The biggest employment industries in Nigeria

In Nigeria, a high income is attainable in every industry, although specific sectors provide better pay and perks than others. What are the best industries to work for in Nigeria? What has the most openings? You might question, how can a job seeker such as yourself enhance their chances? This page will address these and other questions.

The biggest employment industries in Nigeria are often taken into consideration by Nigerian students who are about to enter college. In doing so, they are able to work towards a career that shall offer security, growth, and financial stability in the long run.

Scholarships for Africans will show you what sectors employ the most people in Nigeria and what jobs you may get if you pursue specific courses or gain certain skills. These sectors are rated based on employee feedback, corporate cultures, work-life balance, and great pay and benefits.

What are the Biggest Employment Industries in Nigeria?

Oil and Gas Industry

The oil and gas business includes exploring for, extracting, refining, and marketing hydrocarbons as petroleum products. The oil and gas business is one of Nigeria’s finest and most sought-after job sectors, contributing almost 70% of total government income.

As Africa’s biggest oil producer with over 40 billion barrels of proven reserves, many job seekers aspire to work and own their businesses. This industry’s employers are ready to invest in transformational initiatives and innovate to make their workplaces better for their workers.

Choosing an Oil and Gas Career

Enormous employment possibilities exist in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry for both technical and non-technical people. Petroleum careers include drilling engineering, energy engineering, petroleum engineering, geology, geochemistry, mud logging, petroleum economics, and many more.

Several most prominent players and employers of labor include: Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, Total, and others are significant participants in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

Agriculture Industry

Soil cultivation and animal raising are practices in agriculture in Nigeria. According to a World Bank study, agriculture is Nigeria’s most considerable employment and source of revenue.

People in Nigeria’s agricultural sector mostly grow and process cash crops, including cocoa, peanuts, and cotton, as well as palm oil. They also grow animals for commercial purposes, such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and fish.

Despite its reliance on oil and gas, agriculture still provides 25% of Nigeria’s GDP and employs about 70% of its workforce.

Agriculture is vital to all Nigerians, and it benefits the economy. Thus, it is no wonder that the said livelihood has become one of the biggest employment industries in Nigeria.

Choosing an Agriculture Career

Agricultural occupations in Nigeria are rewarding and profitable. Working conditions in the Nigerian agriculture sector range from commercial farming to agricultural engineering for equipment and machinery manufacturers.

Banking Industry

Banking is the business of taking deposits, making loans and facilitating financial transactions. With a GDP contribution of 2.5% and over 100,000 employees, Nigeria boasts a strong banking sector.

The Nigerian Central Bank conducted a significant bank consolidation operation in 2005 to prepare the banking industry for socio-economic development.

The initiative, which decreased the number of banks from 100 to around 30, enhanced the industry’s performance. Since the merger, bank personnel has expanded significantly, and many financial institutions have improved asset quality.

Choosing a Banking Career

A job in banking may be a good fit for you if you are interested in money management and financial transactions. As one of the country’s largest employers, many Nigerian graduates work in banking—and most Nigerian bankers have a Bachelor’s degree.

Healthcare Industry

Healthcare is the practice of providing organized medical treatment to improve people’s health. Healthcare is one of Nigeria’s fastest expanding sectors.

Nigeria, according to the WHO, has one of Africa’s most extensive health personnel resources. The healthcare system is burdened by a medical workforce density of 1 doctor per 2753 people.

Many Nigerians want to make a fortune in the lucrative healthcare industry. The Nigerian healthcare industry requires competent people from many backgrounds, including physicians and nurses.

Choosing a Healthcare Career

The positions in demand in Nigerian healthcare are diverse. Regardless of your professional strengths, you may utilize them in the healthcare industry.

The Nigerian healthcare system needs additional physicians and nurses. In addition, the benefits are well worth the years of study and hard work required to become a health care practitioner.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Industry

ICT includes digitally interacting devices, networks, software, and systems. Electronic information systems (EIS) are used to support, develop, and build business processes. Professionals of all stripes are constantly recruited in Nigeria’s ICT industry.

In 2019, the ICT industry contributed 13.04 percent to Nigeria’s GDP. The digital world in Nigeria is changing, and industry authorities are working to increase broadband penetration to enhance ICT’s contribution to the nation’s economic development. Top telecommunications firms in Nigeria include Airtel, Globacom, 9mobile, and MTN.

Choosing an ICT Career

As digital technology disrupts conventional business practices in Nigeria, job possibilities exist for individuals in many areas. In-demand job titles in Nigerian ICT include software engineering, telecommunications engineering, network engineering, project management, sales, and customer service professionals.

Entertainment Industry

Creating delight and pleasure is entertainment. Nigeria’s entertainment sector has exploded in recent years, gaining worldwide prominence.

Nigerian Film Industry (Nollywood), a significant participant in the entertainment industry, is the world’s second-biggest film producer. Consequently, Nollywood is one of the main drivers of Nigeria’s economic development, contributing about 1% to the country’s GDP yearly.

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2013, along with Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Kate Middleton, and Chinese tennis star Li Na. Burna Boy, a Nigerian singer, was also nominated for a Grammy in 2019.

The fact that films are performed and produced in English, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, and other local languages is one reason for the industry’s enormous success.

Choosing an Entertainment Career

The entertainment sector employs about 1 million people in Nigeria, second only to agriculture. Most performers, producers, and directors make considerably more than the national average.

Even though millions currently work in Nigerian entertainment, there is space for more. In the Nigerian entertainment business, you need to be innovative and outspoken.

Utility Industry

The utility business maintains and delivers essential services for economic and social development. In Nigeria, the utility sector, which includes firms that produce and distribute power and water, has grown steadily during the past six years.

The power sector dominates the utility business, generating about 12,500 MW of energy to fuel the nation’s economy.

Nigeria’s electricity consumption has grown naturally owing to population and industrialization. Nigeria’s present power production capacity is well behind demand, with about 20 million homes without electricity.

Choosing a Utility Career

Despite its shortcomings, Nigeria’s power sector employs thousands of people, making it one of the country’s largest employers. Various energy generating and distribution businesses in Nigeria hire job seekers, and thousands even work for the state water companies.

This industry needs electrical engineers, technicians, human resource specialists, accountants, and more.

Real Estate Industry

Land and buildings make up real estate. The real estate industry is one of Nigeria’s significant jobs and contributors to the GDP. In the second quarter of 2019, the real estate market contributed 6.4% to the GDP. Despite its enormous potentials, Nigeria’s real estate industry has struggled to grow consistently.

In 2019, the sector shrank by 2.31 percent, although efforts are being made to maximize its potential for the country. Hundreds of real estate businesses sprout up every year despite the difficulties, providing employment opportunities for Nigeria’s unemployed citizens.

Choosing a Real Estate Career

The Nigerian real estate industry is rapidly growing, providing numerous opportunities for people and companies to prosper. Real estate management, property management, land acquisition, architecture, real estate legal services, construction, and more career pathways are available.


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