Academics have called on Nigerian students to embrace entrepreneurship, digital literacy and employability skills as practical responses to unemployment and the fast-changing world of work.

The call was made at the inaugural career fair organised by Kola Daisi University, Ibadan (KDU-I), to equip final-year students with practical knowledge, direct industry exposure, and entrepreneurial insights ahead of graduation.

The event brought together academics, industry professionals and university officials to engage students on what is required to thrive after school.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Entrepreneurial skills and enterprise,’ Dr Jonathan Ikeolumba, a scholar at the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), said Nigeria’s unemployment challenge demands a fundamental shift in mindset from job seeking to job creation.

Ikeolumba noted that the structure of the labour market cannot accommodate the growing number of graduates churned out each year.

He pointed out that entrepreneurship remains the most viable solution to the country’s employment crisis, as it enables graduates to create value rather than wait for existing opportunities.

Ikeolumba urged students to start small and leverage technology as a low-cost entry point into business.

He noted that digital tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) have significantly reduced the financial and technical barriers that previously made it difficult for young people to start businesses.

According to him, a smartphone and internet access can serve as the foundation for building solutions and reaching customers.

He defined entrepreneurship as problem-solving and encouraged students to view every challenge in their environment as a potential business opportunity.

The university teacher also stressed the need for resilience, warning that failure is an integral part of the entrepreneurial journey.

He told the students that no successful business person has a record free of setbacks, and that the ability to take risks and recover from failure distinguishes those who succeed.

Ikeolumba further emphasised financial discipline, structured business planning and continuous self-development as non-negotiable habits for anyone pursuing enterprise.

He cautioned against impulsive spending and urged students to adopt disciplined financial management from the outset.

He also highlighted marketing and communication skills as essential life tools, explaining that individuals are constantly “selling themselves” in job interviews, business pitches and everyday interactions.

Delivering a lecture on ‘Employability Skills,’ former acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Adebola Ekanola, observed that technological advancement is rapidly reshaping the global workplace.

The transformation, he said, is creating new job categories, while making some traditional roles obsolete.

He warned that students who fail to adapt to these changes risk redundancy in the modern labour market.

“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 stated.

He urged students to embrace continuous learning through reskilling and upskilling to remain relevant as job requirements evolve.

The newly appointed vice-chancellor for Kola Daisi University, Prof Olajumoke Morenikeji, said the fair was aimed at exposing students to industry experts and preparing them for life beyond the university.

She explained that the programme was deliberately tailored for final-year students to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world practice.

Earlier in the programme, the President of the university’s Directorate for Admission and Alumni Relations, Mrs Olasumbo Obaseki, noted that interaction with practitioners would help students understand the demands of the workplace and adjust their preparation accordingly.