By Tajudeen Balogun

 

Nigerian University undergraduates have been urged to be “intentional”, in networking, as one of the strategies to adopt to conquer academic deficiency and attain impressive relevance in their chosen career and respective industries.

A Nigerian and Netherlands based Sustainability Researcher, Yusuf Kareem made the call, during a webinar, organized by the Potential Mentee - a youth mentoring platform.

After highlighting the missing industrial expectations in many Nigerian fresh universities, Kareem, a graduate of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, south west Nigeria, stressed that Nigerian youths, at the start of building their careers should not prioritize monetary gain, rather, “building of a good career”.

Speaking further on the theme of the webinar: “Bridging the gap between academic lapses and required industrial skills to grow a professional career”, the multi-talented Lead Speaker, pointed out that the backup for the academic lapses, as witnessed in Nigeria include: aspiring for seamless volunteering jobs, directing that the strive should not be restricted to formal sector.

Kareem also counseled the participants - mostly University undergraduates, within and outside of Nigeria, to seek and research into where to benefit from the knowledge transfer, identifying and relating with mentors with the similar areas of specialisation.

He also urged the students to seriously leverage on scholarship and supportive programmes, schemes and opportunities.

The Lead Speaker whose work spans international research and development projects in Asian and European countries, asserted that most Nigerian undergraduates lack required industrial application listed what industries need from every graduate.

This according to him include: skills to analyze and forecast complex situations; basic technical skills; good time management; aspiring to be problem solver; confidence and self-assurance; cultural intelligence; morals and effective communication skills.

In his presentation, the webinar co-speaker, Salami Habib, urged the participants not to depend on one opportunity.

Habib, who is a brand consultant, motion/graphic designer tasked the participants to master arts of communication and networking; aspire to be entrepreneurs and be ready to build “professional portfolio”.

He warned the participants not to be complacent, when making money from their trades or professional career, but maintain and sustain a network - for a commanding and substantial impact in their respective industries and society in general.

Earlier, the webinar convener and moderator, as well as Deputy Editor, The Eagleonline newspaper, Tajudeen Balogun, told the audience that his choice of mentoring has a link with his natural interest in child education, development, guidance and counseling.

He told participants that he feels more fulfilled combining his journalism career with mentoring - the instinct which he indicated further manifests in floating Potential Mentee platforms and organizing the webinar, the second in series.

The Convener recalled that the first PM webinar with focus on combining academic excellence with successful entrepreneurship - was discussed by a successful Business Executive, Engr. Nasir Giwa, in late 2024.

Balogun disclosed that the PM presently has five platforms - each representing different sets of his mentees.

One of the participants, Zeenah Noibi, a final year Nursing student, at the Lagos State University College of Medicine told the Convener: “To me, the webinar was a very insightful one, I got exposed to some of things that we're not being told by our lecturers in school. It was an eye-opener for me. Thank you too, sir for organizing such webinar”.

Another participant, Aameenah Abdul Rafiu, a 200 level undergraduate, of Chemistry, Lagos State University, messaged the Convener: “I was graced with the opportunity to be at the webinar that held yesterday evening. Thank you so much sir. May God continue to reward you abundantly.

Among the PM members who participated actively were: Fatihah Olasupo, a graduate of Nursing based in Rwanda; Jibril Balogun, UNILORIN, Computer Science; Abdul Wahab Al-Amin, Pharmacy, LASU; Ummu Khair Amin, Dentistry, LASU; LASU, Morufah Badmus, Islamic Religion Studies; UNILORIN, Mazeedah Adetunji, Science Laboratory Technology, LASU - all undergraduates, among many others.

At the webinar, participants whose attendance was pro bono were promised that the content of the session would be taken further to practical level, without delay.