Shift in job market sparks call for education, career rethink

…as ‘The Ultimate Pathways Fair’ kicked off in Lekki, Lagos

Education experts have urged Nigerian students to embrace diverse learning and career pathways and be ready to apply their skills, stressing that success in one’s profession no longer follows a single route.

The experts made the call at ‘The Ultimate Pathways Fair’ by Plumptre Advisory, a school placement services organisation, held on Friday, September 26, and Saturday, September 27, at Lekki, Lagos, amid a growing emphasis on skills-based education in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Daniel Emenahor, head of higher education at the British Council, in his keynote address, said there is high demand for skills in the education and career trajectory of students.

“About two million students are graduating from Nigerian high schools every year. Out of that two million, only about 700,000 get into higher education in Nigeria.

“The question is what happens to the 1,300 students? So you will see that there’s a demand for higher education, and the competition is real. It’s important that you recognise that there is competition and there’s high demand for your skills,” he said.

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Yemisi Ogunlade, principal consultant at Plumptre Advisory, in her address, explained that the inspiration behind the fair comes from the countless conversations with parents who want the best for their children but often feel overwhelmed by the sheer range of options available.

“We are concerned about the number of students we encountered who still haven’t finalised their school search and applications by their graduating year.

“We wanted to create a one-stop platform where students and families can meet schools directly, ask questions, and receive guidance, all in a trusted, supportive environment. We believe that access to the right information at the right time empowers students and parents to make confident decisions for the future,” she said.

Ogunlade emphasised that the fair is for parents, students, and school officers whose roles involve supporting transitions and pathways.

“For parents, it is an opportunity to engage with a wide range of schools suited to the next stage of schooling for their child.

“For students, it inspires as they explore different pathways, and for schools, it creates visibility in a competitive landscape while fostering collaboration. At its core, the fair is about connection, bringing together families and institutions in a meaningful way,” she said.

Lai Koiki, chairperson of the Association of Private Educators in Nigeria, said the education landscape is changing very fast around the world, and there is a need to strengthen the bridge between local talents and international opportunities.

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Koiki emphasised that the fair is a chance for parents to gather insight that will guide them to make important decisions about their children’s future.

“This kind of fair is a signal that Nigeria’s schools are not standing still. We’re forward-looking and committed to preparing students who are globally competitive and locally grounded.

“For schools, it’s an opportunity to build connections and strengthen the bridge between local talent and global opportunities. Nigeria continues to be one of the largest sources of international students worldwide. Our young people are curious, they are capable, and ambitious,” she said.

The plenary session anchored by Rotimi Eyitayo, the chief executive officer at Teammasters Ltd, titled ‘Dynamics of Career Path’ had experts share experiences on how to pilot one’s academic and career paths.

Temi Popoola, group managing director of Nigerian Exchange Group, speaking on how students can balance academic and real-world experiences, said, “It’s okay not to have it figured out. Academic excellence doesn’t always amount to real-life excellence.”

He encouraged the students to be hungry to excel in life. Besides, he said it is ideal to discover what one is good at and the values that drive one to succeed.

Titi Adewusi, co-founder of 9ijakids, emphasised that to succeed in the contemporary era, tech skills are not optional.

“The challenge is to learn how to use technology, and not just to watch TikTok, but how to use it.

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“Tech is distorting and reshaping every profession and career; hence, it’s not optional but compulsory that you acquire tech skills,” she emphasised.

Hannatu Adegboyega, vice-president of sales of EMTECH, highlighted that the current gap in the job market is due to a lack of communication skills among many.

She urges young people to work in structured organisations to gain relationship skills.

“It’s not what you, it’s how you apply it that matters,” she said.

Many institutions from Nigeria, the USA, the UK, and Canada hosted their stands at the fair, such as Rugby School Nigeria; Oxbridge Tutorial College; Maple Canadian College, Mayfield School, Sussex; ChristChurch School, USA; University of Regina International, Canada; and Saint Louis University, among others.