The Federal Government has highlighted the importance of self-improvement and adaptability, stressing that a major challenge facing job seekers was the gap between the skills they possess and the skills in demand.
  
The Head of Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Lagos, Maureen Ovie, said this during the 2024 Job Fair, organised by the National Electronic Labour Exchange (NELEX), with the theme ‘The Role of Technology in Job Search, Career Development, and its effect on Migration’, held at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Lagos, which saw over 500 job seekers, organisations, and employers in attendance.  
  
She said the event was aimed at fulfilling the Federal Government’s commitment to having the youth gainfully employed and also reducing the unemployment rate in the country.
  
She said the idea was to bring job seekers and employers together and create a conducive environment for them to meet while addressing the youth directly and encouraging them to embrace technology.
   
Ovie emphasized the crucial role that technology plays in the modern-day job search and career development landscape in the country, urging job seekers to fully embrace technological tools and platforms in their search efforts for career growth and quick employment opportunities.  
  
According to her, the evolving job market increasingly rewards those who can leverage digital resources, such as professional networking sites, online job boards, and virtual career-building workshops, to enhance their visibility and connect with potential employers. 
  
She stressed that by embracing technology, job seekers could improve their chances of not only finding jobs urgently but also positioning themselves competitively in their chosen fields.
  
“The world has gone beyond carrying a CV about with outdated qualifications; we need to upgrade, upskill, and develop. Self-development is the differentiator that allows job seekers to secure better opportunities and career advancement,” Ovie said.

She revealed that the initiative, which started in 2016, had provided over 100 jobs to job seekers, provided paid internships to over 50 persons, and trained over 3500 graduates and job seekers in employability and vocational skills within seven years.
  
Delivering the keynote speech, the Employment and Migration Officer at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Austin Erameh, charged the participants to continuously upgrade their skills, emphasising that it is the key to staying relevant in an ever-evolving job market.
  
He stressed that in today’s fast-paced world, individuals must be proactive in enhancing their skill sets to meet the demands of modern workplaces, particularly as technological advancements continue to reshape industries. 
  
He highlighted the vast opportunities that technology has unlocked in the area of job search and career development, identifying four key benefits, which include accessibility, availability, global reach, and lifelong learning opportunities.
  
Austin Erameh encouraged the participants to embrace these opportunities and leverage technology to advance their careers, noting that those who take the initiative to acquire new skills and adapt to technological trends would be the ones to thrive in the future of work. At the fair, many of the job seekers were connected to employers with better and more lucrative jobs.