Top 20 Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria
Growing up in Nigeria, our parents sold us a massive lie: “Just get a university degree, and your future is set.” Well, welcome to 2026. The economy is harsh, “sapa” is real, and having just any degree is the fastest way to stay broke. If you are about to enter the university, or you are planning a career switch, you need to know the Top 20 Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria. Let that sink in.
Spending four to five years battling ASUU strikes, terrible Lagos traffic, and erratic power supply just to graduate with a certificate nobody wants to hire you for is a tragedy. The truth is, the Nigerian job market has evolved completely. Corporate Nigeria does not care about your obscure theoretical knowledge. They care about what you can execute.
Quick List of the Top 20 Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria
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Christian / Islamic Religious Studies
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Library and Information Science
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Sociology
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Anthropology
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Zoology
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Botany
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Physical and Health Education (PHE)
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Home Economics
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Secretarial Administration
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Public Administration
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Philosophy
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Guidance and Counseling
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Forestry
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Social Work
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Political Science
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History and International Studies
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Geography
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Linguistics
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Local Government Administration
The Reality Behind the Top 20 Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria
Here is the thing. Being on this list does not mean the field of study is inherently bad. It simply means that in the current Nigerian reality, the return on investment for these degrees is practically zero unless you drastically pivot.
1. Christian / Islamic Religious Studies
Nobody asks for a university degree to become a pastor, an Imam, or a religious leader in Nigeria. Your calling is your calling. Spending four years studying this in a university leaves you with zero competitive advantage in the corporate world. If you already have this degree, your best bet is to pivot into content writing or community management where empathy and communication actually pay the bills.
2. Library and Information Science
When last did you visit a physical public library to do research? We all use Google and AI now. The traditional library system in Nigeria is severely underfunded and rarely hiring. To survive, you must drop the books and learn how to organize digital data. Transition into SEO or data management.
3. Sociology
Studying human behavior is great, but Nigerian companies are not hiring “sociologists.” The course is way too broad. If you check the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics for employment data, you will see a high unemployment rate for general arts and social science graduates. The smart move here is to narrow your focus and pivot into Human Resources (HR) or User Experience (UX) Research.
4. Anthropology
We do not fund archaeological digs or cultural preservation research in this country. It is that simple. You will graduate and immediately realize there are no job titles for your course. Use the analytical skills you gained to move into market research or consumer behavior analysis for tech startups.
5. Zoology
You cannot spend five years studying animals in a country where the local zoos are barely functioning. The demand for zoologists is non-existent. You have to be smart and quickly move into the agrotech sector or environmental consulting if you want to make actual money.
6. Botany
Just like zoology, plant science in a purely theoretical university setting will not get you a job in Abuja or Lagos. The research grants are simply not there. Your way out is modern commercial agriculture or agricultural supply chain management.
7. Physical and Health Education (PHE)
You do not need a university degree to be a personal trainer or a gym instructor. Most successful fitness coaches on Instagram built their brand on results, not university certificates. If you want corporate money, pivot into sports management or occupational health and safety.
8. Home Economics
Being taught how to bake and sew in a university setting is a massive waste of time in 2026. Top caterers and fashion designers in Nigeria learned on the job and mastered social media marketing. Skip the degree, take a masterclass, and start your business.
9. Secretarial Administration
Computers, smartphones, and AI assistants completely wiped out the traditional “typist” and secretary roles. If you are stuck with this degree, upgrade yourself immediately. Become a highly paid remote Virtual Assistant for foreign clients.
10. Public Administration
Unless your father is a senator or you have massive political connections, this certificate is just a piece of paper. The Nigerian civil service is incredibly hard to get into without “long legs.” Shift your focus to project management and get certified in agile methodologies.
11. Philosophy
Thinking deeply about life does not pay the bills when a bag of rice is ridiculously expensive. Corporate Nigeria does not hire philosophers. You must pivot into analytical roles. Law, critical writing, or business strategy are where your argumentative skills will actually be rewarded.
12. Guidance and Counseling
Secondary schools in Nigeria rarely hire dedicated, well-paid counselors. They usually just assign the role to a random senior teacher. To survive, take your understanding of human psychology and move into corporate HR or mental health tech startups.
13. Forestry
There is virtually no commercial forestry sector in Nigeria that hires regular graduates. Deforestation is a problem, but nobody is paying you to fix it. Pivot into Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) consulting, which is highly sought after by modern corporations.
14. Social Work
Nigeria’s social welfare system is practically non-existent. There are no state-funded welfare checks or foster care systems that provide massive employment. Your best route is finding work with international NGOs or humanitarian agencies.
15. Political Science
You do not learn Nigerian politics in a classroom. The theories you study will crash against the reality of the streets. It is purely academic. Pivot into journalism, public relations, or data journalism.
16. History and International Studies
There is an incredibly high supply of history graduates and absolutely zero demand. If you want a globally relevant career, you must read the World Economic Forum’s latest jobs report and realize that tech skills rule the world. Shift into tech sales, diplomacy, or corporate communications.
17. Geography
Google Maps and advanced satellite imaging took your job. You cannot make a living pointing out rivers and mountains. You need to upgrade aggressively into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data analysis.
18. Tourism and Event Management
The biggest event planners in Lagos who organize massive “owambes” did not study event management. They have street smarts and insane vendor networks. Experience trumps degrees here. Go learn essential digital marketing skills and build a brand.
19. Linguistics
Knowing the structure of language is useless unless you apply it to modern technology. Nobody is paying you to break down syntax. However, if you pivot into Natural Language Processing (NLP) or tech localization for global brands expanding into Africa, you will print money.
20. Local Government Administration
Good luck getting a job in a local government secretariat without knowing someone at the top. It is a highly politicized environment. Take the administrative knowledge you have and pivot entirely into private sector Business Administration.
Final Thoughts on Surviving the Job Market
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Degrees do not guarantee jobs anymore: Your university certificate is just a gate pass. Your actual high-income skills are what will keep you in the room and get you paid.
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Embrace the career pivot: If your course is on the Top 20 Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria list, do not panic. The smartest Nigerians learn completely new digital skills and pivot into tech, marketing, or finance within a year.
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Networking beats grades: A second-class lower with solid industry connections and street smarts will always out-earn a first-class graduate who only knows textbooks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I am already studying one of these courses?
Do not drop out. Finish the degree, but immediately start learning a high-income digital skill like data analysis, digital marketing, or software design on the side. Your degree will fulfill the basic HR requirement, but your skills will get you the actual job.
Why is my course considered one of the Top 20 Useless Courses to Study in Nigeria?
It is a matter of supply and demand. The Nigerian economy simply does not create enough jobs in theoretical, arts, or basic science fields. Industries are looking for revenue generators and problem solvers, not researchers.
Can I still be successful with a “useless” degree?
Absolutely. Most successful professionals in Nigeria are doing jobs completely unrelated to what they studied. Your degree does not define your destiny; your adaptability does. Use the internet, upskill, and refuse to be boxed in by your university certificate.
