The Top-Selling Engineering Branches in Nigeria
If you are wondering about the right career path to follow for better opportunities in Nigeria, then this post will be very useful to you. In this post, we will be discussing the various engineering branches in Nigeria that can help you after certifications and acquiring the necessary skill.
Why You Need Top-Selling Engineering Branches in Nigeria
There are currently over thirty branches of engineering that you can choose from as long as the engineering career is concerned. It all depends on what you want as an individual, your dreams and interests in the field of engineering usually play a vital role in making choices in engineering courses.
However, if your intention is to go into an engineering branch with the aim of becoming financially independent, employability skills, high chances of being employed in most companies in Nigeria, etc. Then you need to make your choice according to the known current list of the Top-Selling Engineering Branches in Nigeria.
It is important that things are changing just as the technology trends are changing. More innovations are coming up and these innovations tend to change the phase of the branches of engineering actually needed.
In the past, most of the mother engineering Branches dominates the ranking of the top-selling engineering branches in Nigeria.
However, these days, the game has changed. Mostly needed top-selling engineering branches in Nigeria are focused on the modern technology trends which have directed attention to the more focused and specialized engineering branches carved out from the existing ones to address the specific problems.
As it has always been said, division of labor leads to specialization. Some of the newly specialized engineering branches such as Software engineering, Mechatronics, and automation, Instrumentations and controls, plastic engineering, corrosion engineering, Quality control engineering, etc. have actually appeared higher in demand in many countries within and outside Nigeria.
Their demand is not because they are newly known in the list of engineering Branches. Rather, they aimed at addressing specific challenges in the industries and society at large.
The List Of The Top-Selling Engineering Branches In Nigeria And Why They Are Needed Most
Computer/Digital Hardware
Remember we have computer engineering as a mother branch of engineering which initially covered both the software aspects of computer and its software. However, the introduction of software engineering actually limited the scope of modern computer engineering to the hardware section.
While software engineering extends beyond computer software to all aspects of the software in modern technology, computer engineering now focuses on the repairs, assembling, manufacturing, and parts making of computer hardware.
However, the inclusion of computer/digital Hardware into modern computer engineering extends its scope beyond the making of computer hardware to those of other digital devices such as phones, digital cameras, Gadgets, and lots more.
The branch of engineering handles the hardware repair of various types of digital devices from desktops, laptops, printers, cameras, phones, and gadgets.
Why High Demand for Computer/Digital Hardware?
The demand for this branch of engineering has increased significantly due to the increased use of digital devices in Nigeria. Those computers, phones, printers, cameras, and other gadgets need consistent maintenance and repair.
As a result, companies that are merchants of these devices always need a computer/digital hardware engineer to take care of the products sold to customers and the ones returned back.
Some graduates with the necessary skills in this branch of engineering have gone ahead to open a workshop in public places to service and repair damaged computers and other digital devices.
Software engineering
Just as the name sounds, the branch of engineering speaks for itself. It is the branch of engineering that focuses on the creation, repair, and maintenance of software used by computers, phones, gadgets, printers, and modern induindustrial machines, including cars, aircraft, and drones.
Software engineering is a very wide branch of engineering dealing with all issues surrounding software. It involves making digital applications known as Apps, repair of faulty Apps, creating digital interfaces, website developments, data control and management, and various aspects of software, it is almost limitless.
It is believed that Cybersecurity engineering and social engineering were two new branches of engineering carved out from software engineering.
The first addresses the security aspects of software and its operation, while the latter addresses how to use software to communicate effectively in a manner that meets the intended motive.
Why High Demand for Software engineering?
The answer is very obvious. The increasing use of digital devices by individuals and industries has left no other option than to sort for the services of software engineers. They create, develop, and repair software for those digital devices.
Instrumentation and Control
This comes third on the list. A well-known special branch of engineering is believed to have been carved out of electrical and mechanical engineering. It deals with the creation, repair, and control of instruments used in the industries. The industrial instruments are the facilities attached to the major machines in the industries.
The instruments are responsible for data collection, analyses, controlling of the machines, digitalization of systems in operation, automation of industrial hardware systems, and lots more.
Why Instrumentation and Control Engineers are highly Needed
Their high demand comes from the need for automation and control in modern industries. Minimization of energy consumption. And the rate of machine damage through proper hardware automation using instruments and sensors for actuating the necessary machine and units when needed only.
Most engineers that studied instrumentation and control always have better career opportunities in Nigeria due to their high demand.
Mechatronics engineering
Mechatronics engineering is another newly introduced branch of engineering in the list of the Top-Selling Engineering Branches in Nigeria. A branch believed to have been carved out from Mechanical engineering and electronics engineering.
Mechatronics engineering focuses on the ability to automate modern machines electronically using advanced software synchronized with powerful mechanized energy sources for the machine. The evidence of mechatronics engineering can be seen in modern robot developments.
As a matter of fact, it is an advanced and modern way of making fully automated machines known as robots. While some countries call it Robotics and automation engineering, the well-known name used by the University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria in Mechatronics engineering.
Why Mechatronics Engineering is Highly Needed
Though Nigeria is not on the list of countries adopting artificial intelligence at a high scale. The fact that modern industrial machines are controlled by AI and fully software automated systems has placed high demand for this new profession.
The building of drones, remote-controlled mechanical devices, mobile app-controlled mechanical devices, computer-controlled mechanical devices, and the synchronization of these devices with their software is part of the scope of mechanical engineering.
Based on the above, their demand seems unlimited and believed to be the future of engineering since we are heading to the era of fully artificial intelligence control of human activities,.
Electrical Electronic engineering
This is among the Top-Selling Engineering Branches in Nigeria. Electrical electronics engineering is not a new name but rather a branch of engineering believed to have been carved out of the old electrical engineering.
It focuses mainly on devices using the power from electricity as the main source of energy. This implies that all electrical appliances are referred to as electronics because they depend on electrical power to operate.
Why the Demand for Electrical electronics is high
The demand for electrical electronics in Nigeria is high because of the high rate of usability of electronics in Industries and homes. The servicing industries need skilled and experienced electrical electronics engineers that will be taking care of the electronics for clients.
Not only that, industries employ electrical electronics engineers to address all the maintenance problems relating to various electronics aspects of the industries’ facilities.
Mechanical Engineering
This is also among the Top-Selling Engineering Branches in Nigeria. However, mechanical engineering has various sub-branches such as automotive engineering, HVAC engineering, Power-Plants Engineering, Manufacturing engineering, etc.
Among other sub-branches of mechanical engineering the four mentioned above appear to be in high demand in Nigeria than others.
The Automotive engineer acquires the skill to build, repair, and maintain automobiles such as cars, bikes, bicycles, etc.
The HVAC engineer acquires the skill to build, repair, and maintain various types of air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. Cold rooms, household refrigerators, etc.
The power-plant Engineer acquires the skill to build, repair, and maintain turbines. The various aspects of energy turbines such as Wind turbines, Gas turbines, Steam turbines, and lots more.
The manufacturing engineer acquires the skill to build various types of machines used in the making of products by industries. The design, fabrication, and construction of various industrial machines, and their operations.
Why Mechanical Engineering is Highly Need
The importance of mechanical engineering cannot be overemphasized in any society. As a matter of, it stands as one of the oldest known engineerings to humans. In Nigeria, the various sub-branches of mechanical engineering are needed for their specific skills.
However, due to the fact that all the sub-branches of mechanical engineering undergo the same training and course content at the early stage of the program in the higher institutions, it is usually easy to switch a particular mechanical engineer to do the task of another sub-branch of mechanical engineer even though not the engineer’s core area of specialization.
Nigerian Industries employ power-plant mechanical engineering mainly for the servicing and operations of their energy turbines.
Most of the automotive mechanical engineers in Nigeria are self-employed. Managing their own automobile maintenance and mini-parts fabrication workshops. While few are seen in industries relating to automotive services.
HVAC mechanical engineers are very visible in industries. They are the main crews in charge of servicing and installing of air-conditions and refrigerators in various industries. Their presences are high in cold room service industries as well.
The manufacturing mechanical engineers are well-known for entrepreneurship. Half of the engineers prefer independent workshops where locally made industrial machines are fabricated and sold to the industries in Nigeria.
While the rest who are opportune to secure a good-paying job do the same repairs and manufacture damaged parts of industrial machines in the industries that employed them. Manufacturing engineers work as machinists, AutoCAD designers, emergency Welders, etc. in Nigerian industries.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is another vast branch of engineering with sub-branches. It is among the Top-Selling Engineering Branches in Nigeria. Structural engineering and architectural engineering are among the sub-branches of civil engineering.
However, modern civil engineering appears to cover mostly road and bridge constructions while the building aspects have become the scope of structural engineering.
Why Civil Engineers are in high demand in Nigeria
The reason is not far from being obvious. As a developing country, civil works in road construction, and its related jobs are always available due to the majority of the road under construction as well as the creation of new roads.
Civil engineering companies in Nigeria such as Julius Berger, Setraco, RCC, CCECC, and many others employ a large number of Nigerian civil engineers to meet up with their jobs at hand. Though some of the jobs in the civil engineering sector are contract-based, some of the engineers are absorbed as staff when the contract has been completed and others lay off.
Above all, they earn a good salary within the period of the contract job.
Structural Engineering
Structural engineering has been exclusively channeled to buildings and structures within the society. It is believed to be an extension branch of civil engineering. A structural engineer combines the skill of applying necessary metallic and other materials in the building of the needed structure.
From the building of residential homes to the building of gigantic buildings such as skyscrapers. They work together with architecture to bring structural concepts into a reality.
Why Structural Engineers are in High Demand in Nigeria
Their popularity can be seen in erecting most of the aesthetic buildings. The modern buildings in Nigerian major cities are a sign of improvements in the structural engineering sector. Hence, they are in high demand to win building contracts from investors in real estate, residential homes contracts, and lots more.
Another area believed to have been covered by structural engineers is in the erection of telecommunication structures such as towers, and other gigantic structures within the society.
Chemical Engineering
This is another Top-Selling Engineering branch in Nigeria. Chemical engineers have two main opportunities in Nigeria. They work either as entrepreneurs or as employees in established companies. Soap manufacturing industries, paint manufacturing industries, cosmetics industries, fabrics and textiles industries, plastic industries, and many others in Nigeria employ a large number of chemical engineers who are vital mechanisms in the production of their products.
They create the necessary chemical combinations and ratios that create the uniqueness of products in various industries.
Why Chemical Engineers’ demand is High
Their high demand either as entrepreneurs or employees of a company is based on the high demand for chemical-related products which are part of the basic daily consumption products. Examples are soaps, detergents, creams, perfumes, toothpaste, and lots more.
The ones with unique skills go ahead to start mini-production of their own products while others find their way into related industries. However, it has been criticized that most chemical engineers earn a low salary in their respective industries. Though there are no statistics to support the claim.
Petroleum Processing Engineering
Petroleum processing engineering is assumed to be a sub-branch of chemical engineering. It focuses on the processing of crude oil into finished products as well as the extraction of natural gas and other gas in the process.
Why demand for Petroleum Processing Engineers is increasing
Due to the increasing number of unregistered refineries and the building of other known refineries and fertilizer plants, this aspect of engineering is gradually becoming the target of these industries. Their presence in these industries helps to ensure quality and due process in the production activities which in return, yields in safety.
Conclusion
The above Top-Selling Engineering Branches in Nigeria may change as the time progresses depending on many factors. Besides, there may be others not added to this post. Do us favor by contributing to the ones you have the records within your own areas of observation.
You can give us feedback using the comment section.
