UNILORIN equips students with career survival skills amid evolving job market
By Mustafa Abubakar
The University of Ilorin has restated its commitment to preparing students for post-graduation realities by equipping them with practical skills, resilience strategies, and career planning techniques needed to navigate an increasingly uncertain global labour market.
The initiative was highlighted last Wednesday (April 15, 2026) during a career seminar, themed “The Career Launchpad for All-Round Success,” organised by the Faculty of Engineering and Technology in collaboration with the Career Services Unit, held at the New Engineering Lecture Theatre.
Delivering his paper, titled “Career Resilience: Thriving in a Competitive and Dynamic World,” Mr I. B. Ibrahim stressed that the modern labour market demands more than technical competence. He noted that adaptability, continuous learning, and problem-solving mindset are critical for long-term career success.
Mr Ibrahim explained that rapid technological advancement, economic uncertainty, globalisation, and digital transformation have made career paths increasingly unpredictable, thereby requiring graduates to develop resilience and transferable skills to remain relevant across industries.
He identified key dimensions of career resilience to include lifelong learning, flexibility, innovation, emotional intelligence, and ethical practice, while also highlighting challenges such as technological obsolescence, job insecurity, burnout, and the disconnect between academic training and industry expectations.
Speaking on the Nigerian engineering context, Mr Ibrahim observed that over 70 per cent of graduates lack industry-ready skills, adding that issues such as infrastructure failures, energy deficits, weak research investment, and poor university-industry linkage continue to hinder professional development and national growth.
He, therefore, urged students to embrace continuous skill development, interdisciplinary competence, and professional networking, stressing that “adaptability beats certainty” in today’s job market.
In another presentation, titled “Turning Starting Points into Excellent Realities,” Dr S. A. Olayanju advised students to be intentional about their academic and career journeys by making clear decisions, setting goals, and cultivating discipline from the outset.
He identified critical success principles to include asking sincere questions, choosing the right mentors and associations, managing time effectively, maintaining humility, prioritising health, and developing perseverance.
Dr Olayanju further emphasised the importance of mastering foundational knowledge, acquiring practical skills, and gaining real-world exposure through internships, professional engagement, and continuous learning.
According to him, successful graduates must demonstrate strong problem-solving ability, technical competence, communication skills, teamwork, adaptability, ethical responsibility, and innovative capacity. He noted that these outcomes are products of deliberate preparation and consistent effort.
Earlier in his address, the Director of the Career Services Unit, Prof. Kajogbola Rasaq Ajao, described the seminar as a strategic intervention designed to prepare students for life beyond the university, rather than a routine academic exercise.
He stated that success in contemporary society is no longer defined by academic certificates alone but by clarity of purpose, adaptability, and strategic career planning. He urged students to align their academic pursuits with industry demands and emerging opportunities.
Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Joshua Olanrewaju Olaoye, noted that academic excellence alone is insufficient in today’s global environment, stressing the need for innovation, adaptability, and ethical grounding among graduates.
The Dean explained that the Career Services Unit serves as a bridge between academic training and professional practice, providing mentorship, industry linkage, and skill development necessary for employability and career progression.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Faculty Career Advisors Committee, Dr J. Akanni, appreciated participants and resource persons for their contributions, noting that the seminar was aimed at equipping students with the knowledge and mindset required for career success.
Dr Akanni commended the speakers for their insightful presentations and encouraged students to internalise the lessons learned, emphasising that career success requires intentional effort, continuous learning, and adaptability.
The seminar featured interactive sessions and practical insights designed to prepare students for the realities of the modern workplace, with participants urged to remain proactive, focused, and committed to personal and professional development.
