Thirty-three Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Captains of Industry, and Human Resources Experts, have converged on Caleb University to offer employment opportunities, NYSC placement, industrial training programmes, and mentorship to the 2023/2024 graduating set of Caleb University, Imota Lagos.
The Employability Fair which was organised in collaboration with 33 corporate organisations, created an interactive platform for students to meet with a diverse range of industry leaders and CEOs, to provide valuable opportunities for networking, career guidance, NYSC mobilisation placement and job opportunities.
The ‘Meet the CEO Event’ also featured one-on-one interactions with CEOs, physical job interviews, employability tests, panel discussions and roundtables, as well as tips on work-life.
A former Minister of Works and Housing, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, in his keynote address charged the students to make discipline their watchword.
‘Life is not just a race, but more about what you have done with it. Don’t mortgage your life, you have to be careful about early life, as your early life will reflect when you grow old’, the Octogenarian counselled.
Caleb University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie, admonished the graduating students to take advantage of the unique opportunities offered by the programme.
‘Don’t squander opportunities because there may be no other in future. In today’s world of work, equip yourself with relevant skills and knowledge.’
Prof Olalekan Asikhia, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation, Strategy and Administration (RISA) counselled the students on the importance of work-life balance in the workplace.
He urged the female students not to allow work to cost them their home.
Presenting a paper on ‘Structure and Requirements of World of Works’, Prof Sunday Adewale, Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Academic, urged the graduating students to be accustomed to organisational structure, which encompasses task allocation, coordination, and supervision, because it helps to achieve organisational aims.
Prof Adewale stressed that ‘maintaining a professional demeanour, appropriate dressing, communication, teamwork, technological integration, acceptance of core values, building a positive work ethics, enthusiasm, and continuous learning, are desirable workplace attitudes to be cultivated.’
In his presentation titled: ‘Employability Tests and Interviews, the Caleb University Registrar, Mr Mayokun Olumeru, advised the graduating students to target passing pre-employment tests and challenge themselves in all ramifications, as employers use the screenings to know if one is the right fit for specific job openings or not. He counselled them to focus, for purposes of employability, on their job knowledge, integrity, cognitive skills, personality, emotional intelligence, skill assessment preparedness as well as their physical abilities.
Speakers who harped on and shared experiences of their adventure in the increasingly competitive world of work, included the Managing Director of Axa Mansard Health, Mr. Tope Adeniyi; Ecobank Head of Consumer Banking, Dr. Adeola Ogunyemi; General Manager of Bank of Industry, Dr. Isa Omagu; Manager, Recruitment and Onboarding, MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Ibitola Somide; Managing Director, Credital, Mr. Adams Abiodun; Founder and Country Leader of Crownwell Securities Integrated Limited, Otunba Sola Enitan; and the Human Resources Manager, Nestle Plc Mr. Ephraim Okundaye.
The Inaugural Employability Fair is another monumental milestone for Caleb University, which was not only voted 2024 Best Private University in Nigeria, but was also ranked by the global tertiary education ranking body, Times Higher Education (THE), as the 18th best out of the 272 Federal, State and Private Universities in Nigeria.
