By Adeyinka Adeniran
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) and ICLED Business School have partnered to launch a pioneering Career Service Programme aimed at equipping students with essential soft skills to combat graduate unemployment in Nigeria.
Over 130 penultimate and final-year students from UNILAG participated in the comprehensive training, which focused on four key areas: people skills, work readiness, career planning, and leadership development.
The programme featured practical skills acquisition through mock interviews, CV reviews, and mentorship sessions with career coaches.
During the programme’s grand finale, industry experts and academics converged to discuss the theme, “Solving the Graduate Unemployment Crisis in Nigeria: The Way Forward”.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services) at UNILAG, Professor Afolabi Lesi emphasized the need for universities to prioritize teaching soft skills, stating that Nigerian students hold the key to solving the nation’s problems.
President and Provost of ICLED Business School, Professor Olajumoke Familoni highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application, noting that entrepreneurship is essential for transforming innovations into jobs and opportunities.
The Director at ICLED, Dr. Wayne Puckett commended the students’ exceptional performance and encouraged continued discussions on solving unemployment challenges.
The Career Service Programme serves as a pioneering model for Nigerian universities, demonstrating how targeted soft skills training can empower graduates and contribute to national development.
By equipping students with global citizenship and workplace readiness skills, UNILAG and ICLED Business School are shaping the next generation of leaders who will influence policies and decisions on a global scale.
