- …warns against overreliance on certificates
In a bid to tackle youth unemployment, the alumni body of Osun State University has trained more than 1,000 new graduates to become self-reliant and wealth creators ahead of their convocation.
The training was delivered in partnership with online job platforms Jobberman and the Mastercard Foundation and was titled “Beyond the Degree: Positioning for Careers, Opportunities and Impact.”
The programme, held Friday at the Downtown Multipurpose Hall, Main Campus, Osogbo, trained graduates in Artificial Intelligence, Content Creation, business branding, self-packaging, and career and growth development.
Addressing the new graduates, the President of the Alumni Association, Dr AbdulBasit Abubakar, said that obtaining a university degree is not enough to stand out in a labour market with limited opportunities.
He explained, “The programme was organised to equip graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge that would give them a competitive advantage.”
Abubakar lamented that most young people who finish at higher institutions cannot find work or create jobs for themselves to earn a living.
He noted that the induction helps monitor and evaluate former students and allows graduating students to connect with their seniors and pitch themselves for opportunities.
He urged the graduates to remain confident, make sacrifices, and continually improve themselves, while encouraging them not to forget their alma mater.
Earlier, Growth Marketing and Digital Strategy Professional Abraham Ogunmola underscored the importance of graduates developing skills relevant to their chosen careers, including communication, human interaction, and discipline.
Akanbi Kareemat, a Business and Personal Branding Consultant, said graduates often focus mainly on their degrees while neglecting other skills, urging them to build portfolios, create content, develop personal brands, and learn digital and AI skills while still in school.
