Nigerian Universities, as well as around the world, offer different courses sometimes for various reasons. As a result, you may have some variations in a similar course just based on where the course is. Management Information System, commonly termed, MIS, is one of the new courses offered by some Nigerian universities that is also not entirely free from the circumstance of slight curricula variation. In this article, I will look at the journey so far in the development of MIS as a new-generation course in Nigerian universities and how location affects the structure, curriculum and delivery of the course.
As one of the top sought-after degrees, MIS provides tremendous opportunities for its graduates and only a few degrees can do that.
Management Information Systems in Nigerian Universities
Nigerian universities offer so many traditional courses like law, sociology, medicine, engineering and much more, but one does not have the same confidence when talking about modern courses such as MIS. The fact remains, technology today has taken over our lives, even in the most remote parts of the world, and has made a remarkable impact in many spheres of development, including education. It is so important that many countries around the globe introduced more technology-based courses into their curricula and continued to do so.
Against this background, therefore, Nigerian higher institutions are not left out, now more than ever such courses are being introduced in the universities and other institutions of learning around the country. Such courses like computer science, information technology geomatics, management information systems and so many other related areas are topping the agenda.
Even though Management Information Systems is one of the most dynamic technology-based discipline, it is still being offered in only a small number of universities across the country most of which are private universities – at least based on the information available on the net. A more significant percentage of the universities are either offering it as a 3unit credit under courses like accounting major or not at all.
Let’s look at some of the universities (in alphabetical order) that offer MIS degree in Nigeria and the structure of their programme.
American University of Nigeria (AUN)
Although AUN offers Bachelors of Science (B.Sc) in Information Systems under the School of Information Technology & Computing – which is a bit broader – it will satisfy the need of anyone planning to major in Management Information System. The programme has concentration areas where students can make several choices. It also reflects a typical MIS programme being offered in the world with a very slight and insignificant difference.
The program is designed to provide students with adequate knowledge of information systems application rather than computer mechanism. The areas that this program gives more emphasis on are programming, computer architecture, operating systems, data communication, system analysis and design, database application and project management.
Other areas that it touches include IT practice and financial systems, statistics and operations management. It also allows students to combine their IT course with general business course requirements from the School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Students are to choose from the following concentration areas when majoring in the program:
- Information Security & Assurance
- Mobile Application Development
- Telecommunication & Applied Networking Technologies
- Business/Big Data Analytics
- Geographic Information System (GIS)
Students also have a choice to pursue a general B.Sc. degree in Information Systems with no concentration by selecting appropriate courses of interest from the concentration areas.
Information Systems program at AUN provides students with much more opportunity of going deep into computer science related courses rather than just IT, management and business. After successful completion of the program, students are expected to have a sound background and ability to implement a high-quality software solution to real life problems.
The requirement to gain admission into the program is a minimum 180 Jamb score and five credits in SSCE which include English Language and Mathematics at no more than two sittings. For more information on the AUN undergraduate admission requirements click here.
The American University of Nigeria is in Yola, Adamawa State of Nigeria. It is a privately-owned university that has both local and international students – a truly diverse university.
Baze University
Baze is also a privately-owned university located in the federal capital of Nigeria, Abuja. The university proves to be a new generation university that offers so many modern courses that you do not usually find in traditional universities. One of these courses it offers is BSc in Information System Management.
The program like other MIS program is designed to bridge the gap between business and technology. The degree is designed to prepare students to take on the challenges of applying information systems knowledge in solving common and complex managerial issues. It covers the design, implementation and operation of information systems together with the practice and theory of management.
To apply for an MIS degree at Baze University, applicants are to check here for full information
Covenant University
Covenant University prides itself as a modern university that graduates some of the most productive and intelligent members of society. The university offers a four-year undergraduate degree in MIS as well as a masters at a graduate level.
The program covers a vast range of areas in information technology, management, and fiscal discipline to prepare graduates with the right set of tools and skills to face the challenges ahead in this fast-paced changing world of technology.
The course is structured in such a way that it includes, ICT, management and business. The objective of the program is to train future leaders in the field of computing and business-related areas who will be highly equipped to be productive and innovative in such a way that they will be competent enough to compete within Nigeria and indeed the world over.
The MIS admission requirements at Covenant University include five (5) credits in SSCE. The credit should be in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, and either Biology or Agricultural Science. Additionally, the scores must be obtained at no more than two sittings. Also, candidates seeking admission must undergo the Covenant University screening exercise.
Covenant University is located in Ota, Ogun State of Nigeria.
Paul University
Paul University also offers MIS under the faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences. As one of the renown private universities in the country, the programme is expected to be nothing less than what other institutions offer in terms of its structure, i.e. a combination of information technology, business and management. As at the time of writing this piece, there is no much information regarding the structure of the course on the Paul university’s website. We will provide you with an update as soon as it’s available.
Paul university is situated in Akwa, Anambra State of Nigeria.
Other institutions in Nigeria that offer Management Information Systems as either a full-time four-year degree program or days training includes Joint Professional Training and Support International, Lagos State among others.
Some MIS-related courses
There are a lot of universities in Nigeria that offer technology courses which are closely related to MIS in terms of curriculum structure. Students can consider them as options, or they might even be the best choices that reflect students’ career needs.
Some of these universities are as follow:
Salem University
Salem University offers Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Information Technology under the College of Information and Communication Technology. This program is designed to provide students with specialised knowledge of mainly information technologies. Students are trained on the basic principle of handling information on a device to accomplish the task at hand. Therefore, by the end of the program students are expected to have basic skills in general usage, processing and application of information techniques and technologies.
The program covers areas such as Algorithm and Data Structure, System Analysis and Design, Design and Implementation of ERS System, Current Topic in IT, Introduction to Information System and more IT related courses.
Unlike Covenant and American University of Nigeria, Salem’s program focused mainly on usage and application of information technology with no management and business coverage whatsoever. Therefore, for students who want to have a degree that has a combination of IT, management and business, which is the main focus of MIS, Salem program – at least based on the information in the public domain via their website – does not appear to provide that.
Salem University is located in Lokoja, Kogi State of Nigeria.
Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMinna)
FUTMinna also offers Information Technology under the umbrella of the Department of Information and Media Technology. Students have two options in that department, they can either major as Information Technology student or Media Technology. The university is in Minna, Niger State of Nigeria.
Other institutions offering Bsc in Information Technology in Nigeria include (alphabetical order):
- Bauchi State University, Gadau
- Bell University of Technology, Otta
- Crescent University, Abeokuta
- Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola
Search for Joint Admission and Matriculation Board Examination Brochure for a comprehensive list and update whenever it’s available.
Each of the institutions discussed above offers what can be considered in both broad and narrow terms as a degree in MIS. The few structural differences in terms of leaning either towards IT or management do not cause a significant difference in learning outcome and skills acquisition.
In addition, students who successfully graduate with an MIS degree in any of the institutions will have a variety of options if intent to further their studies. Courses from IT and computer science to management, economics and finance are all open to MIS graduates in pursuit of higher degrees such as masters and PhD.
In conclusion, it is apparent that institutions which offer Management Information Systems degree in Nigeria are not many. However, with the rising potentials of the course and its graduate, there is great hope that the number of universities that in future will introduce the course will increase given its strategic importance in the development of the country’s economy.
