institution in the USA.It may also interest you to know that another zoologist (without a postgraduate degree) works with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS. Finally, there are a lot of MDAs where zoologists can fit in the Fed. Ministry of Environment, Science & Tech, Agriculture (NAIC, ARCN, etc), Health (NPHCDA, NACA, FMCs, THs), Transportation (NIMASA) and Petroleum Resources (NNPC and DPR).May I also add that zoologists can still work in banks, financial institutions and can fit it into other non-specialised roles in most organisations. A zoologist can even be president of Nigeria. LOL.Have a great weekend guys!
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