Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
A former Minister of Works and Sen. (Dr.) Adeseye Ogunlewe, has called on the Nigerian universities to develop courses that will address productivity and help make their students employable.
Ogunlewe, who is also a former Pro – Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), gave the charge at the Maiden Employability Fair organized by the Caleb University, for its students.
At the fair, the university’s students were afforded the opportunity to interact with a diverse range of industry leaders and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), to provide valuable opportunities for networking, career guidance, NYSC mobilisation placement and job opportunities.
The event, which took place at the Caleb University Multipurpose Hall, Imota, was themed, “An uncommon interaction between graduating students and 32 CEOs”.
Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, in his keynote address at the programme, commended the institution for organizing what he called first of its kind in Nigeria, and charged the graduating students to take good advantage of the opportunity.
“First, let me appreciate the visitors, Senate Management Staff and Students of Caleb University, for inviting me to give a key note address at this maiden edition of the Employability Fair, probably the first of its kind in any university in Nigeria”, Sen. Ogunlewe said.
“In our days as students of both the Universities of Ibadan and Lagos, we never had any oppourtunity of having direct interaction with our probably or possible employers. So, I seize this oppourtunity to thank and appreciate Caleb University, on this initiative.
“I would like to enjoin all graduating students who have an oppourtunity to go through interview from the Corporate Bodies present here, to take full advantages of the oppourtunities offered by the presence of these companies which have accepted to be in your campus today”.
Speaking from his experience as a pubic officer of several years and former Pro – Chancellor, the keynote speaker urged the Caleb University on the need to always interact with CEOs and captains of industry, while developing their courses, so as to produce students that meets their requirements after school.
“Apart from being a beneficiary of Nigeria Universities as student, I also had the privilege of serving as the Pro –Chancellor of Federal University of Agricultural, Abeokuta. So, I will share my experience with you.
“My view and position and advice is for the management of Caleb University to in the design of their faculty programs should discuss with the many CEO of Corporate Institution, on the actual types of training and courses require for easier employability in their Companies.
“The University should establish Faculty Programme Development Department. This department will liaise with various factories, companies, small-scale industries, the informal sector to access their needs, the types of training they will require.
“These will assist various faculties and departments in designing the content of courses needed by various institutions. This will make it easier for the university to fix their students into various institution and enhance their employability”, the former Ministers said
The keynote speaker, while stating that reliant on the government cannot bring about necessary infrastructural in our universities, urged institutions’ administrator on the need to develop courses tailored towards productivity and embrace private sector funding.
“My second observation concerning the type of degrees offered by universities in Nigeria, is that most courses in our universities do not address the importance of productivity in the development of Nigeria as a Nation. We still tier courses to the needs of Civil and Public Service in Nigeria, and not related to industrialization and productivity”, the former Minister expressed his concern.
“I had an opportunity to attend a course of Public Private Partnership at Harvard University. From the presentation of the lecturers, it was clear that Government procedure, bureaucracy, corruption, poor initiative cannot enable, government funding alone can not provide all the infrastructure needed for a Nation to grow.
“So, instead of pursuing the age long over bearing Government’s effort to provide budget for the construction of infrastructure, is out dated. It is totally impossible for Government annual budget to cover the fund to construct infrastructure required by our Nation.
“So, as part of your courses in Caleb University, it is important to expose your students to the need and importance of involving the private sector in funding of infrastructure in our Nation”, he charged.
While emphasizing the importance of developing courses that brings about productivity, Sen Ogunlewe also called for the award of degrees in specific area of agriculture and other areas like Bachelor of Science in cassava, cocoa etc.
“The third part of my intervention in the area of the degrees offered by our Universities. We must move to area of productivity, particularly courses in ship building, Aero Space, Engineering, Aircraft Design and Construction, Railway Design, Construction and Production of Coaches, Petroleum refinery, Motor vehicles manufacturing, Agriculture Machines Production etc.
“The fourth point is also on the type of degrees we offer in our university. While not design a Bsc in Cassava Production, Bsc in Cocoa, Bsc in Air Conditioning Manufacturing etc?
“Finally, let me once again congratulate Caleb University for the maiden and unique programme. However, let our universities start to teach students about productions and not consumptions and provisions of services”, he further charged.
The Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Professor Nosa Owens-Ibie, said that the university is developing next generation of great men and women in the world.
He charged the students to always see problems as challenge to solving problems.
Prof. Owens – Ibie also charged his graduating students to always be ready to learn and have expectations to be great.
He also charged them to value the investment of the university in them and make good use of them.
Miss Christabel Ohiora, graduating student of Department of Political Science and International Relations, who spoke on behalf of the graduating students, thanked their school for its impact on them.
“I am here to give a speech of gratitude to the Caleb University. The university thus far they have invested in us.
“Caleb University has been instrumental in shaping me into a woman ready to take on her world, and I am sure that my mates can say the same thing”, she said.
She also appreciated the CEOs for sharing their knowledge with them.
At the Employability Fair, which also featured one-on-one interaction with CEOs; Physical Job Interviews, Employability Tests, Panel Discussions & Roundtables as well as Tips on Work-life, were CEOs from First Bank Plc, Eco Bank Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Diya Fatimilehin & Co., Yale Foods Plc, Industrial Training Funds (ITF), Nigerite PLC, IBTC Pension PLC, Lagos Traffic Radio, MRS Oil PLC, Checkers Custard, Cummins Generator, and Infinity Paints International.
Others included lnvestment One Financial Services, Fan Milk Nigeria Plc, Airtel Nigeria, Rite Foods Limited, Nigeria Bottling Company PLC, CITA Petroleum Limited, Fuel Communications Limited, Sola Enitan & Co. (Estate Surveyors & Valuers)/Cromwell Professional Services Limited, Edgefield Capital Management Limited and Financial Care Advisers Limited.
