according to me, what is essential now is to understand if flying is something that really interests you..
go to a flight shool, in uk and ask to fly a cessna with an instructor close to you, than start a ppl , than if you really enjoy and have enough skill start thinking about your future as a professional pilot..
read as well some magazine concerning airlines , aviation etc ..
this shoud be a way to avoid any mistake considering a job without having tried it in the real life..
i know there are some no profit organization in Africa which need both pilot and doctor , as far as pilots is concerned most of the time Cpl/ir s.e.p and 400/500 hour is enough to get the job..you can try there as first job..