KINGSLEY EBERE
The University of Ibadan (UI) has called for stronger partnership between universities and industries to prepare Nigerian graduates for the modern workplace.
The call was made at the UI Career Fair 2026, held on Thursday, 5th November 2026, at the International Conference Centre (ICC) on the UI campus in Ibadan.
The event was organised in collaboration with Astria Learning, a global educational technology provider.
The theme of the fair was: “From Lecture Halls to Boardrooms: Preparing UI Graduates for the Workplace.”
The fair brought together university leaders, corporate recruiters, edtech experts, student leaders and undergraduates from different faculties.
The aim was to tackle youth unemployment, address digital skill gaps, and create direct recruitment links between students and employers.
Declaring the fair open, the 14th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor P. O. Olapegba, said the career fair has grown beyond a routine campus event.
According to him, it has become a major platform for shaping Nigeria’s future workforce.
He said this was the first career fair hosted under his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, and he urged students to take full advantage of the opportunity.
Prof. Olapegba said the movement from school to work is not just about getting a degree, but about learning how to apply knowledge.
He said: “The transition from the lecture hall to the workplace is more than the completion of a degree programme. It is a transition from acquiring knowledge to applying it; from learning theory to solving practical problems.”
He noted that graduates must learn to take responsibility for decisions and to shape their future, and not just wait for opportunities.
Speaking on technology, the Vice-Chancellor said artificial intelligence, automation and digital tools are changing how businesses work across the world.
He said Nigeria’s youthful population can contribute to national development if young people acquire relevant skills and have access to economic opportunities.
He charged the graduating class: “Our graduates must be prepared to demonstrate more than what they know. They must show what they can do with what they know.”
He listed communication, teamwork, responsible use of technology, good judgement, initiative and resilience as key qualities employers now look for.
He also urged students from the main campus, the College of Medicine at UCH, and affiliated institutions to develop problem-solving skills, creative thinking and strong work ethics.
He advised students not to wait until graduation before preparing for work.
“Begin now,” he said. “Build your skills, strengthen your character, create meaningful relationships, and remain open to learning. Your degree may open the door, but your competence, character, creativity, and capacity to deliver results will determine how far you go.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Professor Simisola Oluwatoyin Akintola, said her office is focused on connecting academic research with industrial needs.
She said graduates need critical thinking, adaptability, cybersecurity awareness, financial literacy, emotional intelligence and digital proficiency.
Prof. Akintola also raised concern about the digital divide affecting students.
She said many talented final-year students do not have personal laptops, which prevents them from joining virtual trainings, professional certifications and corporate internships.
“In an increasingly digital workplace, access to appropriate technology is no longer a luxury; it is an important requirement for learning, training and professional development,” she said.
She added that while technical competence may open the door to employment, character and professional conduct sustain long-term success.
The Convener of the UI Career Fair 2026, Dr. Oluchi C. Maduka, said the activities were planned based on feedback from students.
She said the fair provided opportunities for recruitment, career counselling, networking and skills development, with sessions on workplace readiness, entrepreneurship, digitalisation and international scholarships.
Dr. Maduka announced that masterclasses and skill workshops will continue into early 2027, and not end as a one-day event.
She also said the committee plans to work with donors, alumni and corporate sponsors to provide laptops for committed final-year students.
She mentioned a new data-driven tracking system to monitor student internship placements and gather feedback from host organisations.
She also highlighted partnerships like IITA, which recorded 544 student engagements in two years, and DAAD, which awarded German summer course scholarships to nine UI students this year.
The fair featured Astria Learning, led by its Founder and CEO, Dr. Jeff Bordes.
Dr. Bordes said Astria Learning was established in 2012 to help universities run fully online degree programmes through technology, admissions and student support.
He said the organisation has empowered over 1.2 million working professionals globally and operates in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania.
He warned students: “The global job market is not waiting for anyone. With Artificial Intelligence and automation reshaping industries overnight, Nigerian graduates are no longer competing locally, they are competing on a borderless global stage.”
He said students who wait until graduation to learn digital tools are already behind.
The event also featured sponsors including First Bank Plc, Aradel Holdings, Optimus Bank, Afe Babalola & Co., Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Sumal Group, Beta Glass Plc, Deloitte Nigeria and DAAD.
The President of the UI Students’ Union Government, Comrade Adeboye Temidayo, urged students to look beyond grades and use the fair to meet CEOs, HR directors and industry leaders.
One of the students, Blessing Adeleke, a final-year student, said interacting with corporate leaders transformed her mindset about entering the job market.
She said academic excellence opens the door, but communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability and intentional networking sustain a career.
The fair ended with employer engagement sessions, personal branding masterclasses, CV review clinics and direct networking opportunities.
Organisers said the event set a new benchmark for university-industry collaboration in Nigeria.