“Is anatomy a good course in Nigeria?” mum asked as I filled out my UTME form with only Anatomy-related fields.
According to Mum, the Nigerian rule for choosing a career path wasn’t dependent on passion alone. Instead, one had to know if the selected course was good enough in terms of cash flow, demand for labor, and retirement benefits.
Often, many people tend to look down on the course and consider it inferior to all other basic medical science courses but are their perceptions correct? For example, is anatomy a good course in Nigeria?
This article provides a credible answer to your question about the rightness of studying anatomy in Nigeria.
What is Anatomy?
Anatomy is a professional course and a branch of basic medical sciences that deals with the human body’s bones, tissues, organs, and structure.
Anatomy is one of the oldest courses in Nigeria and serves as one of the three basic cores of medical studies in the world. It deals with the entire body in positions, movement,t, and fixing of bones, muscles, tissue, and organs.
Understanding what anatomy is all about does not still answer the lingering question in your heart. The answer to the question is a little more complex than a definition.
Stay glued to this article t get an answer that satisfies your heart.
To bring you closer to your answer, we had to gather an accurate list of the net worth of various anatomists in Nigeria and how much, on average, they earn monthly and annually.
According to Nigerianprice, the salary of anatomist in Nigeria when compared to their place of work is as follows :
| PLACE OF WORK | MONTHLY ANATOMIST SALARY IN PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS | MONTHLY ANATOMIST SALARY IN GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS |
| Hospitals | #60,000 – #80,000 | #80,000 – #120,000 |
| Veterinary clinics | #50,000 – #100,000 | #70,000 – #120,000 |
| Pharmaceutical Companies | #60,000 – #100,000 | #60,000 – #150,000 |
| Educational Institutions | #60,000 – #150,000 | #70,000 – #150,000 |
Given the table above, we can opine that anatomy as a course of study is not very lucrative in Nigeria but can fetch you a good paycheck if you work with a government parastatal.
The demand curve of Anatomists in Nigeria also shows a more significant demand for doctors who treat bones, increasing their chances of employment above other Medical courses.
As you can see above, The highest-paid anatomists work for pharmaceutical companies, followed by those who work in the hospitals.
Analyzing the above statistical data shows that an average anatomist can earn up to #60,000 to #80,000 a month.
This, therefore, brings us to the answer you sought.
Is Anatomy a Good Course in Nigeria?
There are three ways we determine how good a course of study is:
- The ease of gaining admission
- The Salary range for an average anatomist
- The ease of privatizing your Knowledge
Gaining Admission to Study Anatomy in Nigeria
Gaining entry to study Anatomy in Nigeria is very easy as the cut-off mark is usually very low.
The University of Benin, during the last admission process, set its cut-off mark for anatomy at 52, making it an easy procedure to secure admission into the department of anatomy.
All you need to study anatomy in Nigeria is a credit in the following
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
- And any other two trade subjects like marketing.
Anatomy is an easy course to study in Nigeria.
Average Salary of an Anatomist in Nigeria
According to our previous analysis above, an Average Anatomist in Nigeria earns around #60,000 to #80,000 per month.
If you match this to the foreign exchange rate, which tends to be on the increase, you will find out that it is not a good salary.
Moreover, as responsibilities increase, you will undoubtedly be forced to look for other sources of income.
However, if you can get a Job outside the borders of Nigeria, you can be paid up to ten times that figure above.
Privatization
It is exceptionally impossible when it comes to anatomy because it is a supplementary course that cannot stand alone.
Therefore, an anatomist cannot start a business of their own as they must work hand in hand with other branches of Medical studies in institutions to produce the required result.
For instance, a Medical Laboratory Scientist does not need any other branch of Medical science to conduct the medical tests, but the same does not apply to the anatomist.
An anatomist in Nigeria can currently be employed as the following :
- A Veterinarian
- A Medical Scientist
- An Epidemiologist
- A Chiropractor: this consists of treating diseases related to bones, muscles, and ligaments.
- Massage Therapist
- Athletic Trainer: there are a lot of them in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Why Should You Study Anatomy
If a University offers you admission to study anatomy, do not look down on it because the condition is the same in most other courses in Nigeria today.
We advise that you accept the Anatomy admission, and if you feel like changing to another course, you can retake JAMB.
Anatomy is like any other major course in Nigeria, such as Biochemistry, Medical Biochemistry, Science Lab Technology, Microbiology, and the rest.
Conclusion
We believe this article provided the answer you sought.
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