Career Experts Urge Nigerian Undergraduates to Prioritize Intentional Networking and Skill Development
Nigerian university students have received crucial guidance on navigating the challenging transition from academic life to professional success during a recent educational webinar. Organized by the youth mentoring platform Potential Mentee, the virtual event brought together industry experts who shared actionable strategies for career growth and academic improvement.
Intentional Networking as Career Foundation
During the Saturday, January 17 webinar held in Ikeja, Lagos State, sustainability researcher Yusuf Kareem emphasized the critical importance of intentional networking for undergraduates. The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta graduate stressed that Nigerian youths should prioritize building solid career foundations over immediate monetary gains when beginning their professional journeys.
Kareem highlighted the significant gaps between academic preparation and industrial requirements that many Nigerian university graduates face. He identified several key areas where students need to focus their development efforts:
- Seeking volunteering opportunities beyond the formal sector
- Identifying and connecting with mentors in their chosen fields
- Researching knowledge transfer opportunities
- Leveraging scholarship programs and supportive schemes
Essential Skills for Industrial Relevance
The lead speaker, whose experience spans international research projects across Asia and Europe, outlined specific competencies that industries expect from graduates. According to Kareem, Nigerian undergraduates must develop:
- Analytical and forecasting abilities for complex situations
- Basic technical proficiency in their fields
- Effective time management strategies
- Problem-solving orientation and mindset
- Confidence and self-assurance in professional settings
- Cultural intelligence for diverse work environments
- Strong moral compass and ethical foundations
- Excellent communication skills across platforms
Practical Career Building Strategies
Co-speaker Salami Habib, a brand consultant and motion/graphic designer, provided additional practical advice for participants. He urged undergraduates not to depend on single opportunities but to diversify their approaches to career development. Habib emphasized mastering communication arts, developing entrepreneurial mindsets, and building comprehensive professional portfolios.
"Do not become complacent when you begin earning from your profession," Habib cautioned participants. "Maintain and expand your professional networks to create substantial impact within your industries and broader society."
Mentoring Platform Creates Impact
The webinar was convened by veteran journalist Tajudeen Balogun, Deputy Editor of The Eagleonline newspaper, who explained his motivation for creating the Potential Mentee platform. Balogun connected his mentoring work to his longstanding interest in child education, development, guidance, and counseling.
"Combining my journalism career with mentoring brings me tremendous fulfillment," Balogun shared with participants. "This instinct led to establishing the Potential Mentee platforms and organizing this webinar series."
The current webinar marked the second in the series, following an earlier session in late 2024 that focused on combining academic excellence with successful entrepreneurship. The Potential Mentee initiative now operates five distinct platforms, each serving different groups of mentees.
Student Participants Express Appreciation
Participants responded enthusiastically to the webinar's practical insights. Zeenah Noibi, a final-year Nursing student at Lagos State University College of Medicine, described the session as "very insightful" and "an eye-opener" that exposed her to information not typically covered in academic lectures.
Aameenah Abdul Rafiu, a 200-level Chemistry undergraduate at Lagos State University, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate, noting the webinar's valuable contributions to her professional development.
The event attracted diverse participants including Fatihah Olasupo, a Nursing graduate based in Rwanda; Jibril Balogun studying Computer Science at UNILORIN; Abdul Wahab Al-Amin in Pharmacy at LASU; Ummu Khair Amin in Dentistry at LASU; Morufah Badmus studying Islamic Religion Studies at LASU; and Mazeedah Adetunji in Science Laboratory Technology at UNILORIN, among numerous other undergraduates.
Organizers promised attendees that the webinar content would be followed by practical implementation sessions, ensuring that theoretical knowledge translates into actionable career advancement strategies for Nigerian undergraduates seeking to bridge the gap between academic preparation and industrial requirements.
