Pathways in this career cluster include:

• Accounting
• Financial Planning 
• Business/Corporate finance
• General Banking (Corporate and Commercial)
• Investment Banking
• Wealth management
• Insurance services

The highest paying jobs in a finance career cluster are in investment banking, corporate banking, asset management, financial advisory and brokerage, and private equity.

The most relevant employability skills are:

• Communication
• Analysis
• Planning & Organisation
• Networking & Teamwork
• Numeracy & Financial Literacy
• Professionalism & Industry Awareness
• Digital Proficiency

You do not need a degree in insurance or finance to work in the industry. However, a first or second degree in the field can provide a competitive advantage for specialisation, especially in the technical areas of the industry. These degrees include Insurance studies, Actuarial science, Accounting and Insurance, Finance and Insurance, Risk Management, Financial and Insurance Mathematics, and Financial Engineering.

Industry bodies and National Chartered Insurance Institutes offer several certificate programmes and diplomas in insurance. In addition, numerous training also exists for specialised fields such as brokerage, underwriting and risk modelling.

The banking is open to graduates with financial and non-financial degrees. In addition to roles in finance, banks employ graduates with the aptitude and soft skills for jobs in Customer Support, Information Technology, Business Development, Marketing and Human Resources. Banking-related degrees include Banking and Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, and Agricultural Economics.

Professional qualifications relevant to the industry; are provided by professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria(CIBN), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN). 

Professional certifications relevant to the industry include Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Risk Manager (FRM), Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant, Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC), Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA), 

An MBA programme with a finance specialisation is valuable in the industry.

The top banks run annual graduate recruitment programmes promoted on their social media pages. The application process can take various forms, taking an online quiz or a shortlist of candidates to write aptitude tests through which they select for interviews. Additionally, some banks require selected candidates to meet some targets in fundraising as an entry task to join the bank.

An internship also helps you get a foot in the door. Banks also offer internship opportunities to students, providing an opportunity for early experience in the industry. In addition, it can help build relationships within the bank to take temporary jobs before joining full-time. Recruitment companies that work as staffing agencies for banks provide contract opportunities to work with banks.

Starting your career or having a consulting experience in Big 4 or Big 8 firms such as PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, and EY also provide a springboard to a career in the banking industry. Banks typically hire staff from these organisations into middle and senior roles. Investment banks usually require graduates with prior experience in the financial sector. 

International
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Association of International Accountants (AIA), Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute, Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Institute of Management Accountants, International Federation of Francophone Accountants (FIDEF), The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), International Association of Investment Bankers Since (IAIB)

Ghana Professional and industry bodies
National Professional Accountancy Organisation, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce, Ghana Association of Bankers, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ghana, Ghana MicroFinance Institutions Network

International
Tidjane Thiam, Janet Yellen, Okonjo Iweala, Warren Buffet, J.P Morgan, James Dimon, Josef Ackermann,

Ghana Career Champions
Ken Ofori-Atta, Yaw Kuffour, Joseph Siaw Agyepong, J.S Addo, Mansa Nettey, Amediku Settor Kwabla

International 
World Bank, International Monetary Fund, International Finance Corporation, African Development Bank, 

Ghana 
Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, Securities and Exchange Commission, Internal Audit Agency, Ghana EXIM Bank, Ghana Revenue Authority

Global Leading Employers, and Companies, Startups
Barclays, Bank of America, Societe Generale, Goldman Sachs, Standard Chartered Bank, Access Bank PLC, Standard Bank Group, J.P Morgan, Ecobank, Morgan Stanley, Zenith Bank, Allianz, The World Bank, Capital One, Wells Fargo, Guaranty Trust Bank, Absa, DeVere Group, First National Bank, American Express, RBC, BNP Paribas, PNC Financial Services Group, BNY Mellon, Chase, NatWest Group, Merrill Lynch,  IFC, SEI Investments, 

Ghana’s Leading Employers, and Companies, Startups
Bank of Africa, Societe Generale, Standard Chartered Bank, Access Bank PLC, Standard Bank Group, Ecobank, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa, The World Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Absa, DeVere Group, Yes Bank, Allianz Ghana.

• Fintechs as Challengers
  Startups leveraging data and technology are bringing innovations to markets at an unprecedented rate for traditional financial service providers and regulators to deal with. However, several incumbent financial institutions respond by rolling out fintech offerings to their customer base. Some of these are exclusively from them, while others partner with Fintechs.

  Evolving Customer Expectations 
  Customers now expect personalised and instant access to a menu of financial services. They also expect services to be accessible across multiple digital channels and their requests promptly attended to.

  Fraud and Cybercrime
  The financial sector is exposed to several threats from within and outside the financial system. The complexity of fraud and money laundering operations continues to evolve, putting the deposit of customers, operations and reputation of financial firms at risk.

  Underserved Customers
  Agency and digital banking services have helped close the financial inclusion gap in several developing countries. However, most of the population is still underserved due to the lack of robust financial services to cater for their needs. Access to credit at an affordable rate remains a challenge for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses.

  Exposure to Global Risk 
  The connectedness of the global financial system has made economic systems vulnerable to shocks that may come from anywhere in the world. For example, default on loans in the US may lead to a domino effect on financial markets in Europe and catalyse to become a global financial crisis.

  Tougher Regulatory Environment
  The financial sector is highly regulated. In both good and bad times of the economy, the financial sector is a target of increasing legislation and policies and has to adhere to the government’s strict compliance measures. The globalisation of finance also implies that many of them are exposed to the regulatory environment in international markets.

  Legacy Systems
  Financial institutions with a long history of operation are significant players in any nation’s financial service industry. But unfortunately, a majority of them are challenged with legacy systems of existing software, processes, and business infrastructure, which can be challenging to integrate, change or adapt to new technologies.

  The volatility of the World Economy
  From the devastating effect of COVID-19, mounting rate of inflation, fluctuation in the value of currencies and the foreign reserves of Nations, to wars among nations, the financial sector’s stability is threatened by uncertain times.

• • Digitigitisation is on the high in the following areas of finance:

    • AI for interfacing with customers, delivering advisory services, and making product recommendations in banking.
    • The emergence of blockchain technologies for trust management and digital currencies in business finance. 
    • Data-driven decisions such as calculation of premiums based on predictive analytics in insurance.
    • Robotic Process Automation and advanced AI technologies for automating manual accounting processes.
    • Algorithmic stock trading – quants in investment banking.
    • Loan prediction and credit scoring based on historical financial records, behavioural analysis, and big data in banking.
    • Automation of accounting workflows to reduce the burden of manual data entry.

Books

• How Finance Works: The HBR Guide to Thinking Smart about the Numbers
• Narrative and Numbers: The Value of Stories in Business
• Managerial Accounting: Tools for Business Decision Making
• Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis
• How to Read a Financial Report: wringing vital signs out of the numbers

Podcasts

• The Abacus Show
• ACCA Podcasts
• From CPA to CFO
• Cashflow Diary
• The Economist Podcast

Publications/Blogs

• CFO Magazine
• Strategic Finance
• Global Banking & Finance
• Financial Planning Magazine
• Accounting Today

Movies

• Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
• The Accountant (2016)
• The Insider (1999)
• In Debt We Trust: America Before the Bubble Bursts (2006) 

Events

• World Economic Forum
• Africa Finance Summit
• Africa Fintech Foundry/Summit
• African Insurance Organization Conference and General Assembly

The top career pathways include:

• IT Support and Services 
• Networking and Telecommunications
• Cloud Computing and Infrastructure 
• Software and Web Development 
• Database and Data Science
• Information systems
• Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics

The highest paying jobs across industries are Big data engineer, DevOps Engineer, Information systems security manager, Mobile applications developer, Applications Architect, Data Architect, database manager, data security analyst, data scientist, network/cloud architect, senior web developer, site reality engineer, systems engineer, and software engineer.

• A career in information technology will benefit from the following industry skills:

  • Communication: IT is a field of communication, which is why it is referred to as ICT in several climes – most especially in the developing world. IT professionals provide solutions or support others who are not usually as technology inclined as they are. Therefore, being able to communicate provides an advantage for a successful career in the field.
  • Analysis & Problem-Solving: Information technology’s universal appeal is the ability to solve problems in other fields through algorithms that automate expert skills. However, this requires the ability to translate real-world use-cases to codes through a thorough analysis of the requirements collected. It can be quite a daunting challenge, which many times requires problem-solving skills to resolve.
  • Initiative & Enterprise: A career in information technology provides a lot of entrepreneurial entry due to the low entry barrier, especially in software and digital services. Initiative & Enterprise skills give the ability to spot opportunities and find a path towards turning them into a sustainable business. It has made IT professionals one of the most represented groups in the list of the world’s wealthiest people.
  • Continual Learning & Adaptation: IT is a dynamic field. Technologies that seem hot today can be out of fashion in less than half of a decade. IT professionals need to continually learn to stay up-to-date on being proficient in the latest tools of their professional trade. Some of these are available as certifications from leading technology providers or as software updates that now incorporate machine learning which professionals need to adapt.
  • Creativity & Critical Thinking: IT platforms provide a canvas to solve problems. However, your level of creativity and ability to think critically can help you create solutions that stand out in the marketplace amidst a pool of global competition. In a field where critical thinking is required to meet its high demand for logic, a burst of creativity can make all the difference. However, rarely does one go without the other in solving problems.
  • Digital Proficiency: This is native to the field of information technology itself. Key competencies are Coding, Data and Design. Even though IT professionals may not be experts at any of these competencies, they must have a fundamental grasp. The day to day work of IT professionals revolves around them. Networking professionals may sometimes need to write a script in software-defined networking. Cybersecurity specialists may need to analyse data to detect threats. An enterprise information systems analyst may need to come up with diagrams to aid planning software integrations. 

The top career pathways include:

• IT Support and Services 
• Networking and Telecommunications
• Cloud Computing and Infrastructure 
• Software and Web Development 
• Database and Data Science
• Information systems
• Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics

The highest paying jobs across industries are Big data engineer, DevOps Engineer, Information systems security manager, Mobile applications developer, Applications Architect, Data Architect, database manager, data security analyst, data scientist, network/cloud architect, senior web developer, site reality engineer, systems engineer, and software engineer.

The jobs with the lowest entry barriers are those in customer service. However, graduates from all professions are eligible for management and marketing positions.

Several network companies in this sector do not recruit for technical roles as most of their specialised services are outsourced for management to partners. However, those companies do such technical roles recruitment.  

There are internship opportunities with big telecom companies. However, internships for engineering students do not always provide the necessary skill required. However, suppose you’re looking for technical jobs or internships. In that case, you should look into network equipment and companies that provide telecom network support.

In this field, graduate recruiting opportunities are accessible and are advertised via traditional or social media. Staying in touch with these outlets will help you stay informed about job openings in this field.

Aptitude tests are conducted before the main interview in this industry because many people apply for positions. The aptitude test narrows down the candidates who best fit the available roles before moving to the interview stage.

Telcos are big organisations, but they rely heavily on SMEs as partners to distribute their products. Telcos in Africa outsource their technical services to management partners and rely on other small businesses as their technology partners.

You would typically work in teams that range from research and development, technical installation, sales and marketing to technical support, and possibly design and user experience specialists.

With several telecom companies operating as multinationals, frequent travel is required for some roles. 

It is a highly competitive and fast-moving industry that regularly changes product offerings and customer feedback, which is never late to follow.

Big companies that focus on networks, devices, etc., pay higher salaries than the industry average. These companies also provide benefits like insurance, work leave, teamwork, exposure to new technologies, career growth, etc.

It is a highly competitive industry. Staff are very mobile in the industry, i.e. they move from one company to another. Also, most technical roles are outside the office, i.e. they work outside the typical office space as they often work on-site. Customer Service, sales & marketing, management, Data Analyst roles, etc., work in the office and some work from home.

The typical work hours for a telecommunications administrator are from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, in an office setting. However, longer or different hours may, at times, be necessary.

International
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), IEEE Computer Society organisations, Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Network Professional Association, and The Association for Women in Computing (AWC) 

Ghana
Institute of ICT Professionals of Ghana, Information Technology Association of Ghana, Computer Science Students Association of Ghana.

• Global Career Champions
  Satya Nadella, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Sergey Brin, Mark Zukerberg, Sundar Pichai, Larry Page, Michael Dell, Larry Elisson, Marc Benioff.

  Ghana Career Champions
  Joseph Lamptey, Maxwell Techie, Ebo Richardson, Estelle Akofie-Somah, Patricia Obo-Nai

   

International 

• UNIDO | United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Ghana
The National Information Technology Agency, National Communications Authority, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Communications

International 
Google, Microsoft, IBM, Accenture, Oracle, Intel, Workday, Tech Mahindra, Robert Bosch, Apple, Bolt, Amazon, Meta, HCL Technologies, SalesForce, Uber, Bloomberg L.P, SAP, MeltWater, LionBridge, HubSpot, Twitter, Ingram Micro, Dell Technologies, Apple, Infosys, Fiserve, ServiceNow, ADP, Adobe, VMWare, Intuit, SS&C Technologies, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Palto Alto Networks, Paychex, Amdocs, Autodesk, Citrix, Akamai Technologies, Twilo, Palantir, ASML, Qualcom, Boradcom, Tencent, Alibaba, Samsung, Nvidia, Texas Instruments, Meiutan, AMD, Analog Devices, Atlassian, Palo Alto Networls. Dassault Systemes, Candence, NXP, Roper Technologies, TE Connectivity, Arista Networks, Electronic Arts, Veeva Systems, Ericsson, SMI, DXC, NTT, NEC Corp, Fujitsu, Infosys, Tata Consulting Services, HP Enterprise, Capegemini, Cognizant

Ghana 
Compu Ghana, Clydestone, Websoft Solutions, The SoftTribe Limited, IPMC Ghana, Microsoft Ghana, IBM, Google Ghana, Done By None, Jumia Ghana, Oracle, Tech Mahindra, Glovo, Booking.com, Robert Bosch, Apple, Bolt, Amazon, Meta, HCL Technologies, SalesForce, Globacom, Uber, Bloomberg L.P, SAP, MeltWater, LionBridge, HubSpot, Twitter, Ingram Micro, Bolt, Bloomberg, American Tower Corporation, Parallel Wireless, Tech Gulf, Twitter, Oracle, Uber, Emergent Payments,  EAI Information Systems, Cisco.

• Shortage of Talent: the rapid growth in digital technologies across industries has led to a rise in the demand for jobs in the development and management of IT systems. Innovators are creating programmes outside formal education to accelerate the transition into tech careers by closing the knowledge gap and collapsing other barriers to entry.

  Skill Gaps: the rate of change within the information technology industry and its impact on other sectors make continual learning adaption through re-skilling and upskilling crucial for tech and other workers. Platforms to assess staff skill gaps and provide targeted training modules are becoming increasingly available.

  Retention of Talent: the challenges posed by the shortage of talents and skill gaps have made the competition for talent intense and challenging for employers to keep staff. Remote work has allowed employers to widen their talent pool and hire remote staff at salaries at competitive rates in their countries, though comparatively less in the technology hotbeds.

  Fake Content: this extends from fake news to deep-fake content generated by machine learning technologies fuelled by virality in an age of social media to threaten harmonious living in communities and the democracies of Nations. Companies have responded with content filtering algorithms and personnel and empowered users to report such content.

  Widening Technology Gap: there is a big divide between infrastructure investments and human capital between developed and developing countries. Only a few nations take the lead as producers, while others play catchup as consumers of technology. These have led some governments to respond with protectionist policies in managing their IT infrastructure and storage of data.

  Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: the high rate of dependence of every facet of our society on information technology has made IT infrastructure critical. Downtimes lead to loss of business and can be costly to human lives. Therefore, backup and protection of IT infrastructure have become a priority for the government of many nations.

  Rise in Cybercrime: data, IT infrastructure and users are increasingly vulnerable to bad actors who use technological and social engineering tools to gain authorised access to data for malicious purposes. These have led to the rise of the cybersecurity industry, which offers proactive and responsive solutions to cyber threats and attacks.

  Uncertainty on the Impact of AI: artificial intelligence’s potential to replicate human-like intelligence in several activities can be disruptive to billions of jobs. In a bid for efficiency and cost savings, private-sector employers are increasingly investing in such IT systems to be competitive. Upskilling employers for new jobs created by information technology can mitigate these threats. 

  Ethical Concerns: artificial intelligence empowers machines to make decisions on the Warfield. This will also apply increasingly to our everyday lives with driverless car insight. Another critical area is gene sequencing. The ethical implications of empowering artificial intelligence to make these decisions and determining what decisions they will make at crucial moments are rekindling the debate about right and wrong.

  Governments and Regulations: technology companies have come under the radar of several governments for their business practices. Governments are increasingly using the data from IT companies to create surveillance systems and cracking down on citizens based on their access to data.

Books

• The Innovators by Walter Isaacson
• Business at the Speed of Thought by Bill Gate
• Information Technology Essentials Eric Fric
• The Soul of a New Machine by Tacy Kidder

Podcasts

• Technovation
• This Week in Enterprise Tech
• Supporting IT Support
• a16z

Publications/Blogs

• CIO
• WIRED
• Techcrunch
• Techpoint
• Disrupt Africa
• TechCentral
• My BroadBand

Movies

• The Social Network
• Minority Report
• Her
• The Internship
• 2001; A Space Odyssey

Events

• Informa AfricaCom and other Regional/National Com events
• IoT Forum Africa
• Digital Payments and e-Commerce Africa Summit and Expo (Pay Africa Expo and Summit)
• African Drone Forum
• Consumer Electronics Show

Production:
Manufacturing and production are synonymous for a lot of people. Production involves creating and assembling goods. A career in production is suitable for innovative people who like to bring designs to life. Examples of roles in this pathway include CNC Machinists, Welders, Automotive industry workers, Production Supervisors, Metalworkers, Certified Production Technicians and Precision Machinists.

Manufacturing Production Process Development:
This pathway includes the design sector of the industry, a necessary component in producing manufacturing goods. Professionals in this pathway design the goods and develop and program the production processes. Additionally, they interview their target customers. They also evaluate the current market for a product and gather feedback from consumers. Careers within manufacturing production process development include Industrial Designers, Industrial Engineers, Engineering Technicians, Research Analysts, Manufacturing production supervisors etc.

Logistics and Inventory Control:
Logistics involves the planning and moving of materials to and from manufacturing sites. Like logistics, inventory control involves organising the transportation, receipt, and delivery of materials and products, from acquisition to distribution. 

Careers in this pathway include: Shipping and Receiving Specialists (and Supervisors), Inventory Control Specialists, Industrial Traffic Managers, Inventory Managers, Supply Chain Specialists/ Analyst, and Logistician.

Quality Assurance:
Quality assurance professionals are critical in the industrial & manufacturing industry. They help ensure that the production and output of goods meet high-quality standards and specifications. These professionals may test manufactured goods/machines to ensure they work and are correctly assembled. In addition, they may also write the rules for quality for a company or product. Customer satisfaction is their priority. Examples of careers in this manufacturing career path are Quality Controller, Quality Supervisor, Receiving Inspector, Manufacturing Quality Inspector, Supplier Quality Assurance Supervisor, Quality Auditor, and Quality Customer Service Representative.

Health, Safety, and Environmental Assurance:
This career pathway involves ensuring workers’ and products’ safety. These professionals conduct safety and health inspections within the workplace and ascertain it is safe for employees. In addition, they teach employees safe working practices, train them on equipment and emergency procedures, and implement incident and hazard investigations as needed. Furthermore, some professionals will confirm that consumers can use goods safely. Roles in this pathway include Health and Regulatory Inspectors, Industrial Safety and Health Technicians, Environmental Engineers, Health and Safety Engineers, and Safety Supervisors.

Maintenance, Installation, and Repair:
Manufacturing processes involve high-tech tools, machines, software programs, and equipment. As a result, skilled professionals must ensure these various technologies operate smoothly. They install and onboard machinery. Additionally, they regularly test machines, evaluate the performance of tools, and upgrade software programs. Furthermore, they troubleshoot any problems and recommend new tools and technology. Their work is vital for employees’ safety and production quality. Career pathways in this cluster include System Setup Specialists, Manufacturing Repair Technicians/Manufacturing Test Engineer, Computer Maintenance Technicians, Maintenance Supervisors, Steamfitters, Pipefitters, and Millwrights.

The Highest Paying Jobs in the industry include:
Manufacturing Manager/Industrial Production Manager, Operation Manager, CNC Manufacturing Engineer, Information Technology Manager, Human Resources Manager , Mechatronics Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Manufacturing Test Engineer, Plant Engineering Manager

1. • Analysis & Problem-Solving
     Employers love problem solvers, and hence, your need to be able to proffer solutions to challenges as they arise in the workplace. Therefore, you must be able to spot, analyse and give answers to problems. 

   • Creativity & Critical Thinking
     Working in this industry requires you to be able to think creatively and critically. While it is true that workers follow orders from their superiors in this industry, creative solutions and ideas are also appreciated as it gives a new way to do things. Employers value workers who can analyse situations at work, see problems or errors, and then propose solutions to them. You must think critically to spot things that aren’t working or when something that used to work no longer work. You must be able to profer solutions to them or liaise with your team to solve such problems.

   • Continual Learning & Adaptation
     Workers in this industry must keep up with skills as the business evolves and more industrial and manufacturing organisations embrace automation. Continuous learning can help you stay relevant in the field; some individuals in this area are losing their jobs worldwide due to industrialisation and a lack of skills to fulfil demand. Learning and adapting to changing trends, technology, and other factors can help you stay relevant in this field.

   • Teamwork
     How well do you collaborate with others? In this industry, your ability to connect and collaborate with people is also highly valued, as several operations require collaboration with other team members. To enhance project productivity and success, you must be able to collaborate with other industry professionals.

   • Planning & Organisation
     There is always a variety of activities going on at work, most of which have various priorities. Identifying project priorities in the short and long term and building a feasible plan to complete the tasks entrusted to you is key to success in the job. To achieve a goal or aim, workers in this industry must be able to manage time, tools, and resources successfully.

   • Digital Skills 
     Having digital skills will give you an edge in this industry. The industry is evolving with the adoption of technologies. Therefore, the automation of several processes, such as automation and data analysis, is relevant. Furthermore, learning and gaining digital skills like Inventory Management System software, Data Analytics, Digital marketing, etc., would help this industry depending on your career cluster. 

A majority of frontline careers in Industrial & manufacturing don’t need a university education. The most common degrees for hands-on workers involved in the day-to-day affairs of Industrial/manufacturing companies are secondary, technical and polytechnic education. It is an industry where experience is highly valued. Careers in production are varied, and entry-level positions require different educational degrees. Industrial production employees create and maintain efficient operations or ensure safe working conditions that meet strict regulations. 

For graduate careers in the industry, relevant degrees include Industrial engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering and other technical degrees.

Some postgraduate programs include MSc Advanced Process Engineering, MSc Production Engineering and Operations Management, MSc Industrial Control Engineering, MSc Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, MSc Mechatronics, MSc Product Design, Engineering & Manufacturing, MSc Process Systems Engineering, MSc Chemical Process Engineering, MSc Industrial Engineering, MSc Process Safety, MPhil Industrial Systems, MSc Manufacturing and Management, MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and MSc Operations Management.

Here are some certifications courses you can take:

Certified Manufacturing Engineering Certification, Certified Production Technician, Certified Automation Professional, Quality Engineer Certification, American Society for Quality Certification, Project Management Professional, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Business analyst certifications, Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD)

You may have heard that industry & manufacturing jobs entail producing boxes/products/pieces of equipment, packing & transporting industrial products, and sweating while operating heavy machinery and equipment. However, that is not entirely accurate; you can take various career paths in this industry, so research what the job entails before applying for jobs or graduate programs. Then, if the position aligns with your career plan, apply. 

Some production jobs in this industry do not require a degree. In contrast, other management, administration, or specialised production roles might require a formal degree.

Companies in this industry send out job vacancies on their official website. In addition, to recruitment agencies, it will be of help to check such channels to get updates about available jobs. Also, recruitment is done based on referrals, so connecting with people in the industry would help secure a job. 

Interviews are done for potential employees in this industry, especially for specialised roles and jobs that require a degree. For example, for some workers in the production units, all that is needed might be a written application and being physically fit. Then, they are hired, but for some roles, technical, administration, Marketing, etc., interviews are conducted for applicants to select the best hand for the job.

Industrials and manufacturing companies are usually the largest or one of the largest employers. Though many industrial & manufacturing processes have become automated, there are still a lot of activities done and operations coordinated by humans that make work in the industry highly demanding. This makes the industry require a sizeable number of workers compared to other industries. 

Workers earn salaries based on their education and location, but work experience is crucial for technical roles and a key consideration for compensation. 

In most manufacturing setups, most production workers work on contract and may receive hourly, daily or weekly wages. Experienced technicians usually manage the machines, while workers may work on sorting and product labelling tasks. Most of these jobs are repetitive, require following instructions strictly and may require spending most of the time on one’s feet while being safety-conscious. In addition, workers work based on shifts, and some might need to work at night to keep up with production.

Administrative and management staff work in offices that are often outside their manufacturing and industrial operations. Also, you can pursue several career paths in this industry, contrary to the belief that jobs in this industry are mainly fabrication and production work. There are other career paths in administration, finance, human resource, marketing, etc., that career seeker can pursue in this industry.

Employers in this industry provide health insurance cover for their staff. In addition, working in this industry opens you to learn about new technological tools and how to use them. As technology advances and new tools are being introduced in the workspace, companies often hire instructors to train their staff on using new technological tools. Again, this helps build your skillsets.

Another peck of working in this industry is working with a team; this allows you to interact and rubs minds with others while working towards productivity. Again, this allows for human interaction, making work more fun and productive.

Another perk of working in this industry is working with a team; this allows you to interact and rubs minds with others while working towards productivity. Again, this allows for human interaction, making work more fun and productive.

International
Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT)
IEEE Electronics Packaging Society
Robotics and Automation Society (RAS)
Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
American Society for Precision Engineering (ASPE)
Manufacturing Council (USA)

Ghana
Private Enterprise Federation, Association of Ghana Industries

• James Dyson
  

  Ghana
  Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Emelia Adjei Ohene-Kena, Mukesh V. Thakwani, Charles Darku, Ahomka Lindsay 

   

International 

• UNIDO | United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Ghana
Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre

International
Apple, Toyota Group, Samsung Electronics, Nestle, Nissan, Intel, Lenovo, IBM, Unilever, PepsiCo, Hoffmann-La Roche, Procter & Gamble, Hengli Group, General Motors, BMW, Cardinal Health, Nissan, Hitachi, Bosch, Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Volkswagen Group, Honda, BASF, Sinochem, ChemChina, General Electric, Sinopharm, Hoffmann-La Roche, Enel, China Baowu Steel Group, Airbus, Ford, Foxconn. Johnson & Johnson, Daimler, Hon Hai Precision, Daimler, Hon Hai Precision Industry, Honey Well, Union Pacific, Dow Chemical, Tesla, SAIC, Mitsubishi, BMW, Huawei, LG, HP, Coca-cola, Nike, L’Oréal, Imperial Brands, PLC, Danone, Tyson Foods, Nike Inc, Kraft Heinz, Altria Group, Adidas AG, British American Tobacco PLC, Whirlpool Corp, General Mills, Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA, Pernod Ricard, Johnson & Johnson, Heineken Holding NV, 3M Co, Nestlé SA.

Startups
Edita Food Industries, Dolidol, KS Africa, JET Motor Company, Si-Ware Companies, Reibus International, Atonarp, Seeq, Triax Technologies, Inc., Uptake Technologies, Dodla Dairy, Relativity Space, Blue Origin, SiFive, Lightyear.

Ghana
Fanmilk Ghana, Kantanka Automobile Company Limited, Unilever Ghana, Guinness Ghana Limited, Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Polytank Ghana Limited, Nestle Ghana, Accra Brewery, Akosombo Textiles, Tema Oil Refinery, Tinatett Herbal Manufacturing and Marketing Company Limited, Tema Cocoa Processing Company, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana, Kasapreko Company Limited, Sterling International Company, GIHOC Distilleries, Kane-Em Industries Limited, Royal Crown Packaging Limited, B5 Plus Steel Industry, Rockters Roofing Systems Limited, Jelcem Ghana Limited, Unique Roofing Systems

• • Automation
    The automation of the industrial goods industry has aided in increasing efficiency, preserving production stability, and enhancing workplace safety, among other things. Still, it has also resulted in many industrial employees’ employment loss. As more businesses automate parts of their operations, most industrial workers are concerned about job loss due to technological improvements. Moreover, some employees believe that technology will never be able to replace the human mind.
  • Healthcare Cost for Workers
    Another problem the industry faces is keeping up with changing and rising healthcare costs. As healthcare costs rise, industrial businesses find it increasingly difficult to manage their budgets. For example, in the United States, manufacturers pay for their employees’ healthcare. However, it is no longer practicable as expenses increase, and there are no viable alternatives.
  • Inventory Management
    Although automated technologies have made inventory management much more accessible, it remains one of the most demanding tasks in the industrial industry. Despite this, many manufacturers, particularly small ones, manage their supply by hand. Inventory management is a time-consuming task. However, that can be aided by software. Manual stock checks are inefficient and prone to errors, leading to inaccuracies, shortages, overstocking, and unidentified damages.
  • Shortages of skilled workers
    It is a significant issue for many businesses, but manufacturing is particularly impacted. As the baby boomer population approaches retirement, skilled professionals in numerous industrial goods and manufacturing companies are in great demand. While some mechanised activities and machine sensors have become more ubiquitous, millennials with technical skills and knowledge still need to replace the retiring workforce.
  • High Exchange Rate
    The sudden rise in the exchange rate has damaged the industrial & manufacturing sectors. The prices of goods or raw materials have tripled or quadrupled. As a result, manufacturers are forced to reduce their product sizes or increase their prices. It has strained the consumers and the manufacturers.
  • Infrastructural Challenges
    The Manufacturing industry in Nigeria has many infrastructural challenges. A crucial issue that hinders manufacturers in Nigeria is the inability to access an uninterrupted power supply. There has been a massive decline in electricity supply across the country that has further affected the industrial and manufacturing companies in the nation. In addition, alternative power sources like Diesel generators can exorbitantly increase the cost of production. Other infrastructural challenges include bad roads and poor storage facilities.
  • Inconsistent Government PoliciesChanging government policies has challenged Nigeria’s manufacturing industry and inexistent industrial segment. Poor access to foreign exchange to import goods, lax enforcement of protectionist policies and bottlenecks in the importation of machinery have made the business environment challenging for local manufacturers and industrialists are no longer competitive with importers of the same goods.

• • Challenges in the industry include a lack of skilled employers, high exchange rates, infrastructure challenges, poor distribution, 

    Here are innovation opportunities in the industrial and Manufacturing industry which include:

    Artificial Intelligence
    Factories are integrating AI across their production systems and processes. Advanced AI allows for predictive maintenance, cognitive computing, swarm intelligence, context-aware computing, smart machines, hardware accelerators, and generative design. 

    Human Augmentation 
    The physical and cognitive augmentation of humans is a significant industry innovation. Technologies like wearables and exoskeletons are augmenting human limitations. Furthermore, industrial mobile devices, natural and intuitive UI, and portable machine control screens enhance the ease of using such technology. 

    Extended Reality (XR)
    The industry already uses XR technologies like mixed reality (MR), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) in the research and development (R&D) to full-scale production and post-production processes. It is changing the way industrial manufacturing systems function. The nature of human-machine interaction is aligning more toward machine-enabled workers.

    Internet of Everything
    The machine-machine, human-machine, and human-human real-time connectedness together comprise the internet of everything in manufacturing. It includes IIoT, internet of skills, internet of services, internet of systems, and shop floor IoT. The internet of everything combines real-time data, machine intelligence, and human skills, resulting in faster, efficient, and cost-effective manufacturing processes.

    Edge, Fog & Cloud Computing
    The immense amount of data generated by the industrial internet of things (IIoT) is propelling the adoption of edge, fog, and cloud computing capabilities in the industrial manufacturing Industry. As a result, custom hardware and software solutions like connected clouds, distributed clouds, distributed compute and storage, hybrid computing, low code development platforms, microservices, mobile computing, and multi-access edge computing are shaping this industry.

    Advanced Robotics
    Advancements in robotics make the Industrial and Manufacturing industry processes faster, more efficient, and safer. The most prominent robotic technologies impacting manufacturing include autonomous robots, collaborative robots (cobots), autonomous mobile robots, humanoid, mobile robots, cloud robotics, APIs, pick and place robots, and robot swarms. Robots offer higher precision and agility while improving the capability of rapidly developing customisable robots. Robots also free up time for the human workforce to focus on other non-repetitive or high-value tasks.

Books

• All About Pull Production by Christoph Roser, John Shook
• Managing Supply Chain Risk and Disruptions (Post COVID-19) by Aravind Raj Sakthivel, Jayakrishna Kandasamy, J. Paulo Davim
• Industrial Engineering by Mario Fernández
• Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management 
• Input-Output Models for Sustainable Industrial Systems by Raymond R. Tan, Kathleen B. Aviso, Michael Angelo B. Promentilla, Krista Danielle S. Yu
• Maintenance and Reliability Best Practices by Ramesh Gulati
• Lessons from the Titans by Scott Davies
• Toyota Kata by Mike Rother

Podcasts

• Making Chips
• The Sound of Automation
• In Machine We Trust
• Manufacturing Happy Hour
• Augmented
• The Manufacturing Executives
• Solution Podcast
• The Future is connected

Events

• AfricaBuild
• Complast South Africa
• Manufacturing Association of Nigeria Event
• EMWA – EQUIPMENT & MANUFACTURING WEST AFRICA
• Digital Africa Conference
• Lagos International Trade Fair
• Ceramica West Africa
• Nigeria Build Expo
• Mega Clima Nigeria 2022
• Agra Innovate West Africa
• Propak West Africa

Movies/Documentary

• Master Hands
• America Factory
• Manufacturing Dissect
• The Promise Land
• Detropia
• Heavy Rescue: 401

Guides/Publications

• The Manufacturer
• Industry Week
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Trade magazine
• Venture Beat

The construction industry is one of the largest employers of labour in a majority of countries around the world. This is because it provides numerous opportunities for professionals, technicians, and other providers of unskilled labour. Graduate roles in the industry include:

• Architects and architectural technologists
• Building services engineers
• Building surveyors
• Civil, structural, and geotechnical engineers
• Landscape architects
• Site managers
• Electrician
• Carpenter
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Computer Aided Designers and Building Information Modellers 
• Civil Engineer
• Compliance Manager
• Construction Director
• Contract Manager
• Design Manager
• Depot Manager
• Electrical Engineer
• Electrical Project Manager 
• Environmental Engineer
• Energy Manager

Other skilled roles in the industry which do not require a degree include:

• Quantity surveyors
• Crane Operator
• Crane Supervisor 
• Mason
• Glazier
• Plumbers
• Painters
• Electricians
• Equipment Operator

1. Planning & Organisation
   The ability to identify tasks; prioritize the execution based on how and when for the short term and long term. Setting up structures for getting things done and rightly allocate resources such as time, energy, and finances while meeting deadlines. This is an essential skill to have to thrive in the industry. 

   The Success level of each project is dependent on adequate planning and organization; the duration the project will take, the type of structures that will be built, the resources and materials needed, the number of teams needed, etc… must be put in place to aid the success of the project. 

   Networking & Teamwork 
   This has to do with one’s ability to build relationships and work smoothly with people from different disciplines, backgrounds, and expertise to accomplish a task or goal—respecting the differences and diversity as you contribute to team success. One must be able to work as a team with other professional team members; electrical & electronic engineers, crane operators, civil engineers, etc who will be working on a project together with you.

   Numeracy & Financial Literacy
   The ability to work with numbers, interpret numerical data, communicate your ideas quantitatively, understand financial reports and jargon—while making decisions based on this knowledge and understanding.

   Making estimates of materials and resources needed to start or complete a project, keeping a financial record on a project.

   Analysis & Problem-Solving
   It is the ability to understand and break down a situation, understand the challenges, identify the key elements and issues and suggest solutions while envisioning the implications of different approaches.

   Several challenges may come up while working on a project for which there is no pre-defined way to tackle such, one must be able to analyze each of the challenges, understand their uniqueness and proffer the relevant solutions to such challenges. 

   Digital Proficiency 
   Digital proficiency is the ability to use information technology skills, devices, and applications to assess information, process data, communicate, and collaborate with others in getting work done faster and more efficiently.

   Relevant digital skills to the construction industry include computer-aided design, visual communication design, and data analysis.

The construction industry is open to people with a variety of qualifications. Speciality roles in the industry are available to people with Associate & Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Building Technology, Urban and Regional Planning, Mechanical Engineering, Master’s Degree in Construction Engineering and Management, and Construction Project Management.
Postgraduate degrees are also offered in the following areas:
MSc in Environmental Engineering in Urban Construction
Master in Construction Engineering and Management
MSc in Building Information Modeling and Management
Master’s Degree in Engineering of Roads, Canals, and Ports
MSc in Building and Architectural Engineering
MSc in Advanced Design and Management of Durable Constructions (ADMODC)
M.Sc. in Civil Engineering
Master of Science in Sustainable and Energy Efficient Buildings
MSc Road Management and Engineering
MSc in Structural Engineering 
M.Sc/M.Phil. in Building Structures
M.Sc./M.Phil. in Building Maintenance
M.Sc./M.Phil. in Construction Management
M.Sc./M.Phil in Building Services
Master in BIM Engineering
Management in Construction MSc

Evidence of continuing education such as certifications shows steadfast commitment to your future career. It lets your employers know you are dedicated. You’ll stand out above the rest with the proper credentials, increasing your value and worth.

The most common and valuable construction industry certifications that you can earn include:

Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
Associate Constructor Certification
Project Management for Construction Certification
Green Business Certification
Certified Safety Manager (CSM)
Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Quality in Construction Course – Chartered Institute of Building Academy
Health Safety and Environment (HSE)
Quantity Surveying
Building Information Modeling and Management
Construction Science and Management
Master in Contract, Claim and Delay Management in Construction Works

Competencies in leading computer-aided design and building information modelling software such as AutoCAD, Revit, and CATIA, from companies such as AutoDesk and Dassault Systemes are highly valued. Certifications are also available in these programs as evidence of these competencies.

Unlike some industries that require formal education, the construction industry does not require any formal education. Therefore, you can begin a career in the industry without a college degree or certifications. However, it is essential to note that formal certifications might not be required to start in the industry. However, having those certifications helps you scale up faster in the industry as several career paths need certain levels of education.

It is essential to apply for apprenticeship programs or internships with construction companies early in your career to build experience. In addition, the apprenticeship or internship programs get you familiar with the work environment and skills required for your career.

Working in the industry comes with many responsibilities. It requires being physically fit as the job descriptions need physical activities. Depending on your role/career path, you can work in a consulting company or with a contractor depending on your role/career path.

Working in the industry might require you to work eight to ten hours per day on a construction site or office, depending on your career path or job role. Sometimes, the working hours on site might be longer than usual. You might be working on shift bases (which may include nights) depending on the work done and the deadline for delivery. One satisfaction of working in the industry is seeing the end of a construction project; you get to see how the designs come alive from the panning stage until the final stage.

How Top Companies Recruit
The majority of top companies in the Construction industry recruit through an internship or graduate programs. Construction firms frequently collaborate with local colleges/universities to find candidates for internships or apprenticeships within the company. It is a straightforward method of construction recruiting because companies get to teach and train qualified workers who may eventually end up in full-time positions.

In addition, referral programs are a great way to find quality candidates to hire. It allows workers to refer/recommend trusted and skilled unemployed labour to companies in need of them. Some businesses in the industry have also embraced referrals as a source of new employees.

International Associations and Bodies
Confederation of International Contractors’ Associations (CICA)
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Manufacturers Association (HEVAC)
Industrial and Commercial Heating Equipment Association (ICOM
Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA)
National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers (NARM)
National Association of Shopfitters (NAS)
National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC)
National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited. (NFRC)
Technology and Construction Solicitors’ Association (TSCA)

Ghana
Ghana Chamber of Construction, Association of Building and Civil Engineer Contractors of Ghana

Danladi Slim Matawal

Ghana
Kwabena Adjei-Larbi, Greg Parbey, Frank Lartey, Frank Acheampong

Construction Management Association of America (CMAA)
American Concrete Institute (ACI)
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
CICA – Confederation of International Contractors’ Association
America Institute of Contractors (AIC)

Ghana
The Chamber of Construction Industry Ghana, Ministry of Works and Housing, Ghana Ministry of Roads and Highways

ACS Actividades de Construcción y Servicios S.A., Hochtief Aktiengesellschaft, VINCI, China Communications Construction Group Ltd., Bouygues, Strabag, Power Construction Corp. of China, China State Construction Engineering Corp. Ltd., Skanska AB, TechnipFMC, Actividades de Construcción y Servicios, Bechtel, China Communications Construction Company, Larsen and Toubro, Bouygues, Skanska AB, Technip FMC, Balfour Beatty, Kiewit Corporation, Laing O’Rourke, Whiting-Turner, Turner Construction, Turner Construction, Gilbane Building Company.

Startups

Globally
QuoteToMe, RatedPower, Rockease, Ruedata, SafeAI Inc SiteHive, SkyMul, SMART CAST, StructShare, Synhelion Tellux, The Building Machines Company ThroughPut.

Ghana
Berock Ventures Limited, David Walter Limited, Inocon group limited, Asanduff Construction Company, Limerica Ghana limited, Core Construction Limited, Facol Limited, Jodi Construction Limited, Joshob Construction, Casapulo Ghana Limited, Asterion, De Simone Limited, The Zakhem Group, Plastic Route, SDCL Ghana, Maypat Dew Ventures, Mosag0s Group, Brick n Build, Elzo Building Construction Company, Gapson Company Limited, DaLion Royal, Harena Home Depot, A&L Construction Co. Ltd, Green Opal Properties, More Beyond Tiles Works

• Increase in Collapse Structures 
  There is a rise in building collapse in Nigeria. It results from the use of defective or substandard building materials, a lack of required technical knowledge, noncompliance with building codes and standards, the use of nonprofessionals, and the high level of corruption that has ravaged every sphere of the construction industry, including government and private parastatals.

  Need for Affordable Housing
  The level of housing shortage in Nigeria has not been adequately emphasised, which is a significant issue affecting housing delivery. This issue is due to housing managers in Nigeria providing incomplete and inaccurate statistics and data. In addition, costs of building materials, low purchasing power, security issues, economic contraction, general inflation, high unemployment rate, and naira devaluation are some of the significant obstacles to affordable housing delivery in Nigeria.

  According to Research Gate, in terms of funding, an estimated 12 trillion nairas (about 45.3 billion pounds) are needed to solve the existing housing scarcity problem. Furthermore, it is projected that in a 20-year time frame, an average of 56 trillion nairas (approximately 211 billion pounds) are needed each year to meet the demand for housing in Nigeria.

  Shortage of Labour and Skills
  There is a generational shift in interest in the construction industry. Today, there’s little interest in construction craftsmanship among millennials who prefer to take on savvier roles such as computer-aided design and less bricklaying. The rise in project complexity and lack of an experienced labour force have resulted in construction quality issues, employee safety concerns, and project delays. To address this problem are mentoring and construction staffing agencies. The mentorship programmes would provide guidance, training, and resources for people looking to enter the industry (undergrad students, recent college graduates, and current skilled workers). These programmes allow for the recruitment of additional potential employees. On the other hand, staffing agencies will be in charge of pre-screening and hiring skilled workers.

  Worksite Safety
  The most difficult challenge in the construction industry is ensuring that the various activities and tasks associated with construction do not endanger human lives. New hazards may appear like the weather or the landscape changes during a construction project, and old risks may take on a new form.

  One of the reasons there are so many slips, stumbles, twisted ankles, and same-level falls on construction sites is because of the environmental changes. Furthermore, construction workers fail to make the necessary mental adjustments to avoid injury. For construction safety managers, this is one of the most frustrating issues. Worksite safety is nearly impossible unless human factors training is integrated into construction safety.

  Need for Gender Diversity
  It is worth noting that women have made enormous strides in the workplace over the last few decades in career advancement and the fight for pay equality. However, while most industries have seen a gradual increase in female employees, attracting women to the construction industry has been particularly difficult. According to a 2014 NCA construction capacity survey, women were underrepresented in the construction industry, accounting for only 19 per cent of the workforce and owning only 7 per cent of construction contracting firms.

  A crucial issue in the construction industry is unconscious gender bias/gender discrimination. In addition, women who want to or have ventured into construction have been discouraged or deterred by gender bias. Therefore, the industry must address these issues if gender diversity is to be achieved.

• • Building Information Modeling: These are technologies used to create and manage the digital representation of a construction project. It provides access to data and information on a building or structure as its digital twin through which informed decisions can be made to simulate outcomes before it is implemented in the project site.

     

  • AI and Machine Learning: Optimized workflows are essential to well-running projects and teams in the Architecture,  Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry. However, due to the complexity of construction, workflows tend to be disconnected and manual. The three most significant areas within optimized construction workflows are communication, data, and transparency. AI is making it easier to succeed across all three of these areas, resulting in greater productivity and profits. 
  • Resource & Workforce Management: Solutions like these allow companies to access metrics and forecasting analytics to better allocate resources to the right projects at the right time. Workforce management solutions are especially important in our current economy, where volatile markets require firms to be as precise and efficient in their operations as possible.
  • 3D Printing: We can expect to see 3D printing technologies continue to mature and grow in the future. As companies look for ways to improve quality control, address skilled labor shortages, and explore advanced designs, 3D printing will be here to help them make it a success.
    
  • Digital Twins: A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical entity, including its potential and current assets, systems, data, processes, workflows, people, and devices. Digital twins gather data through sensors to better understand a physical structure and then create its duplicate. Since almost 80% of a building’s lifetime value is realized during operations, the data and insights provided by digital twins help owners better maintain their facilities, streamline operations, and improve capital planning.
  • Advanced Take Off and Estimating Tools: The days of putting together quantity takeoffs and estimates using spreadsheets are over. Or at least, they should be. The rise of advanced takeoff and estimating tools are helping construction pros implement these processes more efficiently and with greater accuracy.
  • Construction Robotics: Construction continues to be one of the most labour-intensive industries. It includes many repetitive and time-consuming tasks which can be done faster through robotics and automation. Construction robots also reduce human-induced error and losses due to fatigue. For example, collaborative robots automate bricklaying, welding, rebar tying, painting, and many such repetitive tasks with great precision. Robotics solutions also automate heavy equipment and fleets for excavation, transportation, load lifting, concrete works, and demolition. This increases construction worker safety and significantly reduces operational time. 

Movies/Documentaries

• The Architect and The Painter 
• Shawshank Redemption
• Impossible Engineering 
• Die Hard
• LOCKE
• Six Figures, No Suit
• Construction of Villa Alem 

Books

• Elevating Construction Superintendents
• Skip the Flip: Secrets the 1% Know About Real Estate Investing
• Construction Management JumpStart
• Fix This Next
• Constructive Finance

Podcasts

• The Art of Construction
• Construction Brothers
• The Construction Engineering Show
• Future Construct
• Connecting Construction
• The ConTech Crew
• The Construction Life
• A Viewpoint on Construction

Events

• Nigeria BuildExpo
• The Big 5 Construct
• Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry Annual Convention 
• Groundbreaking Women in Construction Conference
• Cape Construction Expo 
• SENHABITAT 2022

Publications

• ENR
• Building Design and Construction
• Construction Executive Magazine
• ConstrucTech
• Construction and Engineering Digest (CED) Magazine
• Journal of Construction Project Management and Innovation

Fashion & Jewelry Designer, Textile designer, Fashion writer/illustrator, Pattern cutter/grader, Stylist, Personal stylist/personal shopper, Fashion buyer, Fashion merchandiser, Visual merchandiser, Fashion writer, Graphic designer, Fashion photographer/filmmaker, Fashion blogger/vlogger, Model, Marketing or Communications Manager, Wardrobe assistant, Costume designer, Makeup artist/hairstylist, Studio manager , Retail manager, Copywriter, Social media assistant, Event manager, Teacher/lecturer, Further research, Engraver, Polisher, Bench jeweller, Metalworker, Jewellery consultant, Event & Wedding Planner, Event Space or Venue Managers, Catering Services Manager

Highest Paying Jobs
The highest paying jobs in the industry are: Fashion or Jewelry Store manager, eCommerce Manager, Product Manager, Fashion Designer / Stylist and Event Planner.

1. • Creativity & Critical Thinking 
     In every part of the industry, creativity and an eye for what is visually appealing are essential; being creative is not only for designers but for everyone in the sector. Your originality and sense of style can influence written materials and promotional commercials. It’s also necessary to think critically to solve difficulties, produce the best materials, and decide on a marketing strategy to generate more sales.

     Teamwork & Networking
     One of the essential fashion abilities you’ll need is working well with others. You’ll be part of a large team (design, production, marketing, etc.) that collaborates closely on significant projects and meetings. You’ll need to work with them to identify problems and develop solutions rather than pointing fingers and blaming team members. To obtain first dibs on new products, you’ll also need to network with manufacturers and fashion icons and celebrities to promote your brand.

     Initiative & Enterprise
     The ability to find new opportunities and ideas and put them into practice. Having initiative and an enterprising ability is a much-needed skill to improve how businesses operate. Employers need to have someone to adapt to new work situations by seeing ways to make valuable changes. It also involves having the self-motivation to develop your design ideas or proposals and organising events.

     Communication & Persuasion
     Fashion is constantly communicating – it listens to culture and dictates it, and the same with events. You must be able to share your creative ideas, concept or proposals, both with team players and your customers. The success rate of products depends on marketing. Marketers (Digital or Traditional Marketers) must communicate the product’s value excellently to their customers and persuade them to buy from their brand, among several options. 

     Industry Awareness, Continual Learning & Adaptation
     Being aware of trends in the industry involves spotting new designs, fabrics being used, understanding the changing customer needs, new technologies being adopted in the industry, etc. One must continuously learn and adapt to keep up with all these trends. Learning new skills in design & marketing and integrating new technology software would help keep up with the digitisation in the industry.

     Digital Skills 
     Having digital skills is an advantage in this industry as several fashion, events and lifestyle companies are going online. In addition, developing technical skills like graphic design using digital tools, content creation/Writing for communication and social media engagement. And also, data analysis for understanding sales reports and markets will be an added advantage.

A degree in fashion is one of the best routes to secure a good position within the industry. 

While you can work in this industry without a degree in fashion design, having such degrees can be relevant and give you an edge. But beyond a formal degree in fashion, working in this industry requires you to have a deep interest & passion and also be ready to develop creative skills. 

Learning in this industry can be formal or informal. There are registered fashion schools with structured curriculum and instructors that teaches fashion and award certificate to their student. Also, several people have been trained informally through apprenticeship, and they get a certificate for training.

Attending a school of fashion can help you launch your dream career. Attending a fashion school will open your eyes to some basics of fashion designing, how to brand your products, and how to best market your products.

Some famous fashion school in the country and diaspora is Fashion Institute of Technology (US), School of Arts, Design and Architecture (Finland), Parsons: Fashion, Art and Design School (US), Paris College of Art (Paris), Fashion & Art Academy House of Henri, Legsapparel Fashion School Port Harcourt, Zaris Fashion and Style Academy, Mickeyoma Design Fashion Academy, etc.

Bachelor degrees include: 

Bachelor of Design – Product Design + Fashion Design, Bachelor in Textile, Design, Bachelor in Design, Fashion and Visual Arts, BA (Hons) Fashion, BA in Jewelry Design, BA Honours Fashion Design, Bachelor of Arts in Fashion.

Other Degree/Certification include:

Diploma in Fashion Design, Fashion buying and merchandising, fashion styling, fashion photography, Jewellery design, fashion journalism, and fashion management.

The fashion industry is highly competitive. Incredible creatives and bold strategists work together to keep up with rapidly changing trends and a demanding audience with multiple choices.

Volunteer, don’t wait for a “Job”
Volunteer to put your designs to work for individuals who can give you visibility even if the earnings are insignificant. Manage events when the opportunity arises. Volunteering will help you put your creativity to use while gaining experience.

Fashion internship
Nothing would beat real-world experience, even if you studied something fashion-related. However, you have to be okay with starting at the bottom. A fashion internship will round off your theoretical knowledge and develop your skills. An internship often serves as an extended job interview and could land you a permanent position. It doesn’t have to be a big company, event tailoring shops and fashion houses could be a good starting point.

Keep up with fashion trends
Stay abreast with ha in the fashion industry by following or subscribing to a few big shots or media houses on Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube and keeping track of innovation and trends from the hot topics.

Leverage Social media 
Knowing how to harness diverse opportunities on the social platform will help. Follow your favourite brands and designers to keep up with their products and learn from their innovative ways of doing things. Share your work on social media sites to build your brand image and opportunities, and engage with fellow enthusiasts in the industry.

Build your portfolio of work 
It can be a notebook, a personal website or even a Behance page; your social media can also be your gallery of work. Having your portfolio is essential as it shows your consistency in creating good products or planning beautiful events. In addition, it will help you reach out to new prospects as it will help them navigate your designs or the events you’ve planned efficiently.

Be open to opportunities
You may start marketing and end up in design. You may begin working with a lifestyle magazine and become a dress designer. The possibilities for growth in the industry are vast. You should be open to new opportunities.

Working in the industry requires you to be social; this will help you keep informed of trends and network with other fashion enthusiasts. Working in this industry also requires you to be passionate.

While most roles are in marketing, with a few designers working in the backend, the lowest entry is sales. However, being open to opportunities is needed as roles in other segments might be available.

The events industry can be very intense. It requires a lot of planning and visitation of vendors and venues and coming up with creative ideas to beat competitors. 

Large corporations often train their workers to keep up with trends and be more productive. Event companies also train their staff on work ethics.

International
Cosmetic Executive Women
Fashion Group International
Council of Fashion Designers of America 
Association of Textiles 
Apparel and Materials Professionals 
American Apparel and Footwear Association 
International Textile and Apparel Association
World Fashion Organization (WFO)

Ghana
Association of Ghana Apparel Manufacturers 

International
Tidjane Thiam, Janet Yellen, Okonjo Iweala, Warren Buffet, J.P Morgan, James Dimon, Josef Ackermann,

Ghana Career Champions
Nana and Afua Dabanka, Kristen and Kofi Essel, Leslie Wiredu, Kweku Bediako, Elisha Boie, Aisha Ayensu, Tonyi Senayah

Cosmetic Executive Women 
Fashion Group International
Council of Fashion Designers of America 
Association of Textiles 
Apparel and Materials Professionals 
American Apparel and Footwear Association 
International Textile and Apparel Association
World Fashion Organization (WFO)

Ghana
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture

Brands should not be confused with companies. Companies typically own brands, and a single company can have multiple brands. A company with one or more brands can also bear the name of its flagship brand. 

Global
Chanel, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior SE, Alexander Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, H&M, Burberry Group plc, Prada S.p.A, Nike, Hermès International Société, Ralph Lauren Corp, Tory Burch, Calvin Klein, Kering SA, Armani, Urban Outfitters, Donna Karan, Levi Strauss & Co., L’Orea, Under Armour, Inc., Quiksilver Inc., Brunello Cucinelli, Coach, Inc., Lululemon Athletica Inc.

The International fashion market is led by Inditex, LVMH, H&M, Nike, VF Corporation, Richemont, Adidas, Fast Retailing, Abercrombie & Fitch, Prada, Gap, Dior, Urban Outfitters, and Burberry.

Events companies include Bassett Events, Inc., MKG, Colin Cowie, David Tutera, A Perfect Event, Rafanelli Events, Oren Co, Wonderland, Eventive, Royal DSM, Dreamsmith Events, Meat & Potato, Liquid media live events, Rockitfish Ltd, Firebird Events Ltd, Alpha Events.

Ghana
Monaa, christie Brown Label, Horseman Shoes, Ophelia Crossland Designs Ltd, Lokko House, Ethical Apparel Africa, Debonair Afrik, Winglow Fashion Academy, Kwabs College, 5 Star advertising and Model Agency, Ghana Textiles Printing Company Ltd, Passion Exhibit Modeling Agency, Purple Kouture, POK Footwear, Hi5 Modeling Agency, Aslin Fashion, ExoPa Model Agency, Afra K Fashion School, Regent Model Management, Yorkcity Fashion Academy, Redlipsticks, Vicky’s Kente, Wear Nation, Alanzaro Fashion Design, Cofiegold Clothing Ltd, Bash Digital Hub, DimpleKothing, Rissemma Company Limited, Top Class Talent Management, ScramDucas Consult 

• Fintechs as Challengers
  Startups leveraging data and technology are bringing innovations to markets at an unprecedented rate for traditional financial service providers and regulators to deal with. However, several incumbent financial institutions respond by rolling out fintech offerings to their customer base. Some of these are exclusively from them, while others partner with Fintechs.

  Evolving Customer Expectations 
  Customers now expect personalised and instant access to a menu of financial services. They also expect services to be accessible across multiple digital channels and their requests promptly attended to.

  Fraud and Cybercrime
  The financial sector is exposed to several threats from within and outside the financial system. The complexity of fraud and money laundering operations continues to evolve, putting the deposit of customers, operations and reputation of financial firms at risk.

  Underserved Customers
  Agency and digital banking services have helped close the financial inclusion gap in several developing countries. However, most of the population is still underserved due to the lack of robust financial services to cater for their needs. Access to credit at an affordable rate remains a challenge for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses.

  Exposure to Global Risk 
  The connectedness of the global financial system has made economic systems vulnerable to shocks that may come from anywhere in the world. For example, default on loans in the US may lead to a domino effect on financial markets in Europe and catalyse to become a global financial crisis.

  Tougher Regulatory Environment
  The financial sector is highly regulated. In both good and bad times of the economy, the financial sector is a target of increasing legislation and policies and has to adhere to the government’s strict compliance measures. The globalisation of finance also implies that many of them are exposed to the regulatory environment in international markets.

  Legacy Systems
  Financial institutions with a long history of operation are significant players in any nation’s financial service industry. But unfortunately, a majority of them are challenged with legacy systems of existing software, processes, and business infrastructure, which can be challenging to integrate, change or adapt to new technologies.

  The volatility of the World Economy
  From the devastating effect of COVID-19, mounting rate of inflation, fluctuation in the value of currencies and the foreign reserves of Nations, to wars among nations, the financial sector’s stability is threatened by uncertain times.

• • Digitigitisation is on the high in the following areas of finance:

    • AI for interfacing with customers, delivering advisory services, and making product recommendations in banking.
    • The emergence of blockchain technologies for trust management and digital currencies in business finance. 
    • Data-driven decisions such as calculation of premiums based on predictive analytics in insurance.
    • Robotic Process Automation and advanced AI technologies for automating manual accounting processes.
    • Algorithmic stock trading – quants in investment banking.
    • Loan prediction and credit scoring based on historical financial records, behavioural analysis, and big data in banking.
    • Automation of accounting workflows to reduce the burden of manual data entry.

Publication
Vogue
GQ
Women’s Wear Daily 
Business of Fashion
Allure
Elle
Cosmopolitan
Ovation Magazine
InStyle
VanityFair
Esquire
City People
Fast Fashion Magazine

Events
Paris Fashion Week 
Milan Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week
London Fashion Week 
Arab Fashion Week
Accra/Cape Town/Lagos/Rwanda Fashion Week
Morocco Beauty Expo
Cosmetics and Hair Exhibition Nigeria

Podcasts
Style and Trends. Bande à Par
Working in Fashion 
Industry Insights. The Business of Fashion Podcast
Sustainability Matters. The Wardrobe Crisis
Brand Chatter. Chanel Connects
Event Manager
Event Tech

Books
The Little Dictionary of Fashion by Christian Dior
Coco Chanel: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon by Megan Hess
Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes by Dana Thomas
D.V. by Diana Vreeland
Worn in New York: 68 Sartorial Memoirs of the City by Emily Spivack

Movies
Devil Wears Prada 2006
Coco Before Chanel 2009
House of Gucci 2021
The First Monday in May
Phantom Thread 2017
Phone Swap 2012
Meet Joe Black
Crazy Rich Asians
The Wedding Planner

The extractive industry provides employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled labour. In addition, the sector is suitable for individuals who desire cross-disciplinary careers, especially in engineering. The technical jobs common to the extractive industry include:

Drilling engineer, Energy engineer, Engineering geologist, Geochemist, Geophysicist, GIS O, Hydrographic Surveyor, Mining engineer, Mudlogger, Petroleum engineer, Wellsite geologist, Mine safety manager, Finance specialist and manager, Process Engineer, Metallurgy planner, Analytical chemist., Energy manager, Environmental engineer,  Manufacturing engineer, Materials engineer, Quality manager, Divisional plant engineer, Process Control Engineer, Lithium Process scientist, Injection Specialist, Data Engineer, Communications Technicians, Machine Learning Engineer, Production Systems Support, Workshop Technician, Mining Technology, Implementation Specialist.

The highest paying jobs in the extractive industry listed by the Global Talent Energy Index are Project Manager, Drilling Supervisor, Construction Manager, Reservoir Engineer, Drilling Engineer, Geophysicist, Mechanical Engineer, HSE Manager, Project Manager and Production Manager, respectively.

1. • Analysis & Problem-Solving. 
     Companies in a highly competitive industry such as the extractive industry need workers who can break a problem into smaller ones. In addition, they need workers who can examine and evaluate information to conclude and provide logical solutions. These skills give the company a competitive edge.  
   • Continual Learning & Adaptation.
     Rapid innovation and change in technology require that workers learn new skills and adjust approaches, even workflow. Demonstrating that you can go with the flow while maintaining a positive attitude. 
   • Teamwork.
     Team players, people who connect, and make positive contributions to the group, are useful in technical and intensive work associated with the extractive industry. In addition, developing teamwork skills helps work with other workers and regulators.
   • Initiative & Enterprise
     Employees who can recognize opportunities to solve organizational problems and take the initiative will boost the innovative capacity of any team and set the pace for continual learning. 
   •  

A Bachelor’s degree in pure sciences and engineering is relevant for technical careers in the industry. However, undergraduate or graduate degrees in mining engineering or most engineering fields are in higher demand. Individuals from other disciplines such as law, accounting, economics, etc., can also play critical roles in the industry. Changing to a career in the extractive industry becomes easy with a postgraduate program in mining or petroleum. Still, most graduate programs require that applicants hold a Bachelor’s degree in a pure/applied sciences, environmental or engineering field. 

Oil and Gas Engineering, Civil and Construction Engineering, Extractive Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Energy Management, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Safety Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geological Engineering.

Relevant postgraduate/ Masters degrees in the Extractive Industry include: 

Mining and geological Engineering, Sustainable Mining research,  Mining management,  Extractive industry Policy, Management and Regulations Extractive industry law.

Relevant professional certifications include

Project Management Professional

Health Safety and Environment

There are numerous jobs in the mining extractive industry that require little to no professional training. Still, these are labour-intensive, low paying jobs. The requirements to gain meaningful employment in the extractive industry vary by position. Suppose you are interested in becoming an engineer or a mineral scientist, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field such as chemistry, mechanical, chemical, electrical or civil engineering, geology, or a closely related subject. Health and safety workers need at least a diploma or Bachelor’s degree in healthcare-related disciplines. Gaining middle-level management roles such as project and site managers usually require years of experience and additional postgraduate degrees. Internship opportunities and training can be considered work experience in this industry.

Most Companies in the extractive industry operate non-stop throughout the week by implenting shifts. Depending on the arrangements, workers may work long shift for many days and take more days off, or work in a regular shift arrangement. On the average, workers in the mining industry globally work around 45 hours per week.

Depending on the role and nature of work, employees in the extractive industry can either work in mining sites and quarries extracting or loading vehicles. Engineers, and field managers usually shuttle between offices and mining locations, while administrative roles such as accountants will work basically in offices.

According to collegegradcom, working on extraction sites usually requires stamina and physical agility due to the need to stand for long periods of time, lift heavy materials, climb rough surfaces. The work conditions are far from satisfying, from poorly lit mines to dangerous weather, exposure to dust and gases, and the possibility of explosion or collapse of mines.  Conditions in modern mines are getting better due to automation of some activities.

International
The Society of Petroleum Engineers
International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA)
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers 
Association of Mining Analysts
Minerals Engineering Society
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME)

Ghana
Ghana Mine Workers Union, Ghana Chamber of Mines

Ghana
Francis Eduku, Shadrach Adjetey Sowah, Margaret Aniawu-Asumakah, Benjamin Nii Ayi Aryee, Eric Asubonteng

International
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) ·
World Petroleum Council
Mine Safety and Health Administration
United States Bureau of Mines
United State Department of Labor

Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

Ghana
Ghana Integrated Bauxite and Aluminium Development Authority, Minerals Commission, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Geological Survey Department, Environmental Protection Agency

Global
Newmount, Sothern Copper, Freeport McMoran, BHP Group, Rio Tinto Group, MMC Norilsk Nickel, Glencore, Anglo American, PJSC Polyus, Arcelormittal, Novolipetsk Steel, Tenaris, Pao Severstal, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Chesapeake Energy, Chevron, Saudi Aramco, Gzprom, Equinor (Norway), Western Gas Partners LP, Kinder Morgan, Valero Energy, Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Devon Energy, Occidental, Enbridge, Marathon Petroleum, Eni, ConocoPhillips, Rosneft, Pemex, Suncor Energy, Indian Oil Corporation, Reliance Industries, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Phillips 66, PetroChina, Lukoil, Sinopec, China National Petroleum Corporation, Thor Explorations.

Ghana
Ghana Manganese Company Ltd, Perseus Mining Ltd, Asanko Gold Mine, Abosso GoldFields Tarkwa Mine, Golden Star Mines, Kinross, Paramount Mining, Kosmos Energy, PW Mining, KHL Gold Dust & Bars Mining Company, Newmont Golden Ridge Ltd – Akyem Mine, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited – Ahafo Mine, Adamus Resource, AngloGold Ashanti Limited, Adamus Resources Limited, Chirano Gold Mines Ltd, Ghana Bauxite Company Ltd, Chifeng Gold Group, Kibi GoldFields, Xtra Gold, Ironridge Resources, B2Gold Corp, Pelangio Exploration, Signature Metals, Azumah Resources, Cassius Mining, Gulf Industrials Ltd, Noble Mineral Resources, Castle Peak Mining, Pan African

• Environmental pollution
  Air and water pollution is common in the mining industry as unrefined chemicals are regularly released into the environment, causing several respiratory system diseases and triggering allergies. Similarly, sediments from soil erosion and pollutants from underground mines find their way into water bodies and threaten aquatic life.

  Shrinking finance due to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) being observed by financial service providers
  Due to the enormous impact of mining on Climate change, governments have set up several task forces. These task forces monitor how companies disclose climate-related risks, especially when seeking finance. Unfortunately, this has drastically reduced the rate of investment in the industry.

  Instability in several resources-rich nations
  Several richest mineral deposits in the world are located in regions plagued by violence and political instability. This poses challenges like the safety of workers, unstable prices of commodities, and recession. 

  High level of risk, conflicts and threats to human life.
  In many mineral-rich African countries, there are often company-community conflicts. In addition, the distribution of profits and dividends shows inequality and exclusion of residents who are customary owners of the mineral-rich sites. Furthermore, the poor condition of mining sites and the risk of accidents and explosions pose threats to human life.

  Low investment due to Government regulations
  Due to ESG, companies in the extractive industry face the challenge of regularly monitoring and reporting environmental, social or governance risks. Moreover, it determines whether they can get investors, obtain permits, or collaborate with Communities and NGOs. 

• • Internet of Things (IoT)
    Technologies such as wireless networks, low-cost sensors, virtual sensors, and big data are used to implement the interconnection and control of Mining equipment from any position. Functions of IoT may include tracking loading status/position of trucks, monitoring water level/rock stability underground, and monitoring workers for emergency situations.

    Big data and Real-time data Analysis
    Real-time data concerns the speed of delivering data to and fro between systems and users. Extractive Companies use predictive maintenance systems that rely on real-time and big data to track the operation and forecast the breakdown of equipment like belt conveyors, trucks, etc. Measuring dust exposure, carbon monoxide detection to evaluate hazard, simulation and visualization of the mining process are other uses of big data.

    3D Printing
    3D printing can be used to reproduce spare parts and special components, to prevent downtime from machine breakdown. This technology can also be used for illustration because data from drones, satellite, etc can be fed into the 3D printer to create models of ore deposits.

    Automation
    Repetitive  tasks in the extractive industry such as monitoring trucks are increasingly being automated through the use of technology like GPS. Automation may soon be applied to labour-intensive tasks such as loading ore and waste if limitations such as unstable rock conditions at Mining sites can be overcome.

    Cyber Security and Encryption
    The interconnection of Mining sites and equipment through IoT has made the extractive Industry vulnerable to cyber attacks which can cause significant financial loss, downtime, and even threats to life. This made it necessary for extractive companies to invest in security technologies like blockchain, and data backup.

Publications
The Extractive Industries and Society: Journal
Routledge Studies of the Extractive Industries and Sustainable Development: Book series

Movies
There will be Blood.
The Men Who Built America
Blood Diamond
Lord of War
October Sky

Events
None in Nigeria. What of NIETI events?
Extractive Industry Geology (EIG) Conference
Mines and Money Connect
Investing in African Mining Indaba

Podcasts
Rethinking Resources
The Drill Down
Oilfield Basics
IHS Markit Energy Trends
Shade magazine

Books
Oil on Water by Helon Habila
The Heartless Stone
In The Last Empire: De Beers, Diamonds, and the World
Extractive Industries by Tony Addison and Alan Roe
Collaborative Governance in Extractive Industries in Africa
Oil, Gas and Mining by Michael C. Stanley and Peter D. Cameron

Health and Medical Sciences are a group of professions that promote health and wellness and disease diagnosis. 

It also involves nutrition, medicine, patient care, disease, technology, and health-related issues and outcomes. Healthcare professionals can work in both research and practical capacities. For example, they can become physicians or physician assistants, nurses or nursing assistants. In addition, they can have careers such as biotechnology researchers, surgical assistants, technicians etc.

Healthcare and medical sciences focus on people’s well-being and quality of life. It focuses on all the factors that may impact these outcomes in a society or an environment. Medical sciences diagnose, treat, and prevent disease, illness, and injury. As a result, medical science professionals are key players in the healthcare sector—it remains one of the largest and fastest-growing globally.

The modern health care industry consists of many areas. Interdisciplinary teams of trained professionals and paraprofessionals work together to meet people’s healthcare needs.

The career pathways in the field include the following:

• Biotechnology
• Diagnostic Service
• Health Informatics
• Hospital/Healthcare Administration
• Public Health
• Therapeutic Service
• Support Service
• Biotechnology

Some of the essential technical skills for health and medical science professionals which vary across specialisations are:

• Taking/reading/interpreting vital signs
• Recommendations on Over The Counter prescriptions
• Inserting Intravenous and catheters
• Drawing blood
• Reading medical/health records, electrocardiograms (EKGs), X-rays and MRIs.
• Clinical Knowledge.

INDUSTRY SKILLS MOST RELEVANT
These include:

• Critical thinking: decisions on patients can be the difference between life, death, recovery or permanent damage. Therefore, decisions must be thorough for the best possible outcome.
• Communication & persuasion: This profession requires people that can communicate with empathy. People that can persuade patients to follow through on the best possible decisions. Professionals discuss the results of diagnosis and treatment options with patients and give public health lectures to the community. 
• Continual learning & adaptation: healthcare and medical professionals must stay abreast of new developments and adjust to changes within their work environment or location change. 
• Professionalism: Caregivers must maintain the right relationship with patients while also keeping boundaries and ensure data management and information with confidentiality. 
• Self-awareness & management: the work environment can be intense, succumbing to pressure can be consequential. Therefore, healthcare and medical professionals must maintain the right attitude at all times. They must be skilled in managing time, resources and the stress levels of themselves and colleagues.

International
World Medical Association, World Dental Federation, International Council of Nurses, World Physiotherapy, International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science, World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Ghana
Ghana Medical Association, Ghana Health Administrators, Christian Health Association of Ghana 

Ghana
Sarah Zagbaki, Mbi Epse Ojong Alice Enekegbe, Irene Agyepong, Joshua Appiah, Beatrice Amposah, Daniel Adjei Boakye

Ghana
Ghana Medical Association, Ghana Health Administrators, Christian Health Association of Ghana, National Health Insurance Authority, Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Medical and Dental Council  

Ghana
Nyaho Medical Centre, Lister Hospital, Sycamore Hospital, TrustCare, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Akai House Clinic, Sweden Ghana Medical Centre, 37 Military Hospital, Asafo Boakye Specialist, UQ Specialist Medical Services, Trust Hospital, Sanford Health, GPHA Clinic, County Hospital, Imperial Health, A1 Hospital, New Crystal Health Services, EuraCare Hospital, Ruma Fertility Centre, C&J Medicare and Diagnostic Centre, Medifem Hospital, Madamfo Hospital, Holy Trinity Hospital, Aniwaa Hospital, Asbury Hospital, Afari Hospital, Wara Clinic

• Inaccessibility of quality health care
  Most Nigerians live in poverty and primarily have to pay for health care services. Free health care services are poorly implemented, do not become fully operational, and sometimes only last a few years. Digital health innovation can reduce healthcare costs and expand access to quality healthcare.

  Insufficient Financial Investment
  Government spending on healthcare is poor compared to other African countries. Private sector spending is also not enough for the massive population requiring quality healthcare. National Health Scheme (NHS) through the Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) have not been able to solve the problem, especially regarding public access. Health insurance, especially digital health insurance, is where innovation can occur. 

  Poor Health Infrastructure
  The Nigerian healthcare sector suffers from poor infrastructure. Loss of lives is a common consequence of these. As a result, healthtech startups are innovating around this. For example, LifeBank, a healthcare technology and logistics company, facilitate blood transmission from labs across the country to patients and doctors in hospitals. More innovation, especially those utilising digital tools, can help circumvent this problem. At the same time, the government can increase its spending on healthcare and create policies to support healthcare.

  Infant and Maternal Death
  Nigeria consists 2.4 per cent of the world’s population. However, it currently contributes to 10% of global deaths for pregnant mothers. The latest figures from UNICEF show a maternal mortality rate of 576 per 100,000 live births, the fourth-highest on Earth. Approximately 262,000 babies die at birth, the global second-highest national total. Infant mortality currently stands at 69 per 1,000 live births, while for under-fives, it rises to 128 per 1,000 live births. 

  It is an area for innovation as most of the deaths are preventable. For example, Agnes a feature phone app that provides antenatal education and 24-hour access to pregnant women and mothers. This access to professional healthcare workers, education, and specialised telemedicine reduce infant and maternal deaths.

  Lack of sufficient health personnel
  There is a significant brain drain in the healthcare sector. As a result, more and more people have less access to quality healthcare.

  Innovation around this has been using telemedicine to access healthcare. More innovation should happen to circumvent this.

  Data Collection 
  The dearth of standardised data is a significant problem in Nigerian healthcare. As a result, the government can not make sound policies. Accurate Medical histories are hard to get, especially in emergencies, leading to the wrong diagnosis or treatment. There needs to be innovation around data collection and fragmentation.

  Fake Drugs
  Fake drugs are a serious global problem. In developing countries like Nigeria, it is life-threatening. However, the government has put up systems to solve this. It remains a problem. Some Healthtech startups like Medsaf have taken on this challenge. It is a platform that aggregates trustworthy international and local drug manufacturers and hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in Nigeria. More innovation needs to ensure that Over-the-counter drugs are safe for average Nigerians.

Books
Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD.
The Digital Health Revolution by Kevin Pereau (Author) and Barry Lenson (Editor)
Florence Nightingale: The Courageous Life of the Legendary Nurse by Catherine Reef 

Podcasts
The Doctor Paradox
Ted Talks: Science And Medicine.
The Future Of Healthcare
Medtech Talk Podcast
The Undifferentiated Medical Student

Publications/Blogs
Pharma Intelligence
New Scientist
Modern Healthcare
The Lancet
Health Service Journal

Movies/Series/Documentaries
Something the Lord Made (2004)
Code Black (Documentary, 2013)
Splice (2009)
Awakenings (1990)
Elysium (2013)
Grey’s Anatomy (Series)

Events
Medic West Africa/East Africa
Africa Health Exhibition
North Africa Health Exhibition and Conference 
Arab Health Exhibition
MEDEXPO Africa

Digitisation in healthcare and medical sciences include: 

• Simulation in laboratories with mannequins and multimedia with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) for training practitioners and educating patients. 
• Robotic surgery assists surgeons in performing complex procedures with more accuracy, precision and flexibility. It happens with minimally invasive surgery and sometimes with open surgical procedures. 
• Telemedicine delivers healthcare services over a network without both practitioner and patient in the same place; this can happen in real-time (synchronous), store and forward (asynchronous), and remote monitoring.
• Health trackers/wearables monitor the health condition of patients remotely. They can advise on lifestyle adjustments and give alerts in moments of emergency. These can also be the domain of mobile health (mHealth).
• Healthcare/Medical/Biomedical informatics apply computation techniques and innovation to improving health and medical outcomes.
• eHealth applications such as electronic patient records to patient-reported outcomes in mobile apps; are increasingly used in healthcare.
• Chatbots provide the first point of contact to patients in collecting and analysing symptoms, infer possible issues and make recommendations on further actions.
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning generate and analyse patient, clinician and health system data. They assist practitioners; to predict, prevent, screen and even diagnose diseases. They improve in areas such as medical image analysis and screenings.
• Point-of-Care Medical Resources: these include medical and patient information, drug monographs, and medical calculators. These assist practitioners make evidence-based decisions to improve patient outcomes.
• 3D Printing: the precise printing of tissues, organoids, prosthetics and surgical instruments.

Working in the hospitality & tourism industry does not require a formal degree. However, some degrees or certifications are available for entry-level positions or professionals in the industry.

Careers in the industry include:
Resort Management, Hotel Management, Restaurant/Food Chain Management, Cruise & Park Management, Concierge, Spa manager, Sommelier, Travel agent, Hotel sales coordinator.

Caterers, Chef, Executive Chef, Catering Manager, conference/Event manager, travel agent, concierge, facility Manager, Lodging Manager, Front Office Manager, Menu Planner, Restuarant Manager, Public Relations, Marketer, Travel Advisor, Travel Publicist, Hotel Manager, Marketing & Sales, Cruise Ship Management, Air Cabin Crew, Customer service, Tour Manager & Officer, Guest relations/service management, Reservations Agent, Special Events Manager, Wedding Coordinator, Executive Conference Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, Pastry Chef, Restaurant Manager, Maintenance Worker, Driver, Cafe Manager, Waiter.

Some of the highest-paying jobs are hotel, restaurant, travel and event management. Others are operation managers, executive chefs and casino directors, Entertainment managers, Event Planners, sommeliers, etc.

There is high compensation for star performers. Aim for top positions; you might need to start from the bottom for the experience.

1. The Hospitality and Tourism industry places a premium on soft skills. Most of the jobs in this industry require you to have specific soft skills to work effectively and satisfy customers/clients.

2. Communication and Persuasion
   Every day in the hospitality and tourism industry might bring you into contact with people from many walks of life, ages, ethnicities, and temperaments. As a result, communicating as a representative of the company while also speaking to clients to understand and relate is critical. Your persuasion skills will also assist you in persuading your prospect to return frequently and possibly bring in new customers.

3. Creativity
   Creativity is one of the essential skills to have as an employee in this industry. Employers in this industry do not just want someone hardworking alone but someone who can be creative in delivering services. Therefore, your ability to find creative ways to do things will set you apart and aid your growth in this industry.
4. Planning and Organisation
   In the hospitality and tourism industry, organisational and planning skills are highly demanded. Given the necessity to multitask and respond to last-minute requests, it is vital to organise client activities and timetables and maintain an organisational structure to complete daily tasks efficiently. Planning for each day and having a to-do list will assist you in achieving your objectives.
5. Networking and Teamwork
   Unlike in many other businesses, networking in this industry encourages repeat business from clients. Good networking skills will help you develop loyal clients who want to return to the hotel/restaurant/tour, which will boost your career in the long run. Regardless of your function, you must work well with others to increase productivity, whether it’s within a specific hotel department, in a busy kitchen, or as part of the bar crew.
6. Initiative: to anticipate and take care of customers’ needs
   Employees and managers must be successful in satisfying and even delighting consumers. Therefore, it is critical for a worker in this industry to anticipate and understand the demands of customers and to be able to provide a pleasant customer service experience. This ability will assist you in providing the most satisfactory service to your customers.
7. Professionalism

   Most businesses in the hospitality sector rely on their employees to uphold their brand’s reputation when interacting with customers. Therefore, you must maintain a high level of professionalism at all times. It usually entails keeping your appearance clean and well-groomed, arriving on time for your shifts, and following rules and regulations. It also entails maintaining your calm and not reacting badly while dealing with an irritated or disgruntled customer, particularly after a long and exhausting shift.

8. Self-awareness; to manage relations with customers
   Self-awareness involves understanding what you as an individual are good at while accepting that you still have plenty to learn. In addition, being self-aware will help in relating to clients. Knowing your strength and when to involve other team members’ expertise in your company will ultimately satisfy your clients.

9. Digital Skills such as content development, digital marketing, and data understanding
   Having digital skills will be a plus for you as an employee in this industry. Data and technology are shaping the industry. To stay relevant, you must be able to use some essential digital tools. Understanding content creation, Digital Marketing, and how to run ads on social platforms will be an added advantage.

10.  

A majority of careers and roles in the industry do not require specific degrees. However, several specialised institutions provide training programmes in hospitality and tourism. Certificate courses for quick entry into the industry are available from organisations such as the Institute of Tourism Professionals in Nigeria, International Air transport Association (IATA), American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), Consideration of Hotel and tourism certifications such as the UK CPD, Cornell School of Hotel Administration.

Hospitality/Tourism Management is available as a formal degree in higher learning institutions. So also is event Management. They are also accessible as postgraduate degrees. Having a second language can be an advantage, especially an internationally spoken one. Companies recruit graduates of any discipline if there are deep interest and some experience; they also offer on-the-job training.

Not all the roles require a formal qualification in hospitality, hotel and tourism, but having one is advantageous. 

Part-time jobs that provide opportunities for direct interaction with customers help. So also are volunteer roles to do so. For example, participate in event planning such as school events and social functions; take responsibility. 

Network with the staff of hotels, tourist sites and more. 

There is a low barrier regarding regulations for starting your own business. You can manage costs by being extremely creative. Still, it can be a competitive market. Therefore, customer retention with high satisfaction; attracting customers to change habits can be an uphill task. However, you can package perks or design tourism programmes and insure in financing to reduce the investment burden. In addition, you might consider consulting or media and content development, blogging or show hosting. 

Starting work with local hotels can provide a gateway to working with luxury hotels.

Large chain hotels or restaurants offer graduate management programmes for fast-track management positions and experience in various operations.

Working in this industry requires you to have a welcoming attitude to aid a good customer service experience.

There is a low entry barrier. However, it is quite a journey to the top.

Working in the industry provides freedom, mobility, and diversity; meeting new people from various life works brings exposure. Tips and bonuses are attractive; you also have better career opportunities. 

However, you must be ready to work long hours; it is a tough adjustment. High turnover, several part-time jobs. Need to meet varying tastes and demands; highly demanding in meeting expectations to satisfy. Also, due to the seasonal nature of the jobs in this industry, working hours might vary; you might have to work for more extended hours during some seasons.

Global
The Confederation of Tourism & Hospitality
The World Travel & Tourism Council
Institute of Hospitality

Ghana
Ghana Tourism Federation, Ghana Hotels Association, Tour Operators Union of Ghana, Travel and Tourist Agents Association

• International
  Howard Schultz, Yerim Habib Sow, Amos Makaba Wekesa, Trevor Ward

  Ghana
  Bassem Toure, Samuel Obeng-Appah, Delphine Brew Hammond, Kofi Akpabli

   

Global
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Ghana
Ghana Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ghana Tourism Authority, Bureau of Ghana Languages

Global Organisations
Marriot, Hilton, Oetker Collection, Accor Hotels, Melia Hotels and Resorts, Jumia Travel, Radisson Blu, Fairmont, Hilton Garden Inn, Sheraton, Four points, Swiss Hotel, Expedia, American Express, BCD Travel, Intercontinental Hotels Group (Golden Tulip), Deutsche Hospitality (Ibis), CUST, Fareportal, World Travel Holdings.
Startups: AirBnB, Jumia Travel, Trip Advisor, Groups 360, Selina, Lyric, Domio, Jin Jiang (Radisson Blu), Tsogo Sun (Riu), Hilton (Southern Sun), Troop, Flyto, Amenitiz, Hopin, Airalo.

African Companies/Startups
Simba Adventures, Transtrek Safaris, Icon Hotel Group Africa, Sun International, Legacy Hotel and Resorts, Serena Hotels, City Height, Mangalis, Aleph Hospitality, Carlson Rezidor.
Restaurants: Ocean Basket, Spurs Corporation
Startup: Jumia Travels, Wakanow, Travel Start
African Tour Companies: & Beyond, 360 Luxury marketing, A Tent with a View, AA Safaris & Tours, About Africa, Absolute Ethiopia Tours, Acacia Africa, Adventure Life, Adventure Africa, Africa Albisa, Africa Bound Safaris.

Ghana
Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra Luxury Apartments Cantonment, Zaina Lodge, Holy Trinity Spa and Health Farm, Royal Senchi Hotel and Resort, Labadi Beach Hotel, La Villa Boutique Hotel, Accra Marriott Hotel, Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra, Alisa Hotels North Ridge, The African Regent Hotel, Best Western Plus Atlantic Hotel, Tang Palace Hotel, Villa Monticello Boutique Hotel, Best Western Premier Accra Airport Hotel, Mahogany Lodge, Fiesta Residences Boutique & Serviced Apartments, Number One Oxford Street Hotel & Suites, La-Palm Royal Beach Resort, Airport View Hotel, Ridge Royal Hotel, Volta Hotel Akosombo, Accra City Hotel, Airside Hotel, Urbano Hotel, Afrocorni

• Poor Infrastructure
  For tourism to develop in any country, some conditions must be met, such as a good road network, reliable electricity, internet access, and even potable water. Unfortunately, many of Nigeria’s most popular tourist attractions are located in rural areas that lack these basic infrastructures, deterring potential visitors from visiting them. 

• Terrorism and Security Challenges
  Terrorism, robberies, kidnappings, and other crimes add to Nigeria’s tourist challenges. Nigeria has had its share of security challenges, which keep visitors away. It has gotten so terrible that even other countries are warning their nationals about the hazards of entering the country. People are reconsidering visiting tourist attractions across the country due to increased terrorist incidents within the country.

• The rising cost of Doing business
  The cost of daily necessities, food, and other supplies has grown dramatically in recent years. While this has impacted all industries, it has disproportionately hurt the tourist and hotel industry. Keeping up with changes in the price of goods has been an enormous difficulty, resulting in a price increase in this industry. In addition, the high cost of doing business also restrains investments in this industry.

• Multiple Taxations
  In some countries, the tourism industry is substantially taxed. Service tax, luxury tax, transportation tax, aviation fuel tax, and other transportation taxes are all levied across the business, from tour operators to transporters to airlines to hotels. Furthermore, these tax rates tend to fluctuate across the country. As a result, tourism and hospitality companies in Nigeria confront an assortment of taxes imposed by both the federal and state governments, which has slowed their profitability.

• Environmental risk or encroachment of natural resources such as forests
  Tourism accounts for more than 5% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, with 90% from transportation. (World Count) With the trend of adopting sustainable practices in various businesses, the tourism and hospitality industry is expected to do the chevalier. Tourism negatively impacts the environment by depleting local natural resources, pollution, and waste issues. Overconsumption of natural resources is expected in tourism, especially where resources are already scarce.

   

•  

• • According to the World Economic Forum’s Digital Transformation Initiatives-$305 Billion in value will contribute to the digitisation of aviation, tourism and travel from 2016 to 2025. $100 billion to be taken from traditional players to new competitors, and $700 billion in value created for customers.

    The digital transformation of the industry is changing the traditional means of operation in this industry. As companies adopt new technologies into their business, it has helped increase brand awareness, operational efficiencies, and customer experience.

    Here are some of the digitisation in the industry:

    Virtual reality tourism and Augmented reality
    Brochures that show how the facilities and atmosphere appear are excellent, but what if the tourist/travellers could have a first-hand experience using virtual reality and augmented reality? This will open up a whole new universe and aid in converting additional sales from a customer who already feels at ease. The introduction of VR and AR into the industry has helped tourism companies to give their customers a handful of what they stand to get on their tour.

    Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly significant in the hotel industry, owing to its capacity to do traditionally human tasks. It might save hoteliers a lot of money, minimise human mistakes, and allow them to provide better service. Traditional means of communication, customer experience, hotel management, and other interactions between clients and the industry are being transformed by AI. Chatbots, self-service apps, and hotel management software are becoming more popular in the sector.

    Online Travel/Digital Travel
    Visitors’ usage of digital technologies during their overall tourism experience is digital travel or digital tourism. Booking travel products online, for example, can be regarded as part of this digital process. Hotels, plane tickets, and car rentals were among the most popular travel products ordered online in the United States in 2021, according to Statista’s Global Consumer Survey. As more players in the travel business go digital, digital travel is gaining traction worldwide.

    IoT devices and wearable devices to track guests and tourists.
    The usage of IoT in hospitality and tourism makes consumers’ lives easier. Customers benefit from these devices because they provide individualised experiences. For example, a hotel room that knows how you enjoy your coffee and how early you want to get up in the morning has a significant competitive edge. This technology will make all the difference in a competitive market, especially with the rise of self-service models like Airbnb.

    Blockchain
    Blockchain is associated with currencies like bitcoin, Ethereum, etc., changing the technological system we use every day. For example, with the adoption of blockchain in this industry, customers can now pay a hotel/resort directly without using a bank or anyone else who will charge for converting a currency.

Publications
Big Hospitality
Hotel Business
Hospitality 360 Africa blog
Conde Nast Traveller
Airline Magazines 
Travel Africa Magazine
Sage Journal of Hospitality & Tourism

Books
Without Reservations by Bill J. W. Marot
Be My Guest by Conrad Hilton
Be Our Guest by Disney Institute
Setting The Table by Danny Meyer
Pour Your Heart into It by Howard Schultz

Events
The Nigeria Hospitality Event
Hotel Expo Nigeria
Nigeria Hotel Tourism Conference
Food, Hospitality and Drinks by
The Nigeria Food Event

Movies
Grand Budapest Hotel
The Hundred foot Journey
Ratatouille
The Best Exotic Marigold hotel

Podcasts
Tourism tweetup
Travel business success
This week in travel
Talking Tourism
Marriott’s Behind the design
Lodging leaders
Turn of Events from Social tables
All in the Industry