Accounting or Economics? Which is more Relevant to anyone that wants to study accounting in Nigeria?

Overtime, determining what the requirements for studying a particular course as accounting has been a major probing question for secondary school leavers. One major thing known to the school leavers has been that at the level of senior school certificate examination, SSCE, a maximum of nine subjects and a minimum of six could be enrolled for, to enable such student sit for the examination. But that is not the issue!

What then is the headache? If I must study a particular course in the higher institution, what particular subjects should I give priority to over others, if I must do well or better in my chosen career?

Right now, I want to study accounting and become an accountant. So, what subjects do I need most? This is the question.

A cursory review of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) brochure would say that Mathematics, Economics and any other art or social science subject is acceptable. This is in addition to English Language, which is for everybody.

During admission screening processes in the higher institutions, anyone planning to study accounting must come with an SSCE result carrying Economics, in addition to other subjects that will be added to make the minimum required number of subjects. In essence, whoever wants to study accounting in the higher institution must, apart from just having a minimum of five subjects (or six subjects in two sittings), have in his/her SSCE result English Language, Mathematics, Economics and any other two subjects to make a minimum of five subjects (or any other three to make a minimum of six for two sittings). 

Looking at these two scenarios from both the JAMB examination and SSCE, there is no doubt that Economics is more regarded at the level of the senior school certificate examinations as well as the higher institution entrance examinations.

So, my people if your child or ward wants to study accounting in the higher institution, s/he must have passed O’Level Economics (even if s/he passed O’Level accounting). This is to qualify him/her for admission in the first instance.

Although, studying accounting at the O'Level is highly recommended to prepare the student for the task in the higher institution when it comes to studying the course proper. But for admission purpose, Economics is more relevant for now. This is the current position.