Where can Sociologist work in Nigeria? -By Salim Yakubu Akko

The vista of people’s answers to the question “where can sociologist work in Nigeria?” have been scalding my tongue for long. Despite the numerous naked and factious answers to the question, it has been something wholeheartedly astonishing and very amazing to me, leaving me with wide-open mouth; how one would ask where as influential, significant, and cure to all societal problems as Sociologist can work in Nigeria?. There are tons of countless answers to this question and one will never ask where can Sociologist work in Nigeria through this fabulous article that provides fantabulous, splendiferous, and impeccably written answers to this question.

Firstly, there’s a need for people to understand some things that are related to the field of Sociogy in general: What is Sociology?Who is a Sociologist?What are Sociological Theories?Why is Sociological Theory important?What are the sociological perspectives and their significance?Why the generality of the field is important; whilemean, why is Sociology important?. Knowing these questions will undoubtfuly answer the question “where can sociologist work in Nigeria?” and not only in Nigeria, but where one who studies Sociology can work in the world at large.

What is Sociology?:

Sociology is the queen of all social sciences. It explains important subjects in our personal lives and provides solutions to the problems confronting us and our societies. As thus, Department of Sociology, UNC Chapel Hill, defines Sociology as the study of human social relationships and institutions. Adding that Sociologist subjects of matter are diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from family to state, from divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social stability to radical change in whole societies. Unifying the study of these diverse subject of study is sociologist’s purpose of understanding how human actions and consciousness both shape and are shaped by surrounding cultural and social structures. From this well captured definition, it’s without doubt that we can find the answer to the question “where can sociologist work in Nigeria?”.

Who is a Sociologist?:

The answer to the question “Who is a Sociologist?” can not be overemphasized. Sociologist is the one who studies Sociology. A Sociologist studies the behaviours of people as well as their diverse cultures, ethics, beliefs, linguistics, and everything that relates to man and his environment. Says the UNC CHAPEL HILL’s Department of Sociology, they investigate the social causes and consequences of such things as romantic love, racial and gender identity, family conflict, deviant behavior, aging, and religious faith. At the societal level, sociologist examine and explain matters like crime and law, poverty and wealth, prejudice and discrimination, schools and education, business firms, urban community, and social movements. At the global level, sociologist studies such phenomena as population growth and migration, war and peace, and economic development. Considering this clear picture of who is a “Sociologist” we can say that sociologists are needed in every part life: in business, government, health and everywhere in the world.

What is a sociological theory and its significance?:

Considering how sociological theories are significant, Wikipedia, defines a sociological theory as a supposition that intends to consider, analyze, and/or explain objects of social reality from a sociological perspective , drawing connections between individual concepts in order to organize and substantiate sociological knowledge . And further adds that such knowledge is composed of complex theoretical frameworks and methodology. These theories range in scope, from concise, yet thorough, descriptions of a single social process to broad, inconclusive paradigms for analysis and interpretation . Some sociological theories explain aspects of the social world and enable prediction about future events, while others function as broad perspectives which guide further sociological analyses. Sociological theory have three main paradigms: Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, and Functionist Theory. Both of the paradigms explain different social realities in one way or the other.

Sociological perspectives:

Sociological perspectives are insights a sociologist have on social matters; seeing things differently from how they used to be. And sociologists believe that everything which relates to human behavior, culture, or whatever can be changed. I. Robertson in his article “Sociological Perspectives” published by Worth Publishers in 1981, says that sociological perspective invites us to look at our familiar surroundings in a fresh way. It encourages us to take a new look at the world we have always taken for granted, to examine our social environment with the same curiosity that we might bring to an exotic foreign culture.

Where can Sociologist Work in Nigeria?:

There’s no any other answer under the sun that can be fair enough to answer this specific question, apart from Sociologist can work everywhere in Nigeria and can play a vigorous role in everything relate to man and his physical environment. As thus, he can work as a social researcher, primary or secondary school teacher, political campaigner, Business entrepreneur, and can work as a Medical Sociologist in hospitals. From this few examples, it’s understandable and agreeable that sociologists can work in Nigeria in any sector, in Educational, Business, Health, Political, and in every sector.

Educational:

One who studies Sociology can work in primary or secondary school in Nigeria as a Pedagogue. In Nigerian schools, there’s a need of those who can teach students about life, roles of individual in a society, the believes and diverse cultures of social institutions. And Sociologists are the only ones with the wide knowledge of human being and his environment. They can teach students social rules such as:

1. Do not cheat
2. Never interrupt people talking
3. If you tease someone and they don’t seem to enjoy it, don’t do it again
4. Say” thank you” when someone is helping you
5. Never give advice until you’re asked

And many more social rules that students should know

Business:

Sociologist can work effectively in business sector in Nigeria. There were a lot of business tycoons that became poors due to the lack of knowledge on society; what kind of materials people need to buy day-to-day; what materials are contrary to their beliefs and norms. These questions can only be answered by a Sociologist, hence he’s the one that studies people and their common interests. Working of sociologist in business sector can produce a multitude of customers and countless incomes to the Products Producers, Host Sellers, down to the Consumers. He can work in business sector as a “Entrepreneur” in Nigeria.

Health:

Sociologist have a wholesome role to play in Nigeria’s health sector, despite the Medical Doctors, Nurses, down to the cleaners. A Sociologist who studies “Medical Sociology” can work as a Medical Sociologist in Hospital. Thereby studying the “Doctor-Patient Relationship” : the social interaction between the healthcare providers and those who interact with them. Says Wikipedia, “there are different models for the interaction between a patient and doctor, which may have been more or less prevalent at different times. One such model is medical consumerism that has partly given way to patient consumerism.” As thus, Sociologists can work in the Health sector in Nigeria.

Politics:

Politic has been a game of “Death or Alive” in Nigeria. Many politicians failed to win political elections due to their lack of knowledge about people (electorates) and the kind of words they like to hear from one willing to become a President, Governor or any other political position. Sociologists study the process and promote people’s interest in one who’s willing to win an election. They served as” Political Campaigners”. Since they know everything about human and his need; it’s very easy for them to promote people’s interest in a particular political candidate and lead him to win.

There are numerous places that currently need professional sociologists in Nigeria and they will be paid a good salary:

1. Nigerian Country Office, Abuja, is looking for a professional socialogist who can work as a Social Protection Specialist.
2. United Nations, Abia, is looking for a socialogists who can work as a Gender and Humanitarian Project Coordinator or National Gender and Economic Rehabilitation Officer.
3. Zinka Resources, Lagos, is looking for a Sociologist who can work with them as a Social Worker.
4. Idmibok International, known as” 360 HSDC” based in Nigeria, is looking for a graduate with Sociology Degree who can work with them as a Medical Sociologist.

5.HMO Organization, Ikeja, is looking for a highly experienced Sociologist who can work as Nutritionist and will be paid eighty thousand per month (80 thousand Naira).

The question “Where can Sociologist work in Nigeria?” have a very strong and undeniable answer; like how people need water to drink so as to survive; like how patients need doctors to give them treatment, and like how farmers cure hunger, so does the world to sociologist in every part of life. Sociologist can work everywhere in the world as far as human beings are there, not only in Nigeria.

Salim Yakubu Akko is a Nigerian poet, short story writer, and an essayist from the great city of Gombe state. His works have appeared in Daily Trust Newspaper, The Nation News Nigeria, Independent Nigeria, Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, Applied Worldwide, Opinion Nigeria, My Nigeria, African Fingers, Scratch Poetry Magazine, The Campus Watch, Today Post Nigeria, Parrot Box, People’s Daily Newspaper, Upwrite Magazine and elsewhere. He was a delegate who represented Gombe state during the 2021 Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival (HIASFEST). Akko is a member of Gombe Jewel Writers’ Association, Creative Club Gombe State University, and Hilltop Creative Arts Foundation. He can be reached via Salimyakubuakko50@gmail.com.

References:
https://sociology.unc.edu/undergraduate-program/sociology-major/what-is-sociology/
https://www.geneseo.edu/sociology/about
https://www.jobzilla.ng/jobs/medical-sociologist-at-idmibok-international-072020