Once upon a time, people used to strive for university degree and high grades because it was the golden key to kickstart a great career. It was a must-have and a non-negotiable, that separated “qualified” candidates from the rest. Employers wouldn’t even blink at your CV without it but today? Things are changing fast.
Across Lagos, Nigeria, and the world, recruiters and hiring managers are quietly shifting their priorities. More and more companies are starting to ask:
“Do we really need a degree holder for this role, or do we just need someone who can get the job done?” And honestly? It’s about time.
The Hiring Shift of Certificates Over Skills:
Let’s be for actual real, having a degree doesn’t always mean a candidate can actually do the job. We’ve seen first-class graduates who struggle with the basics of workplace communication while self-taught professionals build entire careers off Google, YouTube and wealth of years of experience.
Employers are waking up to a new reality so best believe:
• A degree doesn’t guarantee competence.
• Skills, adaptability and experience matter more nowadays than a certificate.
• Some of the best talents never stepped foot in a university.
It no longer comes as a surprise that companies like Google, Tesla and IBM have publicly dropped degree requirements for many roles. And while this trend is global, Nigerian businesses are slowly catching on.
But hol’ up, don’t get it twisted, we’re not saying degrees are useless. However, for roles in tech, digital marketing, sales, customer service and even HR, employers are realizing that a candidate’s ability to perform is more important than a line on their CV. A line that might even be fabricated except of course, you employ our thorough background checks service.
Do You Think Nigerian Employers Are Still Stuck on Degrees?
If skills are king, one would think many Nigerian companies will not capitalise on degree requirements, yes? Don’t judge… these are some of the reasons:
🔹Company Culture & Tradition: Many employers just follow the old script: “You need a degree to be qualified.” They haven’t adapted to modern hiring trends yet.
🔹Regulatory & Compliance Reasons: In certain industries, regulatory bodies still mandate degrees for credibility (think finance, healthcare, law).
🔹Lazy Hiring Filters: Let’s be honest, some HR teams use degrees as a shortcut to reduce applications. Instead of testing skills, they cut out non-degree holders.
🔹“Prestige” & Perception: Some companies equate degrees with class and status rather than capability. They’d rather say they hired a graduate of Covenant University than someone self-taught on Udemy.
But here’s the thing; times are changing. The most progressive businesses are rethinking their hiring strategies and asking the right questions:
• Can this person deliver results?
• Do they have the right mindset, experience, and skills?
• Are we limiting our talent pool by insisting on degrees?
The companies that ask these questions are the ones attracting top-tier talent while others keep losing out.
What This Means for Job Seekers
If you’re job hunting in Lagos (or anywhere in Nigeria), this hiring shift is both good and bad news.
✔ Good news: If you don’t have a degree but have killer skills, you have a shot at getting hired especially in industries like tech, sales, and marketing.
❌ Bad news: If you only have a degree but no real skills or experience, the job market will most likely humble you (except if you are a nepo baby).
What we’re trying to say is degrees still hold weight, but they’re no longer enough. Job seekers must upskill, reskill and prove their worth beyond their certificate. So, a friendly tip from your HR Whistledown, if your only selling point is your university degree, you might be in hot soup.
For hiring managers and HR professionals, this shift is a wake-up call. If you’re still using degrees as a hard requirement, you’re limiting your talent pool.
Here’s what you should be doing instead:
• Prioritize Skills & Experience: Test candidates on their real-world abilities instead of filtering by degree. Can they do the job? That’s what matters.
• Consider Non-Traditional Candidates: Some of the best hires come from bootcamps, self-learning, and hands-on experience, not classrooms.
• Update Your Job Descriptions: Remove unnecessary degree requirements for roles that don’t need them. You’ll attract better, more diverse talent.
• Invest in Training & Upskilling: Instead of rejecting candidates without degrees, train them to meet your needs. It’s a win-win.
The best companies are already adapting. The question is: Will yours be left behind?
What’s The Future of Hiring in Nigeria Looking Like?
We won’t wake up tomorrow to see Nigerian job boards completely removing degree requirements. But the hiring landscape is evolving and companies that embrace this shift will win the talent war.
HR Whistledown has seen the future, and here’s the truth:
• The most successful companies will be those that hire for skills, drive, and potential, not just degrees.
• The best job seekers will be those who continuously learn, adapt, and prove their value.
• The HR teams that thrive will be those who ditch outdated hiring practices and focus on what truly matters.
So, do degrees still matter? Yes but they’re no longer the only thing that does.
What’s your take? Should Nigerian companies drop degree requirements, or are they still necessary? Let’s know what you think in the comments!👇