(News Investigators)/ A lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Ayobami Ojebode, has tasked Nigerian graduates to invest in themselves through human capital development and creativity for a better life.
Mr. Ojebode, a professor Communication gave the task at the 34th Convocation lecture of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
While delivering the lecture on the topic ‘The Dream, Challenges and Reality of the Contemporary Nigeria for fresh graduates’, the professor urged graduates to be informed and to harness technology to their advantage.
“Things are tough for the fresh graduates; but with creativity and hard work, the dream of the graduate can be realised.
“Employers should stop grumbling about the quality of graduates; they are not being sincere.
“They should invest in graduate training; they should customise every graduate to perform the duties they want them to perform in their organisation.
“No graduate is a readymade graduate for all different kinds of organisations,” he said.
Mr. Ojebode highlighted the challenges and reality of the economic situation in the country, saying that the present administration’s policies, if well implemented, will bring succour in the long run.
“The Economic Recovery Plan of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is envisioned to have the potential of leading to better economic performance under certain conditions, with emphasis on industrialisation and agricultural development.
“The Economic Recovery Growth Plan may, in the long run, impact and protect the economy from the shocks it experiences as the price of crude oil undulates; there is hope, but then, there are also apprehensions.”
Ojebode identified personality degeneration, drug abuse and migration, among others, as some of the adverse effects of unemployment on graduates.
He charged graduates to fully prepare and develop themselves so that the labour market would become a true market, where people of equal status meet.
“We should work towards a labour market that empowers job seekers to negotiate and make choices.
“That is what a true market is and that is what our national labour dream should be, not just about fighting for minimum wage.”
He also tasked graduates to maximise the use of their smartphones to create opportunities for themselves.
“To survive this reality of contemporary Nigeria, the graduate must be well informed.
“What do you do with your phone beyond idle chat and online gossip about politicians and popstars? What newspaper are you reading?
“Despite all that I have said about our politicians, how many people here know that the Federal Government of Nigeria has a business support project reputed to be among the most transparent in recent times?
“I am referring to the GEM (Growth and Employment) project which has transferred millions in Grant’s to over 950 businesses.
“How many know of the Tony Elumelu Foundation giving out millions of naira to young people who can demonstrate creativity and serious mindedness.
“This week, that Foundation awarded about N1.7million each to 2,100 young people as grants to start their own businesses.
“And, this is just one of the several foundations in Nigeria doing such things,” Mr. Ojebode said. (NAN)=====
