Campus News

Entrepreneur tasks students on jobs creation

By Bashirat Omotosho

 A renowned entrepreneur, Mr Johnson Abbaly, has charged students, particularly those of the University of Ilorin, to be focused on how they would become job creators upon their graduation from the University instead of being job seekers.

Mr Abbaly gave this advice last Monday (May 26, 2025) while speaking at a workshop organised by the Association of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management Students(AIRPMS), University of Ilorin chapter, at the University Auditorium.

Speaking at the workshop, themed “Web3 and the Future of Work: Opportunities and Challenges for Nigerian Students,” Mr Abbaly charged students to focus their minds on what they would do to earn a living instead of pursuing evasive white collar jobs.

 Mr Abbaly, who is also the founder of The Smartan House, an initiative dedicated to empowering young people through education and technology, captivated the audience with a compelling narrative of how Web3 is shaping the global digital economy and the emerging workforce.

Explaining the pervasiveness of the emerging innovation, Mr Abbaly said that “Web3 is the idea that power no longer needs permission”.

 He explained that this new phase of the internet removes the gatekeepers of traditional systems and puts power directly into the hands of individuals.

From decentralised finance to creator-owned content and peer-to-peer collaboration, he described how Web3 offers Nigerian youths the opportunity to bypass limitations and forge their own paths in technology and beyond.

Mr Abbaly emphasised the importance of digital skills and curiosity, adding that “the jobs of tomorrow won’t come with application letters or job boards; they’ll come from communities, networks, and digital ecosystems. You must be present in these spaces”, he advised.

He encouraged students to learn blockchain, smart contracts, token economics, and digital ownership, stating that the future belongs to those who can adapt and innovate in a borderless and trustless digital environment.

 Mr Abbaly challenged students to look beyond the local job market and embrace global digital opportunities. “You don’t need to wait for someone to validate your dream anymore. In Web3, your talent, not your location or background, will open doors.”

He called on institutions to create more awareness and integrate Web3 education into their curricula so that Nigerian students are not left behind in the global shift.

The Head of the Department of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Dr Abiodun Peter Abogunrin, expressed appreciation to Mr Abbaly for sharing his vast knowledge and vision with the students.

 “Your speech was not only enlightening but timely. It has opened our minds to the untapped opportunities that lie in the digital Web 3 economy,” he said.

He praised the students for their organisational capacity, discipline, and drive to learn. “You have proven that Nigerian students are ready for the future, keep leading, keep learning,” he said.