Entrepreneurship, digital skills panacea to growing unemployment, stakeholders tell students

…as KolaDaisi varsity holds inaugural career fair

Stakeholders in the education sector have advised students to embrace entrepreneurship, digital literacy and employability skills as panacea to growing unemployment and underemployment crisis in the Country.

Speaking at the Inaugural Career Fair 2026, organised by the KolaDaisi University, Ibadan [KDU-I] to equip final-year students with practical knowledge, industry exposure and entrepreneurial insights ahead of graduation, Olajumoke Morenikeji, Professor and the Vice Chancellor-designate of KolaDaisi University, Ibadan [KDU-I], Jonathan Ikeolumba, a Scholar at the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), and Adebola Ekanola, Professor and former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), emphasised on the rapidly changing world of work and work place, hence, the need to acquire vocational skills to help them to navigate the challenges of the modern economy.

Speaking on the theme, ’’Entrepreneurial Skills and Enterprise’’, Ikeolumba stated that the country’s unemployment challenge required a shift in mindset from job seeking to job creation stressing that the “jobs are simply not there. We have the capacity to produce about 50 million employable people, but we do not have the capacity to create jobs for all of them.”

While saying that the labour market could not absorb the rising number of graduates, he noted that entrepreneurship remains the most viable solution to the country’s employment crisis.

The guest lecturer explained that entrepreneurship thrives on problem-solving, stating that every challenge presents an opportunity for innovation and enterprise.

“Every problem you see is an opportunity to create a business. You can start with your phone. Technology has made it easier than ever to build solutions and create value. No successful businessman has not failed. You must learn to take risks and build a resilient mindset,” he added.

He emphasised the importance of financial discipline, business planning and continuous self-development, urging students to avoid impulsive spending and embrace structured financial management and also highlighted marketing and communication skills as essential life tools, noting that individuals constantly “sell themselves” in different aspects of life.

He however urged students to start small, leverage technology and embrace innovation, noting that digital tools such as artificial intelligence have significantly reduced barriers to starting businesses but advised them to develop resilience, warning that failure is often part of the journey to success in entrepreneurship.

Ekanola, former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan who spoke on Employability Skills, described employability as a blend of knowledge, skills, attitudes and attributes required to function effectively in any role.

Stating that technological advancement is reshaping the global workplace, creating new opportunities while making some traditional jobs obsolete added that “in the 21st century, students must acquire digital, technical and soft skills. Soft skills such as communication, critical thinking and emotional intelligence often determine employability outcomes,” he said.

Ekanola urged students to embrace continuous learning, including reskilling and upskilling, to remain relevant in a technology-driven world and warned that failure to adapt to technological changes could lead to redundancy in the modern labour market.

Morenikeji, the Vice Chancellor-designate of KolaDaisi University, Ibadan [KDU-I] said the initiative was designed to expose students to industry experts and prepare the students for life beyond the university system.

The professor noted that the programme was deliberately tailored for final-year students to help them transition from academic learning to real-world practice.

“We bring experts to interface with our final-year students to gear them up in entrepreneurship. It is an impactful programme designed to prepare them for what lies ahead after graduation,” she said.

Earlier, Olasumbo Obaseki,, the President of the Directorate for Admission and Alumni Relations of the university, said the programme was aimed at preparing students for life after graduation by exposing them to industry realities and professional expectations.

Industry partners and participating organisations for the event included Chapel Hill Denham, Leadway Assurance, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Idea Consult Ltd, IITA, Abbey Bank, Stanbic IBTC, FCMB, and Evans Ltd.

Others are New Horizon, Skot Communications, Higherlife Properties Consult Ltd, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Mobile Screens and Sound Ltd, Innovation Microfinance Bank and Access to Basic Medical Care Foundation.