BOARDROOMS MOVE TO IMOTA AS CALEB UNIVERSITY'S 2026 EMPLOYABILITY FAIR CONNECTS STUDENTS WITH CEOs, INDUSTRY LEADERS, EMPLOYERS OF LABOUR
…"Degrees open doors; skills keep them open," says Prof. Adesola Ajayi, DVC RISA
… As students secure employment prospects, internships, mentorship opportunities and lifelong corporate relationships…
For two remarkable days, the serene campus of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, transformed into one of Nigeria's most vibrant corporate engagement hubs as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), captains of industry, business executives, entrepreneurs, human resource professionals, recruiters, career coaches, opinion leaders and employers of labour converged on the University for the 2026 Caleb University Employability Fair, creating an unprecedented bridge between the classroom and the boardroom.
Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olalekan Asikhia, reaffirmed the University's unwavering commitment to producing graduates who are not merely certificate holders but innovative problem-solvers equipped to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy. He stressed that Caleb University's vision goes beyond awarding degrees to deliberately preparing graduates with the knowledge, character, practical competence and entrepreneurial mindset required by today's employers.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, employers should regard Caleb University graduates as strategic assets capable of driving organisational growth and innovation.
"Hiring a graduate of this University is not an act of charity or corporate social responsibility. It is a strategic business decision," Professor Asikhia declared, adding that Caleb graduates possess the adaptability, technological competence, resilience and leadership qualities required to excel in today's dynamic workplace.
The two-day fair, themed "Beyond the Degree: Unlocking Skills, Networks and Opportunities for a Dynamic Job Market," represented far more than another university programme. It was a deliberate institutional response to the growing demand for graduates who combine academic excellence with practical workplace competencies, professional confidence, digital literacy, innovation and emotional intelligence.
For the graduating students, the Employability Fair was a life-changing experience.
Rather than waiting until after graduation to begin searching for employment, they had the rare privilege of engaging directly with CEOs, managing directors, business owners, recruiters and senior executives from diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Welcoming participants on the opening day, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation, Strategy and Administration (RISA) and Chairman of the Employability Fair Planning Committee, Professor Adesola Adetutu Ajayi, reminded students that while degrees create opportunities, practical skills sustain careers, "degrees open doors; skills keep them open," she advised, urging the graduating students to maximise every interaction with the visiting organisations.
Throughout the two-day exercise, the University's Multipurpose Hall became a bustling marketplace of ideas, opportunities and professional relationships as students moved confidently from one corporate exhibition booth to another, introducing themselves, presenting their credentials, discussing career aspirations and participating in one-on-one interactions with prospective employers.
The atmosphere reflected a unique convergence of academia and industry.
Indeed, the boardrooms came to Caleb University. Corporate executives who would ordinarily conduct recruitment exercises from their corporate headquarters temporarily relocated to the University's Imota campus, where they interviewed students, assessed competencies, shared practical career insights and identified promising talents for immediate and future employment.
Many participating organisations offered internship placements, graduate trainee opportunities, mentorship programmes, career coaching, internship referrals, professional networking opportunities and long-term corporate relationships. Several students participated in preliminary job interviews and aptitude assessments, while many left the fair with valuable contacts expected to shape their professional journeys long after graduation.
The event reinforced the growing recognition that in today's knowledge-driven economy, employability extends far beyond possessing a university degree. Employers increasingly seek graduates who demonstrate communication skills, teamwork, creativity, adaptability, leadership capacity, digital competence, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities and emotional intelligence.
On the second day, Professor Ajayi further emphasised that Nigeria possesses abundant talent but lacks sufficient platforms that connect such talent with opportunities.
"Talent is not our problem in Nigeria. Opportunities and connections are," she stated, explaining that the Employability Fair was intentionally designed to bridge that gap by bringing employers, entrepreneurs, career coaches and graduates together under one roof.
The keynote sessions further enriched the intellectual value of the programme.
The Principal Consultant, Nathan Leadgate Limited, Dr. Olumuyiwa Akinrole Oludayo, challenged participants to understand that the future workplace would increasingly reward continuous learning, adaptability and leadership rather than academic qualifications alone.
According to him, leadership experiences acquired through campus activities, volunteer engagements and extracurricular responsibilities often distinguish outstanding candidates during recruitment processes.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer, Glanvil Enthoven Insurance Brokers and Pension, Dr. Supo Falana, equipped participants with practical strategies for succeeding in aptitude tests and employment interviews. He encouraged students to intentionally develop skills aligned with their passions while embracing constructive feedback as an essential ingredient for continuous improvement.
Also speaking, the Founder of SEED Care and Support Foundation, Mrs. Olanrewaju Oniyitan, challenged students to build strong personal values before pursuing professional success.
According to her, competence alone is insufficient without integrity, resilience, emotional intelligence and trustworthiness.
"The greatest competitive advantage is not your certificate; it is the person you become," she remarked.
The 2026 Fair, beyond employment opportunities, created an invaluable ecosystem for networking, mentorship, knowledge exchange, innovation and corporate engagement, also reaffirmed Caleb University's enduring philosophy that education must transcend classroom instruction by intentionally preparing graduates for lifelong relevance, leadership and meaningful societal impact. It further reflects the University's commitment to producing graduates with sound theoretical knowledge reinforced by practical skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and the capacity to compete successfully in an ever-evolving global economy.
In a press statement, the Principal Information and Media Expert of Caleb University, Mr. Olawale Adekoya, described the Employability Fair as one of the University's most strategic investments in the future of its students.
"Caleb University continues to redefine university education by dismantling the traditional barriers between academia and industry, bringing corporate boardrooms directly to the campus and providing students with exceptional opportunities to engage employers before graduation. Beyond the internships, mentorships and employment opportunities facilitated during the fair, its greatest achievement lies in exposing students to the realities of the modern workplace while fostering enduring professional relationships capable of shaping successful careers."
Industry experts and academics observed that the overwhelming participation of CEOs, business leaders, recruiters and employers of labour further demonstrates the growing confidence Corporate Nigeria continues to repose in the quality, competence and character of Caleb University graduates.
As the curtains fell on the two-day 2026 Caleb University Employability Fair, one message resonated across the University community: at Caleb University, graduation is no longer viewed as the end of learning, but as the beginning of purposeful careers, lifelong professional relationships and limitless opportunities.
Signed
Olawale Adekoya
Principal Information and Media Expert
Caleb University, Lagos.
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06/08/2026
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations CALEB UNIVERSITY VC DELIVERS ANOTHER LANDMARK KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT HISTORIC CITADEL SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT INAUGURAL CONVOCATION; PASTOR TUNDE BAKARE'S VISION FOR NATIONAL REBIRTH EARNS WIDESPREAD COMMENDATION
Caleb University Imota Lagos has celebrated yet another defining moment in its growing tradition of academic excellence as its Vice Chancellor, Professor Olalekan Usiobaifo Asikhia, delivered the keynote address at the historic inaugural graduation ceremony of the Citadel School of Government (CSG), founded by renowned statesman, cleric and public intellectual, Pastor Tunde Bakare.
The Citadel School of Government, founded by Pastor Tunde Bakare, also drew significant commendation for its vision and purpose. Pastor Bakare, a gentleman of God, widely respected for his advocacy of constitutional governance and ethical leadership, has consistently positioned the institution as a platform for raising a new generation of principled leaders.
Speaking on the vision behind the school, Pastor Tunde Bakare stated: "We are raising leaders who will not merely occupy office but rebuild the foundations of governance and restore the dignity of public service."
The establishment of the Citadel School of Government has been described as a timely intervention in Nigeria’s leadership development space, offering structured training aimed at equipping participants with the competence, character and courage required for public service and nation-building.
The initiative aligns closely with broader efforts to strengthen leadership capacity across Africa through values-driven education, practical governance exposure and ethical formation.
Delivering his keynote lecture titled "Leadership, Innovation and Institutional Excellence: Preparing Change-Makers for a Competitive and Disruptive World," the Vice Chancellor challenged the pioneer graduands to reject leadership driven by personal ambition and instead commit themselves to building enduring institutions capable of outliving individual office holders.
Prof. Olalekan Asikhia,a distinguished cerebral and globally acclaimed Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, declared that Nigeria's greatest developmental challenge is not the absence of human or natural resources but the persistent weakness of institutions, policy implementation and ethical leadership. He maintained that sustainable national development can only be achieved through strong institutions founded on integrity, accountability, innovation, transparency and strategic long-term planning.
In one of the most compelling moments of the lecture, he presented a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of Nigeria's governance ecosystem using international governance indices, corruption perception reports, institutional performance assessments and global competitiveness rankings. He argued that rebuilding public confidence requires leaders who possess vision, competence and the courage to strengthen systems rather than personalise power.
He urged the graduands to embrace ethical leadership, servant leadership, innovation, evidence-based policymaking, digital transformation, institutional excellence, strategic foresight and policy entrepreneurship, stressing that future leaders must become solution providers capable of identifying governance gaps, designing innovative policies and building coalitions that produce measurable national impact.
Drawing lessons from the remarkable transformations recorded in Singapore, Rwanda, Germany, South Africa and the United States, he demonstrated how visionary leadership, institutional reforms, investment in education, technology, entrepreneurship and human capital have enabled nations to overcome significant historical challenges and achieve sustainable development.
He equally emphasised the indispensable role of universities and leadership institutions in producing competent leaders, insisting that higher education must move beyond awarding certificates to deliberately developing character, courage, innovation, ethical values and practical problem-solving capacities required for nation-building.
Professor Asikhia further challenged educational institutions to become incubators of leadership excellence by producing graduates capable of influencing governance, strengthening public institutions, stimulating economic growth and driving sustainable development across Africa.
He concluded by reminding the graduating class that the true legacy of leadership is measured not by the offices occupied but by the quality of institutions established, the systems strengthened and the opportunities created for future generations.
The ceremony also featured remarks from key stakeholders, including Pastor Tunde Bakare, who reaffirmed the mission of the Citadel School of Government and its long-term commitment to national renewal through leadership development.
Speaking after the event, he added: "The future of any nation is secured not by chance, but by the intentional preparation of men and women who understand responsibility, sacrifice and service."
In a press statement, the Principal Information and Media Expert of Caleb University, Mr. Olawale Adekoya affirmed that the University is proud of Professor Olalekan Asikhia's growing national and international recognition as a scholar and administrator. Noting that the invitation as keynote speaker at the pioneer graduation ceremony of the Citadel School of Government reflects the confidence in the Vice Chancellor's intellectual depth and leadership.
The historic ceremony attracted distinguished personalities from government, academia, the private sector, civil society and development organisations, including the Founder and Chairman of the Citadel School of Government, Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Executive Director, Mr. Omoaholo Omoakhalen, faculty members, partners from the University of Lagos Business School, parents, guardians and the pioneer graduates of the Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft (ADPLS).
Signed
Olawale Adekoya
Principal Information and Media Expert
Pastor Tunde Bakare Tunde Awe PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE Damilola Mike Bamiloye Lekan Asikhia Olawale Adekoya fans Pastor John Anosike Sophia Oyovwe Abiri Franklin Caleb University, Lagos. University of Lagos Nigerian Institute of Journalism The Institute of Professional Sociologists-IPS Nigeria @
05/08/2026
_Dear Esteemed Partners_,
On behalf of Caleb University, we express our profound gratitude for your invaluable partnership toward the *2026 Employability Fair*.
🚀 *TODAY IS D-DAY!*
As we explore the theme _"Beyond the Degree: Unlocking Skills, Networks and Opportunities for a Dynamic Job Market_," your presence and active participation are crucial to inspiring and preparing our final-year undergraduates.
📍 Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM
All partners and speakers are fully expected on ground today.
We look forward to receiving you and hosting a transformative event together!
Warm regards,
_Caleb University 2026 Employability Fair Committee_
04/08/2026
CUL 2026 EMPLOYABILITY FAIR
DAY ONE... DONE & DUSTED! ✅
What an inspiring and impactful start to the Caleb University 2026 Employability Fair!
From insightful career sessions and engaging discussions to networking opportunities and industry interactions,
Day One was truly memorable.
🎥 Watch the video and browse the pictures that tell the story of an exciting first day.
But we're not done yet!
📅 Tomorrow, Wednesday, 5th August 2026, is the Grand Finale (Day Two) of the Employability Fair.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn, connect and prepare for the future of work.
📍Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos.
💻 Can't make it physically?
Join us LIVE via the Caleb University page and be part of the experience from anywhere.
See you tomorrow for an even bigger and better finale!
Signed
Olawale Adekoya
Principal Information and Media Expert
Caleb University, Lagos.
03/08/2026
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03/08/2026
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03/08/2026
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03/08/2026
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