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Blog Summary
The government’s most important functions are to maintain law and order and ensure the prosperity of its citizens. A country’s public administration expedites these functions by reflecting the merits, potentialities, and challenges of the people.
What Is Public Administration?
Public administration is a specialized subject of study that can enable you to work as an essential government instrument. The profession is significant in development, change, and modern domestic welfare.
Nigeria is one of the fastest-developing countries on the African continent. The nation has witnessed a substantial spike in economic development over the last decade. Unfortunately, the rise in population, poverty, unemployment, and crime has posed significant challenges for the government.
Thus, the country is more demanding than ever before of master’s degrees in public administration. Plus, countless private firms are looking for professionals who have completed public administration courses.
So, if you want to work closely with the government or supreme private bodies to bring positive change to the community, an online master of public administration course can guide you in the right direction.
Enroll in an Online Master of Public Administration program to equip yourself with the skills needed to address the challenges facing rapidly developing countries like Nigeria, and contribute to positive change in collaboration with governmental and private entities.
Importance of Public Administration in the Society
A master of public administration finds a pivotal place in rapidly changing modern society. Its actual functions comprise the provision of services and regulation of intergroup relations in the community. From the maintenance of law and order to the application of science and technology, everything depends on the effective functioning of public administration.
Nigeria is in a state of transformation. The country is transitioning to an agricultural society that is prosperous for its socioeconomic development. Conversely, the nation is facing some significant concerns with law and order, poverty, increasing population, etc.
Therefore, there is a need for reliable, educated, and skilled public administration professionals who can lead to the implementation of policies for the welfare of the people.
Here is how a well-established public administration can lead the way to the betterment of Nigeria.
- Meet public expectations: Citizens of a developing country expect their government to provide basic amenities, such as education, health, and employment. Public administration helps formulate and implement necessary policies to improve people’s quality of life.
- Facilitate socio-economic development: Nigeria is attracting a lot of foreign investment, as more international firms are showing interest in establishing their industries in the country. However, Nigeria still lacks proper infrastructure, technology, and workforce. Public administration works closely with the government to ensure the overall development of the people and enable the political executive to accomplish its objectives.
- Maintain law and order: The primary function of the government is to maintain law and order. A disciplined population is a prerequisite for the development of society. In developing countries like Nigeria, the government might find it challenging to maintain law and order while fulfilling the demands of the developing nation. Public administration helps the government by making strict rules to reduce crime and support the development of society.
Why Should You Get a Master’s Degree in Public Administration Course?
Choosing a master’s degree can be a hurdle for fresh graduates; with so many options to choose from, it can get overwhelming. In order to progress in many public service careers, it is necessary to develop your leadership and management skills. A master’s in public administration (MPA) is a great choice for people who want to advance their careers in public management, policy-making, and the nonprofit sector.
Earning a part-time master’s degree in public administration will prepare you to work with government, nonprofits, and international organizations.
So, is an MPA worth it? Here are seven tangible benefits of enrolling in an online master of public administration program and pursuing a career in public administration.
1. Get a Chance to Work on Various Public Sector Issues
A public administration professional can work in a wide range of sectors and issues. Exposure and experience to problems of society make public administration an excellent pick for those who want to bring positive change.
Some common public administration issues in Nigeria include:
- HIV/AIDS/ other vulnerable diseases
- Quality healthcare and education
- Water and food supply security
- Climate change control
- Securing the country against terrorism, crime, and biological agents
- Helping former convicts enter society and become productive citizens
2. Discover Several Fields
Undergraduate education limits your access to the deeper levels of your career interests. Getting a master’s degree in public administration allows you to focus on specific fields that can broaden your career scope to more opportunities.
After an MPA degree from a college of public administration, you can enter the following public administration fields:
- Healthcare Policy: A specialization in healthcare policy could be the right choice if you want to work in managerial and administrative roles in healthcare delivery systems.
- Public Policy and Management: This specialization will prepare you for analyst and managerial positions in nonpublic sector organizations.
- Emergency Management: You will learn to support communities, public organizations, and individuals during emergencies, such as natural disasters and terrorism.
- Nonprofit and Community Leadership: You will be prepared to lead organizations that work toward the socio-economic development of society.
3. Develop Strong Analytical Skills
Public administrators spend a large share of their time collecting and analyzing data. During your MPA degree, you will learn how to use advanced analytical tools, which will enable you to handle internal auditing and analysis for your organization or agency.
4. Gain Outstanding Leadership Skills
If you’ve obtained an undergraduate public administration course, you must have learned about the operations and political processes of government organizations. However, you did not receive extensive training on how to manage financial resources and workers, a skill critical for upper-level managers and administrators.
A master’s degree in public administration (MPA) will help you develop leadership and responsibility. In your MPA degree, you will be introduced to real-world challenges and situations in which you will need to manage finances and human resources in an organization.
5. Internship Opportunities
Joining the right internship is crucial to succeeding as a public servant. It is essential to build strong connections and a network of contacts across multiple departments and agencies to get access to job openings and public administration careers. MPA students get access to internships in local, state, federal, and international organizations, enabling them to pursue advanced positions in public service organizations and private firms.
6. Earn a Good Salary
Individuals holding a master’s degree in public administration occupy prominent administrative positions within government and private entities. Public administration stands out as one of the most lucrative professions in Nigeria, offering salaries spanning from ₦30,000 to ₦14 million. MPA professionals enjoy attractive salary packages across both public and private sectors. Further insights into salary trends and career advancement opportunities will be provided later in the article.
Salary Source: Payscale
7. Excellent Job Stability
Working with government agencies provide you with strong job security. MPA professionals in the private sector are also in great demand, so once you take your position, you can enjoy excellent job stability. Therefore, you do not have to worry about being unemployed at times of recession or unstable market conditions.
Career Opportunities After the Master of Public Administration Degree
An MPA degree opens doors to administrative roles across various organizations. Careers in public administration offer fulfilling opportunities for both professional advancement and competitive salaries. In Nigeria, public administration professionals typically enjoy above-average compensation, with salaries continually on the rise.
Here’s a quick look at the roles you can play as an MPA degree holder, along with the corresponding salaries.
- Secretary: ₦30k–₦1m
- Human Resources (HR) Assistant: ₦42k–₦4m
- Personal Assistant: ₦50k–₦7m
- Executive Assistant: ₦59k–₦6m
- Customer Service Representative (CSR): ₦69k–₦2m
- Administrative Assistant: ₦83–₦5m
- Customer Service Officer: ₦270k–₦6m
- Data Analyst: ₦559k–₦14m
- Human Resources (HR) Administrator: ₦698k–₦4m
- Project Manager: ₦900k–₦12m
An experienced administrative officer with 15–20 years of experience and working in a renowned international firm can make up to ₦2,400,000.
You can also explore international opportunities and work on the following public administration careers:
- Tax Examiner
- City Manager
- Public Administration Consultant
- International Aid/Development Worker
- Fund-Raising Manager
- Mayor
- Budget Analyst
The average salary of an MPA professional in the USA is 60,000 USD/year.
Take up an Online Master’s Degree in Public Administration
If you hold a bachelor’s degree and have a minimum of three years of work experience in the public sector, there is an MPA degree program exclusively for you. In association with the Central University of Nicaragua (UCN), Taksha Smartlabz (TSL) offers an online master’s degree in public administration course that will help you develop your leadership, management, and organizational skills.
This two-year program is centred on the principles of policy development, public administration, and policy implementation and management.
Key Takeaways from the Program
Here’s a list of what you will learn in this MPA program:
- A comprehensive, real-world learning experience
- Skillset and expertise to handle challenges in corporations and governments
- Entrepreneurial and analytical skills
- Out-of-box thinking and planning capabilities
Benefits of Taking up This MPA Program
The benefits of enrolling into TSL – UCN’s MPA program include:
- flexible learning options,
- interactive classroom experience,
- US-based curriculum and a credit system for overall learning and development,
- exposure to an extensive network of students and professionals,
- internationally recognized and renowned degree, and
- rewarding career opportunities.
