Experts have emphasized the need for young people to actively plan their futures through valuable mentorship and industry experience to build successful careers. This advice was shared during a career programme at the Faculty of Environmental Science, University of Lagos (UNILAG), held at the 2026 Job Fair and Career Day organized by Jide Taiwo & Company, Estate Surveyors and Valuers.
Career Day Focuses on Built Sector
The career day, themed ‘Blueprint to Boardroom: Mapping Your Career in the Built Sector,’ attracted over 200 UNILAG students studying estate management. Speaking at the event, Adebiyi Ayeni, an Estate Surveyor and Valuer at Jide Taiwo & Co, encouraged students to find mentors who could guide them on the right career path and help them grow professionally.
Ayeni urged students to adopt key principles for success, including honesty, devotion, dedication, innovation, and integrity. He described the initiative as an opportunity for students to interact with practicing professionals, gain practical insights, and understand professional expectations before graduation.
Corporate Social Responsibility
According to Ayeni, the exercise is part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility and its long-standing commitment to developing future estate surveyors and valuers. “We believe in giving back to society by nurturing the next generation from the cradle. We want students to know the profession, understand its opportunities, and prepare themselves adequately for practice,” he said.
Ayeni explained that the firm’s advocacy and mentorship programme is held annually across different states to raise awareness of the profession and encourage students to pursue careers in estate surveying and valuation. He expressed confidence that the lecture would inspire many students and possibly influence some to reconsider their career choices in favor of the profession.
Rewards for Academic Excellence
Bashiru Tajudeen, an Estate Surveyor and Valuer at the company, said the initiative aims to catch them young and encourage interest in the profession. He disclosed that the company will reward excellence with N500,000 each and automatic employment for the best overall graduating male and female students in the department.
In addition, the second- and third-best graduating male and female students will be offered automatic employment opportunities, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to six graduates. He explained that the gesture is designed to motivate academic excellence, bridge industry gaps, and strengthen future manpower in estate management practice.
Importance of Career Fairs
The Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, UNILAG, Prof. Olumide Adenuga, stressed the importance of job fairs and career development initiatives in preparing students for the evolving workplace.
