Nigerian CV Format: What to Include for Each Employer

Ask five people about the right Nigerian CV format and you will get five answers. One says always put your State of Origin and LGA, another says never. One insists on two referees with phone numbers, another calls that outdated. The truth is that most of these people are right, but for different employers.

This guide settles the common contradictions by employer type: banks, government and public sector, Lagos tech companies, and international or remote roles. Use it to build one base CV, then adjust it for each application in a few minutes.

The short answer: a decision table

These are sensible defaults, not fixed rules. If a job advert or application form asks for something specific, follow the advert.

CV item	Banks and financial services	Government and public sector	Lagos tech and startups	International or remote roles
State of Origin	Usually optional; include if the form asks	Include, usually requested	Leave out	Leave out
LGA	Usually optional	Include if requested	Leave out	Leave out
Date of birth	Include if the advert sets an age limit	Often requested	Leave out	Leave out
NYSC status	Include clearly	Include clearly	One short line	Usually leave out or explain briefly
Degree class	Include	Include	Include if strong or relevant	Include, without assuming it is understood
Referees	"Available on request", but have them ready	Often listed in full	Leave out	Leave out unless asked
Photo	Only if requested	Only if requested	Leave out	Leave out
Portfolio or GitHub	Rarely needed	Rarely needed	Strongly useful	Useful for many roles

Now for the reasoning behind each column, so you can make good calls when an advert does not fit neatly.

Nigerian CV format for banks and financial services

Banks and many financial institutions run structured graduate trainee programmes. These adverts often set eligibility criteria such as a minimum degree class, a maximum age, and completed NYSC. Recruiters screening hundreds of applications look for evidence that you meet those criteria first.

What to do:

• Put eligibility details where they are easy to find. A short personal details block under your name can include date of birth (if an age limit is stated), NYSC status and location.
• State your degree class plainly. For example: BSc Accounting, University of Lagos, Second Class Upper, 2022.
• State of Origin and LGA: generally not needed on the CV itself. Many banks collect this through their online application form. If the form does not ask and the advert does not mention it, you can leave it out.
• Referees: "Available on request" is fine for most bank applications. Have two ready anyway, because some banks ask for referee and guarantor details quickly once you progress.

Keep the tone formal and the layout conservative. Two pages is usually enough for graduates and early-career applicants.

Government and public sector jobs

This is where the traditional Nigerian CV details matter most. The Constitution of Nigeria includes the Federal Character principle, which aims to reflect the country's diversity in public appointments. In practice, many federal and state recruitment exercises ask for State of Origin and LGA, and some ask for supporting documents such as a certificate of state of origin.

What to do:

• Include State of Origin and LGA in your personal details unless the advert says otherwise.
• Include date of birth, since public sector roles often have age requirements.
• Show your NYSC certificate or exemption status clearly. Discharge certificates and exemption letters are commonly requested at the screening or documentation stage. You can find official information on the NYSC website.
• List referees in full if the advert or form requests them: name, title, organisation, phone number and email. Choose people who can speak to your work or studies, and ask their permission first.
• Follow the exact instructions. Government adverts often specify format, documents and submission channels. Applications that ignore instructions can be set aside regardless of quality.

A practical tip: many public sector applications happen through an online portal where you enter details directly. Keep a document with your State of Origin, LGA, NYSC call-up number, certificate numbers and referee contacts so you can complete forms accurately.

Lagos tech companies and startups

Tech companies, fintechs and startups in Lagos, Abuja and elsewhere tend to hire like international firms. They care about what you can do, what you have shipped and how you work. Personal details that do not relate to the job can look out of place and take up space better used for evidence.

What to do:

• Leave out State of Origin, LGA, date of birth, marital status, religion and photo.
• Add links to your GitHub, portfolio, Behance, published writing or product case studies, as relevant to the role.
• Mention NYSC briefly. A line such as NYSC: Completed 2023 under education is enough. It answers the question without dominating the page.
• Drop the referee section. Tech recruiters will ask when they need references.
• Lead with outcomes you can honestly back up. For example: Built and maintained internal dashboard used by the operations team to track daily payouts is better than a list of duties. Only claim results you can explain in an interview.

One page is often fine for juniors; two pages is reasonable for experienced engineers, designers and product people.

What about multinationals, FMCG and consultancies?

These employers sit between banks and tech. A clean, modern CV without State of Origin or LGA usually works, with NYSC and degree class included. If they recruit through an online portal, they will collect any extra details there.

Referees: settling the biggest argument

Referees cause more confusion than any other section. Here is a simple rule set:

1. If the advert asks for referees on the CV, list them. Usually two or three, with full contact details.
2. If the advert says nothing, use "Available on request" for formal Nigerian employers and leave the section out for tech and international roles.
3. Always ask permission before giving someone's details, and tell them which roles you are applying for.
4. Choose relevant referees. A former supervisor, NYSC place-of-primary-assignment boss or lecturer who knows your work is more useful than a family friend with an impressive title.
5. Do not confuse referees with guarantors. Some Nigerian employers ask for guarantor forms after an offer. That is a separate process and does not belong on your CV.

Applying abroad or remotely: strip it back

If you are applying to employers in the UK, US, Canada or Australia, or to international remote companies, the expectations change considerably.

• UK: CVs typically exclude date of birth, photo, marital status and nationality-related details. Equality law discourages employers from asking about many personal characteristics. Two pages is common.
• US: Employers usually expect a one or two page resume without photo, age or personal details, partly because of anti-discrimination rules.
• Canada: Similar to the US. Leave out photo, age and marital status. Canadian employers often value clear dates and locations for each role.
• Australia: Similar again. Personal details beyond contact information are usually left out, and referees are sometimes listed at the end or provided on request.

For these markets, NYSC may not be understood. If you include it, explain it in a few words, for example: National Youth Service Corps (mandatory one-year national service), Lagos State Ministry of Health. Treat it like work experience if the role was substantial.

If you mention visa or right-to-work status, keep it factual and check official government immigration websites for the country in question. This post is general information, not legal or immigration advice.

A base template you can adapt

Build one master CV using this structure, then add or remove the bracketed sections per employer.

Full Name Lagos, Nigeria | phone | email | LinkedIn | [portfolio or GitHub for tech]

[Personal details: government and banks only] Date of birth | State of Origin | LGA | NYSC: Completed, 2023

Profile (3 lines tailored to the role)

Experience (most recent first, with achievements)

Education (degree, class, institution, year)

Skills (only skills you can demonstrate)

Certifications (e.g. ICAN, CIBN, cloud certifications)

[Referees: government, or when asked]

If you would rather not format from scratch, the AI CV builder can help you lay out a clean version you then edit to match the table above.

Checklist before you send any Nigerian CV

• Have I read the advert for specific instructions on format, documents and personal details?
• Is State of Origin and LGA included only where relevant (mainly government)?
• Is my NYSC status clear and correct, with certificate or exemption details ready?
• Is my degree class stated where the employer screens on it?
• Have I removed photo, religion and marital status unless asked?
• Do my referees know I am using their names?
• Does my CV use the same terms as the job advert, where those terms honestly describe my experience?
• Is the file named sensibly, for example Amaka-Okafor-CV.pdf?

On that keyword point: many employers use applicant tracking systems to store and search applications, so mirroring the advert's language for skills you genuinely have can help a human recruiter find you. A tool like the ATS CV checker gives its own estimate of how closely your CV matches an advert. It is not an employer's score, but it can highlight missing terms you might have overlooked.

The right format will not guarantee an interview, but it removes avoidable reasons for rejection. Match the details to the employer, keep everything truthful, and let your experience do the rest.