Nigerian Professors’ Salary: See How Much They Earn

The process of becoming a professor in Nigerian professor is a long and also an interesting one. Many researchers and lecturers often become professors after many years of dedicated research and scholarship.

In this post, you will learn about the average salary of a Nigerian professor.

But first, let’s take a look at the salary of lecturers in general.

Nigerian Professors’ Salary: See How Much They Earn

The average salary of a lecturer II is between N1,649,509 and N1,979,640 per annum while a lecturer I is paid N2,079,996 to N2,684,010 per annum.

A senior lecturer earns N3,091,505 to N4,455,506 per annum while a reader earns N3,768,221 to N5,004,750 yearly.

The salary of a professor falls between N4,580,349 – N6,020,163 yearly. This salary applies to state and Federal Government institutions. Typically, the private university pays more than government institutions.

Additionally, the salary levels can vary considerably for university professors, depending on a variety of factors, such as their personal qualifications, academic qualifications, administrative responsibilities of the job, and the specific faculty and university they work for.

Professors also earn money from their sabbatical leave which enables them to do per time contract jobs with other universities.

If you are looking to become a university professor, we have included an overview of the process below.

First, you have to be highly dedicated in your chosen field of academics and show high levels of academic achievement at all levels.

Typically, you need to have a doctoral degree in a chosen field, which generally takes students 6 years of full-time study upon the completion of a bachelor’s degree program. Some universities or faculties within some universities may make exceptions to this, as they may hire those who have a master’s degree or hire doctoral degree candidates. This is more common among associate and assistant level professors.

University professors who teach in professional faculties, such as law, may not be required to have a doctoral level education. Instead, schools may seek professors who have experience or certification in the field they wish to teach.

The job description of the University Professor involves preparing course materials and teaching courses to undergraduate and graduate students of degree-granting institutions. Professors may also teach courses in lecture, seminar, laboratory or field study formats. Additionally, university professors may also conduct research related to their field of expertise.

Below is a summary of the job duties of the University Professor

• Assign, review and evaluate coursework and examinations
• Conduct research in the field of specialization and publish findings in scholarly journals or books
• Direct research programs of graduate students
• May act as a consultant to government agencies, private individuals, industry, and other organizations
• May conduct laboratory or field study sessions
• Prepare course materials
• Teach one or more courses to undergraduate and graduate students

Skills Needed to Become a University Professor

In order to become effective in a career as a university professor and perform your job duties with competence, you need to possess a certain set of skills. These skills are typically acquired as a result of years of study in a chosen field of study, as well as work experience as a student teaching assistant.

• High level of knowledge in the area of instruction and/or research
• Excellent verbal communication skills, both for lecturing and communicating with colleagues
• Excellent writing skills, for publishing research and analysis
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• An aptitude for research
• Able to effectively evaluate student progress

Generally, not every professor becomes very successful. There are professors that are just average in their field. If you would like to become a highly successful professor, there are some traits you should possess, some of which have been highlighted below:

• High level of enthusiasm for the chosen academic field
• Enjoy motivating and inspiring students
• Enjoy sharing information with others
• Enough self-confidence to present information in front of large groups of students
• A commitment to continuous professional development
• Enjoy compiling information and preparing lecture materials
• Enjoy challenging existing theories or beliefs

Also, it is never too early to prepare for life as a professor even if you are an undergraduate student. One of the first steps to take is to choose a course of study that you love. It won’t make sense if you want to be a Professor of Medicine and you’re studying accounting.

Additionally, you will need to gain relevant career experience by working as a graduate teaching assistant while you are a graduate student. Typically students working as graduate teaching assistants do so in the school in which they are enrolled as a graduate student.

It is important to have relevant career experience because academic positions are highly competitive, and many universities prefer to hire professors who have teaching experience.

You can also speak to your professors about your career ambitions.

Finally, we have highlighted the classification of ranks and titles for University Professors so that you can understand the career progression.

There are 4 major titles of university professors and we have also included the criteria needed to earn them.

Instructor: Typically, instructors hold a minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent. In addition, they must have completed most or all of the requirements for the doctorate or equivalent, and they are expected to demonstrate effectiveness as a university teacher.

Assistant Professor: Generally, an assistant professor has earned a doctoral or professional degree (such as a law degree) or equivalent. They must also demonstrate a commitment to teaching and scholarly or professional work of high calibre. Associate professors are typically expected to participate in university affairs at least at the department level.

Associate Professor: The difference between an associate professor and an assistant professor is that the associate must also have a national reputation as a scholar or professional. They are also expected to demonstrate public, professional, or university service outside aside from their departmental responsibilities.

Professor: Professors must typically meet the requirements for appointment as an associate professor. In addition, they must have a distinguished record of accomplishment that leads to an international or, as appropriate, national reputation in their field of expertise.