Do you know Nigeria currently has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world and millions of its citizens are actively looking for jobs? The Jobberman online platform alone has over 2.8 million active job seekers, and I am sure there are millions of other job seekers who haven’t registered on the site yet or are using other means to source for jobs.  

So, if you are a job seeker in Nigeria or you are looking to boost your career in your field, bear in mind that there are a lot of people that are also applying for the role you want to be appointed to.

However, despite the numerous job candidates, Nigerian employers always look out for candidates that have the required skills, expertise, and experience to help their organization grow.

So, you need a competitive advantage that will make you stand out from the crowd and prove that you have the level of skillfulness and competence that they are looking for. And one of the best ways you can do that is by gaining an International Professional Certification.

Professional certification is issued by a certified body and serves as proof that you have acquired standard knowledge, skills, and experience in a particular field. And due to the investment of time, money, and energy that goes into obtaining one, having it shows that you are highly committed to improving yourself and succeeding in your field.

So, by obtaining professional certification in the field you are applying for a job in or already working in, you become steps ahead of other job seekers and colleagues in your field or organization. And by doing this, you have higher chances of getting the job you are applying for or being promoted to a higher role in the organization you are working for, which will also lead to higher pay.

According to reports by the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, having a professional certification makes you earn an income that is significantly higher than that of your non-certified colleagues. However, the percentage by which a professional certification can increase earnings may vary depending on the field you are working in. In some fields, it can increase its earnings by 4% while in some, it can boost it by over 30 to 60%.

So, let us look at some of the best professional certifications you can obtain in Nigeria that can put you ahead of other candidates in the job market and your field.

• SAP Certification

Several Nigerian companies are now adopting the use of SAP modules such as Materials Management(MM), Human Capital Management(HCM), Financial Accounting and Controlling (FICO), Plant Maintenance(PM) — (add a link to the “How to get SAP PM Certification” blog post here when you publish it), and several others to optimize the operations of their businesses and make them more seamless. 

So, by obtaining a certification in any of these software modules, you will have access to several career opportunities in various roles and industries. 

And if you are already working in an organization that uses any of these software modules, obtaining a certification will boost your credibility and will make the organization you work with give you higher roles, positions, tasks, and even compensation. 

• International HR Certifications

Every organization in Nigeria and the world at large needs a Human Resource officer to ensure that their operations move smoothly and their employees and management are on the same page, hence the demand for professional and certified HR officers is usually high.

However, this high demand for HR officers has also led to more people venturing into the field, which has made its job market very competitive.

So, if you want to distinguish yourself from other HR professionals and job candidates in Nigeria and have a competitive advantage over them, you need to obtain international HR Certifications such as aPHRi, SPHRi, PHRi, GPHR, SHRM-CP, and SHRM-SCP.

•  Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Levels 1, 2 and 3 Certification 

Companies in industries that use very complex and high-risk materials, machinery, and production methods usually need the service of an HSE professional that can ensure the safety of their workers and the environment.

And these organizations usually prefer hiring someone who is certified in the field so that they can be assured that the person has proper knowledge about HSE practices and how to implement them in their institution to ensure risks are minimized, workplace accidents are reduced and a safer work environment is created. 

So, as a certified HSE professional, you can be a “hot cake” and be needed by organizations in different industries including the manufacturing, oil and gas, mining, construction, and transportation industries, amongst others.

• Healthcare Assistant Certification

Another professional credential you can obtain is the Healthcare Assistant Caregiver certification. 

As a professional and certified caregiver, you will be equipped with the skills and expertise you need to work in any daycare centers, personal residences, hospitals, and nursing homes in Nigeria and the world at large. 

With the knowledge you will gain from the process of obtaining this certification, you can also properly manage, supervise and care for individuals with Dementia, Alzheimer’s, or any condition that will make them unable to care for themselves. 

This will open several doors of opportunities for you and make you very valuable to any home, care center, or institute that hires you.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification

If you are looking to get into the Project Management field or you already work as a project manager, then having this certification should be your top priority. 

With this project management certification, you will have access to much better career opportunities than your uncertified colleagues which will also significantly increase your pay.

In addition to that, due to the International recognition of this certification, you can use it to get professional project management job prospects not only in Nigeria but the world at large. 

• First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training And Certification

Aside from the HSE professionals, other professionals that organizations employ to ensure the safety of their employees are First Aid and CPR professionals.

These professionals are responsible for responding to medical emergencies that might arise in an organization. 

So, you can undergo a training course on it, and get certified so that you can increase your chances of being employed by companies to enable them to reduce workplace accidents by identifying potential dangers on time and be an instant response in case of medical emergencies before the arrival of an ambulance.

• ISO 45001 Auditor Certification

You can also get an ISO 45001 Certification and become a certified ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Auditor. 

Companies usually need competent Occupational Health And Safety Management Auditors with efficient audit techniques that can help them reduce the risks of health and safety hazards happening in the workplace, and ensure their employees are protected from occupation accidents.

So, through the process of obtaining the certification, you will be taught all you need to know about applying the best and most globally recognized audit skills, principles, and techniques to schedule and carry out internal and external audits like the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) audit for an organization.

• ISO 9001 Auditor Certification 

Organizations are constantly working towards providing products and services that meet the ISO 9001 quality management standards. 

They are also looking for ways to improve the quality of their products and services to meet the expectation of their customers and meet the regulatory requirements, and that is where the need for an ISO 9001 Quality Management System Auditor comes in.

An ISO 9001 Quality Management System Auditor is required to use extensive audit procedures, principles, and techniques to plan and carry out internal and external audits and manage audit programs and teams.

There is a very good demand for ISO 9001 Quality Management System Auditors in the job market currently and by getting certified in the field, you can have access to better job opportunities than your counterparts and also enjoy several other benefits that come with it.

And there you have it, these are the international professional certifications that you can obtain to boost your career opportunities in Nigeria. So, ensure you choose the certification that best suits the field you want to venture into or you are in already, enroll for a course on it, and with determination, pursue and obtain the certification so that you not only boost your career opportunities but also stand out in the country’s crowded job market.