Is running an MBA at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Worth It? Duration, Fees, and Flexibility Explained

Hello people! Welcome back to the blog. It’s your favorite girl, Joy!

I’ve noticed a lot of new family joining us lately, and I want to say a special welcome to you. Thank you so much for checking us out, and to our readers who are always engaging—I am really grateful for your contributions and support.

If you followed my last update (if you haven’t, check it out right now), I shared that I’m currently running my MBA at a Nigerian institution—the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Since then, I’ve received a lot of questions from people in the community considering an MBA in Nigeria.

Today, I’m addressing those questions one by one. Let’s dive in!

carrer-update mba in nigeria

1. Do I need a management background?

The number one question I get is: “Do I need a background in management before I go for my MBA?”

The short answer is: No. I have an agricultural background and I’m running my MBA right now. You can apply from whatever niche or course you studied. An MBA is a professional, managerial master’s degree. If you’ve been sitting on the fence thinking it’s only for “management people,” don’t deprive yourself of this goodness. If it’s something you want to do, go straight up and do it!

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2. Is there a lot of calculation (Math)?

I’ll be honest with you because I love you: If you don’t like math, an MBA might not be for you.

There are certain courses like Statistics, Accounting, and Business Math that involve a lot of calculation. If you know you cannot survive math at all, you might end up frustrated.

However, if you’ve made up your mind to do it anyway (like I did!), you can go the extra mile. I’m not naturally a math genius, but I decided to put in the effort. Use YouTube tutorials to keep yourself ahead of the class so you can cope, especially if your foundation is a bit “forty.”

3. How flexible is the schedule?

For the married people, business owners, and workers in our community—flexibility is relative, but it is very possible.

At my institution, we run lectures on Fridays and Saturdays.

Fridays: Lectures start from 3 p.m., so I have the morning for my business.
Saturdays: Dedicated to the program.

It’s not like being a regular student where you have lectures back-to-back. It is flexible enough to combine with work and family.

Pro-Tip: Be intentional about making friends in the environment! They will help you in cases where you aren’t able to make it to a lecture so you can keep up with important things like attendance.

4. Let’s talk about the money…

Money matters always raise eyebrows! I did a lot of research before starting, and I’ll tell you straight: An MBA is capital-intensive.

Unless your parents are well-to-do and sponsoring you, I don’t think you can be jobless while running an MBA. There is a lot of financial implication. You should get yourself financially ready before you jump in. For me, it was a significant investment, but it’s one I felt was worth it.

5. What is the duration?

Are you worried you’ll be in school for 5 or 6 years? Don’t be! In Nigeria, an MBA typically takes 18 months to 2 years max. You’ll be done before you know it, and you can carry on with your life and career with that extra edge.

6. Pros and Cons

Here is a “Pros and Cons” summary table

Feature	The “Pros” (The Good Stuff)	The “Cons” (The Reality Check)
Academic Background	Open to All: You can join from Agriculture, Science, or Arts. No management degree is required.	Learning Curve: If you aren’t from a business background, you’ll have to learn new concepts from scratch.
Mathematics	Skill Building: You learn essential data and accounting skills that help in business.	Heavy Calculations: If you hate Math, courses like Statistics and Accounting will be very challenging.
Schedule	Flexibility: Lectures are usually weekends (Fridays/Saturdays), perfect for working professionals.	Sacrificed Weekends: You’ll have to give up your rest days and social time for 18–24 months.
Finances	High ROI: It is a professional investment that can lead to better roles and higher pay.	Capital Intensive: It is expensive. You likely need a steady income or savings to afford the fees.
Duration	Fast-Paced: You can finish in as little as 18 months and move on with your career.	Intense Pace: Because it is shorter, the workload can feel heavy while you are in it.

Final Thoughts

An MBA is a great way to level up your career. If you know someone considering a Master’s, please share this post with them so they can get acquainted with these facts!

Thank you so much for reading. If you enjoyed this value, please subscribe to our newsletter and join the family! We can’t wait to have you on board.

See you in the next one!

— Joy