The University of Ibadan (UI) and global edtech provider Astria Learning have called for stronger university-industry collaboration and practical skill alignment to prepare Nigerian graduates for the demands of the modern workplace.
The call headlined the UI Career Fair 2026, held on Thursday, 5th November 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Ibadan, under the theme: “From Lecture Halls to Boardrooms: Preparing UI Graduates for the Workplace.” The event brought together university leaders, corporate recruiters, edtech executives, student leaders and undergraduates from all faculties to address youth unemployment, digital skill gaps and sustainable recruitment linkages.
Declaring the fair open, the 14th Vice-Chancellor, Professor P. O. Olapegba, said the fair had evolved from a routine campus event into a signature platform for shaping Nigeria’s future workforce. In his first career fair as Vice-Chancellor, he urged students to use the opportunity to build workplace competence, soft skills, emotional intelligence and professional confidence.
“The transition from the lecture hall to the workplace is more than the completion of a degree programme. It is rather a transition from acquiring knowledge to applying it; from learning theory to solving practical problems; from being guided by lecturers to taking responsibility for decisions; and from preparing for the future to actively shaping it,” Prof. Olapegba said.
He warned that in an era defined by artificial intelligence, automation and rapidly changing business models, graduates must prove what they can do with what they know.
“Our graduates must therefore be prepared to demonstrate more than what they know. They must show what they can do with what they know. They must be able to communicate their ideas, work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, use technology responsibly, exercise good judgement, and approach challenges with initiative and resilience,” he said.
Prof. Olapegba urged students from the main campus, the College of Medicine at UCH and affiliated institutions to develop problem-solving skills, creative thinking and a strong work ethic. Professor K. O. Adebowale also charged undergraduates to maximise the industry exposure, noting that today’s job market demands foresight, strategic positioning and practical networks, not certificates alone.
“Begin now. Build your skills, strengthen your character, create meaningful relationships, and remain open to learning. Your degree may open the door, but your competence, character, creativity, and capacity to deliver results will determine how far you go,” Prof. Olapegba added.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Professor Simisola Oluwatoyin Akintola, said her office is mandated to connect academic research and human capital directly with industry needs. She listed critical thinking, adaptability, cybersecurity awareness, financial literacy, emotional intelligence and digital proficiency as essential for boardroom readiness.
She also flagged the digital divide as a major barrier, noting that many talented final-year students lack laptops and basic digital tools needed for virtual training, professional certification and corporate internships.
“In an increasingly digital workplace, access to appropriate technology is no longer a luxury; it is an important requirement for learning, training and professional development. The University welcomes conversations with partners and stakeholders on practical ways of addressing these gaps so that financial or material limitations do not prevent capable students from participating in opportunities available to them,” she said.
She stressed that while technical competence may open the door to employment, character and professional conduct sustain long-term success.
The Convener, Dr. Oluchi C. Maduka, said the fair was designed from direct feedback from students and offered recruitment, career counselling, networking and skills development covering workplace readiness, entrepreneurship, digitalisation and international scholarships.
She announced that masterclasses and skill workshops will continue into early 2027, and that the committee plans to work with donors, alumni and corporate sponsors to provide laptops for committed final-year students. Following a presentation on the student-led UI SPARK Initiative by a final-year Pharmacy student, she also unveiled plans for a data-driven system to track internship placements, evaluate workplace experiences and gather feedback from host organisations.
She cited IITA’s 544 student and graduate engagements in the past two years and the DAAD partnership, which awarded German summer course scholarships to nine UI European Studies students this year.
Astria Learning, the major co-organiser and primary edtech sponsor, was led by its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jeff Bordes. Founded in 2012, the company builds and manages complete eCampus infrastructures and has empowered over 1.2 million working professionals globally across Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania.
Dr. Bordes warned that Nigerian graduates are now competing on a borderless global stage.
“The global job market is not waiting for anyone. With Artificial Intelligence and automation reshaping industries overnight, Nigerian graduates are no longer competing locally, they are competing on a borderless global stage. If you wait until graduation day to master digital tools and future-ready skills, you are already behind. The transition to boardroom readiness must begin today,” he said.
He said the partnership with UI is designed to equip undergraduates with borderless digital learning tools, personalised skill pathways and scalable career readiness frameworks for an AI-driven workforce.
Dr. Maduka thanked Astria Learning and sponsors including First Bank Plc, Aradel Holdings, Optimus Bank, Afe Babalola & Co., Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Sumal Group, Beta Glass Plc represented by Dr. Omobolanle Lawal, Deloitte Nigeria represented by Mr. Adekola Adekunle, and the DAAD Regional Office in Accra represented by Mr. Lasmothey. She also commended the student volunteer team led by Ademola Favour Idowu, Hamidat Ajibade, Christiana Joel, Oyinbusola Igbehinadun, Gideon Ujata, Cindy Opara and Bamigbade Emmanuel.
The President of the UI Students’ Union Government, Comrade Adeboye Temidayo, urged students to move beyond grades and seize the opportunity to meet CEOs, HR directors and industry heads.
“Many of us spend years in the classroom focused solely on grades, but the corporate world demands practical vision and real-world exposure. This Career Fair is a massive eye-opener designed to bridge that exact gap. It is a rare opportunity to speak directly with CEOs, HR directors, and industry heads who hold the keys to internships, job offers, and international scholarships. Do not stay back in your hostels; come out, get enlightened, network intentionally and position yourself for the global stage,” he said.
Final-year student Blessing Adeleke said the direct interaction with corporate leaders transformed her mindset.
“Interacting directly with corporate leaders and HR experts today completely transformed my mindset about entering the job market. I learned that while academic excellence opens the door, what truly sustains your career in the boardroom is your ability to communicate your value, demonstrate emotional intelligence, adapt quickly to digital tools, and build intentional professional networks. This fair gave me practical insights that I could never have learned from a textbook alone,” she said.
The fair closed with employer engagement sessions, personal branding masterclasses, CV review clinics and networking that connected undergraduates and recent alumni with decision-makers from multinational corporations, technology hubs and leading financial institutions, setting a renewed benchmark for university-industry collaboration in Nigeria.
