Stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector have urged young people to look beyond academic certificates and concentrate on creating value through practical skills, problem-solving, and personal enterprise.

The call was made at the “Gown to Town” workshop organised by Edike Foundation at the Julius Berger Hall, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The programme, themed ‘Beyond the Certificate: Mastering value creation,’ was designed as a workplace-readiness initiative for undergraduates, graduands, and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Delivering the keynote address titled ‘Youth, nation-building, and the value economy: Nigeria’s next chapter,’ the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Feyisayo Alayande, challenged graduates to rethink how they approach the labour market.

She said the current economic environment demands more than paper qualifications and requires young people who can identify problems and build solutions around them.

Alayande highlighted LSETF’s work over the past decade. She noted that the fund has supported 20,000 businesses, disbursed N15 billion in loans, and created 320,000 jobs across Lagos State. According to her, those figures demonstrate that opportunities exist, but young people must be equipped to take advantage of them.

She stressed that five key enablers are critical to unlocking youth potential: access to finance, skills, markets, infrastructure, and technology. Without these, she said, ambition alone is not enough to translate into sustainable livelihoods.

“People do not always lack ambition; sometimes they lack access,” she said. Alayande also spoke on the role of technology in driving employment and enterprise.

She cited Lagos Innovates, an LSETF initiative that has supported hundreds of tech entrepreneurs and helped create thousands of jobs. She, however, cautioned that technology should not be seen as an end in itself.

“Technology is not the destination. Technology is the accelerator. The goal is value,” she affirmed.

She called on young Nigerians to see themselves as economic actors from today, not as people waiting for the future.

She asked them to consider what value they could create from the opportunities available to them and to take responsibility for shaping their careers and communities. Alayande urged educational institutions to match youth ambition with enabling structures.

She said nation-building does not happen only in politics, but also in classrooms, factories, farms, and startups where young people apply their knowledge to real problems.

The Executive Director of Edike Foundation, Oluwatimileyin Akinola, also addressed participants.

He echoed Alayande’s message and warned that higher education certificates alone no longer guarantee success in today’s evolving labour market.

He said employers are increasingly prioritising soft skills, personal character, and a sense of long-term purpose over academic titles.

Akinola advised young graduates to balance entrepreneurial aspirations with realistic career paths.

He noted that many corporate organisations are willing to train new recruits on technical skills, provided the candidates demonstrate discipline, adaptability and a strong work ethic.

He encouraged students to discover their core purpose early, saying clarity of vision gives direction and helps young people stay focused despite economic challenges.

He added that purpose, combined with practical competence, is what makes graduates stand out in competitive job markets.

The workshop drew 176 registered participants from various tertiary institutions.

The sessions included mentorship conversations, interactive discussions, and practical guidance on transitioning from school to work.

Beyond mentorship, Edike Foundation also provides direct financial support to undergraduates facing hardship. The foundation covers tuition fees and provides monthly living stipends for students who have lost a parent, as part of its commitment to ensuring that financial constraints do not cut short academic journeys.

Organisers said the “Gown to Town” workshop will be sustained as part of efforts to bridge the gap between academic learning and workplace expectations, and to encourage a new generation of Nigerians who prioritise value creation over credentials alone.