“We who dey for Naija know say Naija things be tough.”
Yes…You are finally done with secondary school. Your old high school life is now just a memory. Now it’s up to you to look forward to your university life.
And yes… It’s a Nigerian University you are going to. Most people who looked this up on Google are most likely scared or nervous about how your first year in a Nigerian University would be. But don’t be.
Nigeria is usually underestimated by many, including Nigerians themselves. Still, when you look deep into the best universities in Nigeria, you will find out that we are easy to get along and most of the new faces you would meet there probably looked up this same topic.
It could be a bit tough depending on the course you’re going for and some little misconceptions. That’s why we gathered seven ways to prepare for university life in Nigeria!
Seven Ways to Prepare for University Life in Nigeria!
Learn to Be More Organized
Gaining admission into a university in Nigeria is no mean feat. To survive, you must be prepared for all that university life will throw at you. For this reason, you have to learn to be much more organized than usual.
This is because, in the University, you are no longer under the eyes of your parents or beneath the careful guidance of your teachers. There could be no updates on tests, and there could also be no reminders for assignments and deadlines.
There are other social activities you might want to be a part of and other educational activities that are constantly thrown at you. So, it would be good for you to learn to be more organized.
You could practice marking deadlines in your calendar. This could be a physical calendar or an online calendar like Google Calendar and setting reminders. It would also be wise to figure out what works best for you before your resumption at your preferred tertiary institution.
You should also practice setting monthly and weekly goals and using to-do lists. This will help you start each week and each day with purpose and get things done.
Spend Time Getting a Better Knowledge of Your Chosen Career Path
If you want to prepare for a university in Nigeria, one of the ways to do so is to spend time getting a better knowledge of your chosen career path.
There are a lot of resources online that can help with your research. Peruse as many books as possible and try to have a broader view of your chosen career. This will help you better understand your courses at the University and put you in a more ready stance.
Another advantage would be that it could reveal several career opportunities you would otherwise have overlooked. This will give you a better sense of direction and help you take academics more seriously.
Set a Time to Read and Study Daily
Before resuming at your chosen institution of learning, a good idea would be to adjust to a daily reading schedule. This will help you continue the habit even while in school.
This is because you are responsible for your academic success within the four walls of the University, and the courses are bulkier than what you would have been used to in your secondary school.
For this reason, having a set reading schedule would help you slowly chip away at the huge reading you have to get done and help you achieve the best grades at the University.
Decide on Your Accommodation Options
As a student preparing for university life in Nigeria, you must decide where you intend to live during your academic pursuit. Will you be staying on campus within school hostels, or will you be staying in a rented apartment in the surrounding environs of your University?
You also have to consider the cost and if you would be able to meet the relevant demands. It’s usually cheaper to stay on campus, but that would require you to pay your school fees early so you can apply early enough to get space. This is the usual routine in a Nigerian University. Therefore, if a school hostel is your preferred choice, you must also plan towards it.
Create a List and Begin to Make Purchases
One of the ways to prepare when starting a university in Nigeria is to create a list of items you will need upon your resumption. This list also depends on your choice of accommodation.
If you are staying in the school hostel, you might not need a lot of things as there would be no space to keep them in the first place. You should also make a list based on how much your budget could cover.
Due to the fluctuating price of items in Nigeria, you should keep in mind when making your budget that prices could increase. It would be best to begin your shopping early enough to avoid rush hour preparations, where people often forget to purchase items or purchase fewer quality items for lack of time.
Seek Help and Ask Questions
One of the best ways to fully prepare for life in a Nigerian University is to seek help and ask questions before you resume at your University of choice.
If you know someone already in a tertiary institution who has graduated, it is a great idea to ask them questions about how they coped and managed their time.
If you know a lecturer or staff at the University or any university at all, you could equally ask questions about how to be a great student and how to read and pass examinations.
These people are, more often than not, usually willing to help and will give you a whole load of good counsel. It will also help you be more prepared emotionally, mentally and academically. It could also highlight areas you might have missed in your preparations.
Knowing a senior colleague in your chosen field of study would give you amazing benefits. You could ask them for materials and tutorials to help you be better prepared for school.
Learn A Self Employable Skill
In Nigeria, many students discover after and before graduating that life does not completely revolve around their certificates.
In such a competitive world, it would be in your best interest to learn a self-employable skill. With online courses and videos, it’s easier to learn a skill than ever, apart from being an alternative life career and good use of your time.
A self-employable skill will greatly help you financially while in the University.
Many students in the University support themselves by working part-time or using one skill or the other. Learning a self-employable skill, preferably a digital one, will set you apart and help you support yourself financially during tough times at school.
Conclusion
Studying at a university in Nigeria is no small feat. It requires a lot of concentration and determination to come out strong and successful in your academic pursuits.
Despite this being the case, preparing for university life in Nigeria would go a long way to help you have smooth sailing in your chosen academic institution.
In a world of its own, learning how to stay organized, preparing early, asking questions and seeking help and learning self-employable skills could help you massively while living as a university student in Nigeria.
Leave a Comment