Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Chairman of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Youths, Sports Development and Job Creation, and former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Hakeem Jamiu, has urged Nigerian undergraduates to look beyond academic certificates and equip themselves with practical skills, warning that the future economy will reward competence, innovation and entrepreneurship rather than paper qualifications.
Jamiu stated this while delivering a lecture titled ‘Equipping Ekiti Youth for the Modern Economy’ at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Ikere-Ekiti.
Addressing students and members of the university community, the lawmaker said that the rapidly changing global economy has made it imperative for young people to embrace digital literacy, vocational skills, entrepreneurship and critical thinking to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive labour market.
He stressed that while academic degrees remain important, they are no longer sufficient to guarantee employment or career success.
“The future belongs to graduates who possess relevant skills, can solve problems, create value and adapt to changing realities. Certificates may open doors, but it is skills, innovation and character that will keep those doors open,” he said.
Jamiu urged students to begin preparing for life after graduation by acquiring marketable skills alongside their academic pursuits, noting that employers now place greater value on competence, creativity and the ability to deliver results.
He encouraged the students to take advantage of opportunities in technology, agriculture, manufacturing, the creative industry and entrepreneurship, describing them as sectors driving economic growth and job creation across the world.
The lawmaker also challenged educational institutions to complement academic learning with practical training capable of producing graduates who are job creators rather than job seekers.
According to him, Nigeria’s economic future depends largely on a generation of young people equipped with the skills needed to compete globally and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Jamiu further urged governments, educational institutions and the private sector to strengthen collaboration in providing platforms that expose young people to innovation, digital technology, mentorship and enterprise development.
He maintained that investing in youth skills development remained one of the most effective ways of tackling unemployment, poverty and other socio-economic challenges confronting the country.
The lecture attracted students, academic staff and other stakeholders, who commended Jamiu for highlighting the urgent need to align higher education with the realities of the 21st-century economy.
Participants described the session as insightful and inspiring, saying it challenged students to rethink success beyond the acquisition of certificates and embrace lifelong learning, innovation and skills development as pathways to sustainable careers.