Academics and industry experts have urged Nigerian students to adopt entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and employability skills as essential tools for navigating unemployment challenges and the rapidly evolving global labour market.
The call was made at the inaugural career fair organised by Kola Daisi University, Ibadan (KDU-I), designed to prepare final-year students for life after graduation through practical exposure, industry engagement, and entrepreneurial training.
The event brought together scholars, business professionals, and university administrators to equip students with the knowledge and mindset required to thrive in an increasingly competitive world of work.
Speaking on the theme “Entrepreneurial Skills and Enterprise,” a lecturer at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr. Jonathan Ikeolumba, said Nigeria’s unemployment crisis requires a fundamental shift from job seeking to job creation.
He noted that the structure of the labour market cannot absorb the growing number of graduates produced annually, making entrepreneurship a more sustainable pathway to economic survival and national development.
According to him, young people must begin with small-scale ventures and leverage digital technologies as cost-effective entry points into business development.
Dr. Ikeolumba highlighted the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital tools, noting that they have significantly lowered barriers to entry for aspiring entrepreneurs.
He explained that with just a smartphone and internet access, students can build businesses, create solutions, and reach global markets.
Defining entrepreneurship as problem-solving, he encouraged students to view everyday challenges as potential business opportunities waiting to be explored.
He also stressed resilience as a key requirement for success, noting that setbacks are an inevitable part of entrepreneurial growth.
“No successful entrepreneur has a flawless journey. The ability to fail, learn, and recover is what distinguishes successful business leaders,” he said.
Dr. Ikeolumba further emphasised financial discipline, structured planning, and continuous self-development as critical habits for aspiring entrepreneurs, warning against impulsive spending and poor financial management.
He also underscored the importance of communication and marketing skills, noting that individuals continuously “sell themselves” in interviews, business negotiations, and everyday interactions.
Delivering a lecture on “Employability Skills,” former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Adebola Ekanola, observed that technological advancement is rapidly transforming the global workplace.
He noted that while new technologies are creating emerging job opportunities, they are also rendering some traditional roles obsolete.
Prof. Ekanola warned that graduates who fail to adapt risk becoming unemployable in the modern labour market.
“In the 21st century, students must develop digital, technical, and soft skills. Skills such as communication, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence are now key determinants of employability,” he said.
He urged students to embrace lifelong learning through continuous reskilling and upskilling in order to remain relevant in an evolving job market.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Kola Daisi University, Prof. Olajumoke Morenikeji, said the career fair was organised to expose students to industry professionals and bridge the gap between academic learning and workplace realities.
She explained that the programme was specifically tailored for final-year students to better prepare them for post-graduation challenges and career transitions.
Earlier, the President of the university’s Directorate for Admission and Alumni Relations, Mrs. Olasumbo Obaseki, noted that direct engagement with industry practitioners would help students better understand workplace expectations and adjust their career preparation accordingly.
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