Skills, not just degrees, are future of work, Nigerian undergraduates told

Nigerian undergraduates have been urged to face reality about the evolving future of work that demands more than mere academic degrees as employers anywhere globally now seek specific skills and practical experience that can add meaningful value to the organisation’s goals, the economy and society at large.

Coordinator of the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), a federal government agency that promotes and supports talents, Mrs Teju Abisoye as well as the Zonal Head of Keystone Bank Plc, Dr Yemi Euba, and the Head of Human Resources at Optimum Bank Ltd, Mr kunle Onobote, gave the advice in Lagos at a recent forum organised by the Edike Foundation for undergraduates drawn from different universities including University of Lagos and the Lagos State University Ojo, among others.

The experts noted that though technological and digital skills are great, it is human abilities such as soft skills that can truly set a person apart either at work or any other places.

According to them, some of these skills can only be demonstrated by humans and not machines and they are critical thinking, innovation and creativity, emotional intelligence, collaboration and communication, resilience and adaptability, all to solve societal problems.

They urged the students to be guided about this reality while also giving their studies utmost attention and continuing to open to new knowledge.

Speaking on a topic, titled: ‘Preparing for Global Relevance,’ Abisoye, for example, emphasised that a university certificate can no longer translate to fortune for the holders.

She identified additional three key virtues that would set fresh graduates apart from the rest in any profession they find themselves in, especially as employees.

She listed them to include Performance, Image and Exposure.

According to her, your performance will help you to deliver results even beyond expectation while image and exposure will protect your true identity and limitations respectively.

“So, I would enjoin you to live by these attributes regardless of your disciplines,” she stressed.

Abisoye, however, applauded Edike Foundation for the initiative; saying production of future ready graduates is what Africa truly needs in this 21st century economy.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of Edike Foundation, Mr Oluwatimilehin Akinola, underscored the importance of the training as part of the ways to provide quality education for the youths to move Africa forward appreciably.

He mentioned that the training, tagged: “Gown to Town” is the maiden edition of such training by the two-year-old foundation, highlighting some of the adverse consequences a country and its citizens could face including high levels of poverty and insecurity when children and youths are not well educated.

“So, we believe that our intervention as part of our social responsibility initiatives will make a meaningful contribution to the development of Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” he added.

Akinola explained that though the foundation’s long term scope is to cover students across levels of education, only undergraduates are the focus for now.

“We want students to know and understand that there is much more to learn outside the classrooms for them to be really ready for the future either as entrepreneurs or job seekers,” Akinola noted, adding that “today’s training focuses on banking and finance industry with the hope of extending it other sectors of the economy subsequently as we believe government cannot do the work all alone.”

Akinola, however, pointed out that the foundation also gives scholarships to indigent students in government-owned universities- federal and state, and also provides mentorship.

“At the moment, “Akinola noted, “the foundation has no fewer than five indigent students, who are either in 200 or 300-level in the universities that are being sponsored.

“Their scholarships cover tuition fees, books and stipends for feeding and the like and we based these on their school fees and costs of living.

“We would have more students joining as our resources permit because we know there are lots of students out there, who only need a small push like the one we are given to achieve their educational dream.”

Giving more insights into the foundation, Tinuoye Akinola, a director, said Edike Foundation is more concerned about giving empowerment to the disadvantaged youths in the society.

According to her, Edike Foundation as CSR arm of Edike Africa is there to help students transition from school to the job market as research, adding that through research and innovation, the Edike Foundation is shaping industry leaders.

Some of the participants at the training expressed delights for honing their knowledge and skills in preparation for the future and even now.

One of them, Christian Nnaji, a 300-Level Banking and Finance student of the Lagos State University, Ojo, told Nigerian Tribune on a sideline that the training had really exposed them to what is required to succeed in their careers and life generally and also stand out among their peers.

According to him, “now, I have gained more insights into why I need certain skills apart from classroom knowledge that would help me translate my education to fortune.

“We also learnt about time management and that we should position ourselves ready and strategically for future opportunities that may come our way in any field we pursue,” he added “and I am optimistic for a better tomorrow.”

The participants, however, expressed appreciation to the Edike Foundation for organising the forum, advising it to extend the training to cover more students.

READ ALSO: Police arrest four undergraduates with guns, charms in Osun