Job Opportunities In Microbiology in Nigeria

Are you aspiring to be a microbiologist but are confused about the career opportunities in microbiology? Then you’ve come to the right place, I have come across many microbiology students who are still stuck with this question; where can a microbiologist work?

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Here are some of the best job opportunities in the microbiology field. A Microbiologist in Nigeria can work in;

• Pharmaceutical Company
• Hospitals And Clinics
• Veterinary Hospitals
• FMCG Industries
• Education Sector
• Health Care Organizations
• Environmental Sector
• Research Institute/Research Assistant
• Petroleum Industry and lot more.

This has made me go on research to know the job opportunities and salary structure of microbiologists in Nigeria.

Who Is A  Microbiologist?

A microbiologist is a person who studies microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria, these are organisms that are too small for us to see with our naked eyes hence microbiologists use microscopes to see them.

Microbiologists are responsible for the creation of vaccines to fight illnesses, they also study organisms that are responsible for the metabolism of crude or petroleum products. They also ensure that raw materials are sterilized before being used.

Job Opportunities In Microbiology In Nigeria

Over the years, the importance of microbiology has waxed stronger and numerous job opportunities have been created for microbiologists here in Nigeria.

Microbiology is a lucrative course in Nigeria because it has a wide range of career opportunities as it can fit into the pharmaceutical, petroleum, agricultural, educational, industrial, and environmental sectors.

Let’s dive into the sectors a microbiologist can work in:

Pharmaceutical Company:

The pharmaceutical sector is the most popular field in microbiology, microbiologist can work in a pharmacy as a researcher, and they can also create vaccines in a pharmaceutical laboratory because microbiologists are responsible to study disease-causing viruses and bacteria so that an antibiotic can be created to fight against them.

Hospitals And Clinics

Microbiologists are also needed in hospitals and clinics, they can work as laboratory attendants.
Their work in hospitals is to carry out tests on people and patients which makes them an alternative to medical laboratory scientists.

Veterinary Hospitals

A microbiologist can work in a veterinary hospital as a veterinary microbiologist. They are veterinarians that study the microorganisms that cause illnesses in animals. There are several veterinary hospitals in Nigeria that needs the service of a microbiologist.

FMCG Industries

FMCG means fast-moving consumer goods. These are industries that produce foods that are in high consumer demand.

FMCG is one of the most profitable jobs that a microbiologist can get involved in, microbiologists are highly needed in FMCG industries which has paved the way for employment opportunities for microbiology graduates.

Education Sector

Microbiologists will go into extinction if there is no teacher who would take up the responsibility to train people who will function in that field.

The education sector is also one of the career opportunities in microbiology, you can lecture in secondary schools, colleges, polytechnics, and universities.

The qualifications to work as a microbiology lecturer in the tertiary is that you must attain a certain qualification in the field of microbiology.

Health Care Organizations

There are diverse healthcare organizations where a microbiologist can work, and organizations like SON (standard organization of Nigeria), NAFDAC, and WHO employ a massive number of microbiologists every year.

These are regulatory organizations that are responsible for making sure that goods/products are fit for consumption.

Environmental Sector

Environmental microbiologists are people who work in the field of environmental science.
They make sure that the environment isn’t polluted, and they create vaccines against microorganisms that are harmful to the environment. There are many companies that employ environmental microbiologists in Nigeria.

Research Institute/Research Assistant

A microbiologist can work in a research institute as a lecturer. They can also work as a research assistant in research centers, research assistants are people who provide technical support to researchers in laboratories.

There are different research institutes and research centers that need the service of a microbiologist here in Nigeria.

Petroleum Industry

A microbiologist can work in petroleum industries like Shell, NNPC, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, etc. The petroleum industry falls under industrial microbiology, the petroleum sector is one of the most lucrative places a microbiologist can work in Nigeria.

Microbiology Salary Structure In Nigeria

The salary microbiologist earn differs as it depends on their years of experience, company, and field of work.
Below is the list of microbiology salaries in Nigeria:

Pharmaceutical Company

A microbiologist who works in pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria’s earnings ranges from ₦50,000 – ₦80,000.

Hospitals/Clinics

Microbiologists who work in getting between ₦60,000 – ₦100,000. Note that the payment range may differ as it depends if you are working for a public or a private hospital or clinic.

Veterinary Hospitals

A microbiologist who works in veterinary hospitals earns about ₦30,000 – ₦60,000.

FMCG Industry

Working in the FMCG industry as a microbiologist can fetch you up to ₦45,000 – ₦200,000 monthly.

Education

Microbiologists who work in the educational sector either as academic or nonacademic staff typically earn about ₦30,000 – ₦150,000.

Health Care

Microbiologists who work in a healthcare organization as a microbiologist earn about ₦80,000 – ₦250,000.

Environmental Sector

The environmental sector pays its workers (microbiologists) up to ₦70,000 – ₦180,000.

Research Institutes/Assistant

Microbiologists who work as research assistant and who also work in research institutes earns about ₦50,000 – ₦120,000.

Petroleums Industry

The petroleum industry is considered one of the most lucrative industries a microbiologist can work in. Microbiologists in petroleum industries earn about ₦150,000 – ₦300,000.

Conclusion

Microbiology is a lucrative profession and has a vast amount of career opportunities and the salary is quite decent. I hope your question about job opportunities in microbiology has been answered.