07/08/2026
BOARDROOMS MOVE TO IMOTA AS CALEB UNIVERSITY'S 2026 EMPLOYABILITY FAIR CONNECTS STUDENTS WITH CEOs, INDUSTRY LEADERS, EMPLOYERS OF LABOUR
…"Degrees open doors; skills keep them open," says Prof. Adesola Ajayi, DVC RISA
… As students secure employment prospects, internships, mentorship opportunities and lifelong corporate relationships…
For two remarkable days, the serene campus of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, transformed into one of Nigeria's most vibrant corporate engagement hubs as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), captains of industry, business executives, entrepreneurs, human resource professionals, recruiters, career coaches, opinion leaders and employers of labour converged on the University for the 2026 Caleb University Employability Fair, creating an unprecedented bridge between the classroom and the boardroom.
Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olalekan Asikhia, reaffirmed the University's unwavering commitment to producing graduates who are not merely certificate holders but innovative problem-solvers equipped to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy. He stressed that Caleb University's vision goes beyond awarding degrees to deliberately preparing graduates with the knowledge, character, practical competence and entrepreneurial mindset required by today's employers.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, employers should regard Caleb University graduates as strategic assets capable of driving organisational growth and innovation.
"Hiring a graduate of this University is not an act of charity or corporate social responsibility. It is a strategic business decision," Professor Asikhia declared, adding that Caleb graduates possess the adaptability, technological competence, resilience and leadership qualities required to excel in today's dynamic workplace.
The two-day fair, themed "Beyond the Degree: Unlocking Skills, Networks and Opportunities for a Dynamic Job Market," represented far more than another university programme. It was a deliberate institutional response to the growing demand for graduates who combine academic excellence with practical workplace competencies, professional confidence, digital literacy, innovation and emotional intelligence.
For the graduating students, the Employability Fair was a life-changing experience.
Rather than waiting until after graduation to begin searching for employment, they had the rare privilege of engaging directly with CEOs, managing directors, business owners, recruiters and senior executives from diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Welcoming participants on the opening day, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation, Strategy and Administration (RISA) and Chairman of the Employability Fair Planning Committee, Professor Adesola Adetutu Ajayi, reminded students that while degrees create opportunities, practical skills sustain careers, "degrees open doors; skills keep them open," she advised, urging the graduating students to maximise every interaction with the visiting organisations.
Throughout the two-day exercise, the University's Multipurpose Hall became a bustling marketplace of ideas, opportunities and professional relationships as students moved confidently from one corporate exhibition booth to another, introducing themselves, presenting their credentials, discussing career aspirations and participating in one-on-one interactions with prospective employers.
The atmosphere reflected a unique convergence of academia and industry.
Indeed, the boardrooms came to Caleb University. Corporate executives who would ordinarily conduct recruitment exercises from their corporate headquarters temporarily relocated to the University's Imota campus, where they interviewed students, assessed competencies, shared practical career insights and identified promising talents for immediate and future employment.
Many participating organisations offered internship placements, graduate trainee opportunities, mentorship programmes, career coaching, internship referrals, professional networking opportunities and long-term corporate relationships. Several students participated in preliminary job interviews and aptitude assessments, while many left the fair with valuable contacts expected to shape their professional journeys long after graduation.
The event reinforced the growing recognition that in today's knowledge-driven economy, employability extends far beyond possessing a university degree. Employers increasingly seek graduates who demonstrate communication skills, teamwork, creativity, adaptability, leadership capacity, digital competence, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities and emotional intelligence.
On the second day, Professor Ajayi further emphasised that Nigeria possesses abundant talent but lacks sufficient platforms that connect such talent with opportunities.
"Talent is not our problem in Nigeria. Opportunities and connections are," she stated, explaining that the Employability Fair was intentionally designed to bridge that gap by bringing employers, entrepreneurs, career coaches and graduates together under one roof.
The keynote sessions further enriched the intellectual value of the programme.
The Principal Consultant, Nathan Leadgate Limited, Dr. Olumuyiwa Akinrole Oludayo, challenged participants to understand that the future workplace would increasingly reward continuous learning, adaptability and leadership rather than academic qualifications alone.
According to him, leadership experiences acquired through campus activities, volunteer engagements and extracurricular responsibilities often distinguish outstanding candidates during recruitment processes.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer, Glanvil Enthoven Insurance Brokers and Pension, Dr. Supo Falana, equipped participants with practical strategies for succeeding in aptitude tests and employment interviews. He encouraged students to intentionally develop skills aligned with their passions while embracing constructive feedback as an essential ingredient for continuous improvement.
Also speaking, the Founder of SEED Care and Support Foundation, Mrs. Olanrewaju Oniyitan, challenged students to build strong personal values before pursuing professional success.
According to her, competence alone is insufficient without integrity, resilience, emotional intelligence and trustworthiness.
"The greatest competitive advantage is not your certificate; it is the person you become," she remarked.
The 2026 Fair, beyond employment opportunities, created an invaluable ecosystem for networking, mentorship, knowledge exchange, innovation and corporate engagement, also reaffirmed Caleb University's enduring philosophy that education must transcend classroom instruction by intentionally preparing graduates for lifelong relevance, leadership and meaningful societal impact. It further reflects the University's commitment to producing graduates with sound theoretical knowledge reinforced by practical skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and the capacity to compete successfully in an ever-evolving global economy.
In a press statement, the Principal Information and Media Expert of Caleb University, Mr. Olawale Adekoya, described the Employability Fair as one of the University's most strategic investments in the future of its students.
"Caleb University continues to redefine university education by dismantling the traditional barriers between academia and industry, bringing corporate boardrooms directly to the campus and providing students with exceptional opportunities to engage employers before graduation. Beyond the internships, mentorships and employment opportunities facilitated during the fair, its greatest achievement lies in exposing students to the realities of the modern workplace while fostering enduring professional relationships capable of shaping successful careers."
Industry experts and academics observed that the overwhelming participation of CEOs, business leaders, recruiters and employers of labour further demonstrates the growing confidence Corporate Nigeria continues to repose in the quality, competence and character of Caleb University graduates.
As the curtains fell on the two-day 2026 Caleb University Employability Fair, one message resonated across the University community: at Caleb University, graduation is no longer viewed as the end of learning, but as the beginning of purposeful careers, lifelong professional relationships and limitless opportunities.
Signed
Olawale Adekoya
Principal Information and Media Expert
