Picture this.
Over 1,000 people were seated in a room, each eagerly waiting for the opportunity to showcase who they are.
Some had printed their CVs. Others had practised the questions they would use to mesmerise the representatives at the employer booths.
Still, many others had mastered the small talk they were sure would find them the "connect" that would change the trajectory of their lives.
But what did they end up leaving with after the closing prayer was said?
On the 5th of September, the Alumni network of one of Africa’s leading universities organised a career fair with the theme “Shaping the Future of Work: Exploring how AI, technology, innovation and evolving workplace trends are redefining careers across industries.” The fair came at an opportune time, giving a platform for the graduating set to meet with employers and make connections that would shape their destinies.
However, the need for an event like this extends beyond the university. With the rise in the demand for Artificial Intelligence, coupled with local socio-economic factors affecting the labour market, there is a need for African youth to be sensitised on the skills and character they need to have successful careers, either as changemakers within an existing organisation or as entrepreneurs taking on the financial risk to make a tangible impact. Covenant University's Alumni Career Fair was one such event.
What went down
The event began with an opening prayer and the national anthem. This was followed immediately by welcoming remarks from Sophia Ukoni, vice president (careers) of the alumni association. In her energetic address, she emphasised the human and relational side of career development, encouraging all present to make lasting connections. She urged everyone to look beyond the employer stands and pay attention to those seated beside them, citing how many alumni have testified that it was through the alumni community that they were able to advance in their career paths, thus reinforcing the points made earlier.
The next speaker was the president of the alumni community, Mr Segun Aremu. In his speech, he described his "dreams" for what he called the alumni community, declaring that he sees Covenant University alumni making a tremendous impact across different mountains of influence, both at home and abroad. In the style of Martin Luther King Jr., he enumerated these dreams by beginning with the phrase “I have a dream.”
Like his vice president, Mr Aremu emphasised the role of the community. He charged the audience to strengthen and support one another, for in this unity lies the power to transform Africa and indeed the whole world. In his own words, "I have a dream that the Eagle Nation will inspire Africa."
Keynote Address: Shaping the Future of Work.
No sooner had the audience recovered from the powerful words of Mr Aremu than they were hit with the keynote address by Mr Bode Roberts, alumnus and CEO of Dataleum. This company won the 2026 Tech Impact Awards for Business in the Tech Education & EdTech category.
Drawing on his personal and professional experience, he spoke about the need for resilience in the face of setbacks. He emphasised the importance of employees bringing value to the workplace.
He noted that due to the advent of AI and other emerging technologies, the business environment had become volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. He made it clear that the professionals who would survive would be those who had deep expertise in the core area combined with broad skill sets, an ability he referred to as the “T-shaped” skill set.
However, this expertise is not enough; Mr Roberts also emphasised the use of AI to improve workflows, stating that AI must become a business partner with whom we can create tremendous value.
Mr Roberts called for a shift from an activity-based mindset to an accomplishment-based mindset, stating that the current career landscape has shifted from credentials to capabilities. Employers expect evidence of the impact you can bring before they hire you.
In closing, he provided a framework for building careers aptly acronymed as B.U.I.L.D :
B: Believe in yourself
U: Understanding yourself and what you need to get to where you want to be
I: Influence those around you by showcasing your value
L: Leverage your skills and relationships
D: Deliver and outpace
First Panellist Session: New World of Work.
Immediately after the keynote address, the profiles of the panellists for the first panel session were called out. The wealth of experience hidden in the profiles read was soon revealed to all as the panellists answered questions with grace and wisdom. The theme of the panel sessions was "New world of work: Navigating AI, Innovation and the future of industry." During the session, the participants all expressed how valuable a tool AI can be: it reduces costs, shortens processing times, increases efficiency, and improves output. However, they also highlighted the dangers and disadvantages of using AI. These include AI's lack of nuance, critical thinking, and judgment, as well as cybercrime opportunities that have arisen with the advent of AI. In short, tomorrow's trailblazers must keep pace with a rapidly changing landscape and use the technology driving this change to stay relevant.
AI might take that current job from you, but AI is not going to be the reason why you are jobless
These were the exact words of the vibrant young woman who spoke after the first panel session, captivating the audience with her presence and charm. Celestina Dike, an employer brand manager at Moniepoint (one of Africa's leading microfinance banks), spoke about how to remain relevant in the age of AI. She first drew our minds back to the industrial revolutions, demonstrating that those who remained in business during those periods were those who chose to adapt rather than ignore or worry. She indicated that the AI revolution was no different from those revolutions, except that we are now called not just to work with machines but also to think with them.
Mrs Dike identified 4Rs that would help professionals remain relevant not just to their workplace but wherever they find themselves. They are
R1 - Be Realistic. Identify your current skill set and whether emerging technology will become a threat or an opportunity for growth
R2 - Recognise. Identify opportunities to either showcase your skills or acquire new ones.
R3 - Be Ready. Never let an opportunity meet you unprepared
R4 - Reposition. Communicate your achievements clearly, using relevant metrics to demonstrate the depth of your impact.
Connecting for Careers: Employer Booth Meet-up
Following Mrs Dike's speech was the employer's booth section, where big companies such as Coca-Cola, Olam Agri, Kuda Microfinance Bank, and others came to recruit young talent from this world-renowned university. Swarms of recent graduates flooded these booths, asking insightful questions and doing their best to position themselves for a fruitful career. This time also served as an intensive networking session: old connections were rekindled, and new ones sparked into flame. It was a joy to see young people putting what they had just learned into practice.
Second Panellist Session: Building Africa's Workforce for Tomorrow.
The next major session after the employer booth session was the second panellist session. Just like the first, the speakers shared timeless wisdom from their years of experience that is relevant to our current day and age. Speaking on the theme "Building Africa's workforce for tomorrow: Unlocking talent for an innovation-driven economy," the panellists identified two aspects for building Africa's workforce.
The first aspect addressed the issue from the employee's standpoint. Prospective employees were advised to take advantage of this season of their lives to learn relevant skills and take up apprenticeships. They were charged not to shy away from the "grunt work", and most of the panel testified to their apprenticeship season being where they learned the skills that have brought them to the top management position they occupy today.
The second aspect addressed the theme from the employer's standpoint. Employers were asked to position their firms to attract local and international labour. One way presented was for companies to offer attractive employee remuneration packages that meet global standards.
A key takeaway from this session for both employers and employees was that learning should be treated as a key performance indicator. SMART learning goals ought to be set by both individual employees and whole organisations to ensure they remain relevant in their industry.
Rounding Up
After the second panel session, the vice president (membership and development) of Landmark University's alumni association delivered a closing address, recognising and lauding the career fair while also highlighting Landmark's achievements. The event was eventually brought to a close by the immediate past dean of student affairs of Covenant University, Mrs Shola Coker.
It’s Time for Africa
This event is a testament to the greatness that will soon emerge from Africa. Many alumni who attended this career fair testify to the clarity and capacity they gained from the sessions and networking opportunities. Africa is set to emerge as the next world hegemon, and the African Students Gazette remains committed to documenting that journey every step of the way.
