Nigerians may need to start rethinking traditional academic pathways, by adopting international in-demand certifications for better career prospects and earnings. There are several international certifications which have become a powerful alternative to university degrees.

Recent insights from the United States (US) – based Burning Glass Institute (BGI) underscores this shift.

The institute drew on data from over 65 million individual career histories, representing about 40 percent of the US workforce, BGI’s credential value index assessed more than 23,000 non-degree certifications to identify those that most effectively improved workers’ salaries.

Although the findings are based on the US labour market, they hold significant relevance for Nigeria, where the demand for globally recognized skills is rising. Professional certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Cisco Networking (CCNA), AWS Cloud Practitioner, and Google Data Analytics are increasingly sought after by employers both locally and overseas.

For Nigerians working in the country, these certifications can help bridge the skills gap that often limits access to better-paying role, particularly in sectors such as technology, finance, engineering, logistics, and construction, where practical expertise is valued as much as academic qualifications.

For those seeking international opportunities, globally recognized certifications can significantly enhance employability, enabling Nigerian professionals to compete favourably in the global talent market. With remote and hybrid work, these qualifications also open doors to freelance contracts and international projects without requiring physical relocation.

Globally, certifications that demonstrate specialized skills and up-to-date industry knowledge can provide a competitive edge which proves for Nigerian professionals that career success no longer depends solely on a university degree, but increasingly on continuous learning and globally-relevant credentials.

Here are the top seven certifications that can increase earnings based on findings from BGI:

Project Management Certification: £6,500 minimum annually. Suitable for construction managers, project management specialists.

Associate Certified Electronics Technician: £4,300 minimum annually. Suitable for electrical and electronic engineering technologists, computer network architects.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): £2,600 minimum annually. Suitable for computer systems analysts and IT support specialists.

Certified Coding Associate (CCA): £2,500 minimum annually. Suitable for network and systems administrators, computer network architects.

Check Point Certified Security Expert (CCSE): £2,100 minimum annually. Suitable for sales engineers and information security analysts.

Citrix Netscaler SD-WAN Certification (CC-SDWAN): £1,800minimum annually. Suitable for network support specialists, facilities managers.

Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA): £1,700 minimum annually. Suitable for information security analysts, network support specialists. (Vanguard)