UNILAG Reaffirms Commitment to Industry-Ready Graduates with Maiden Workplace Preparedness Forum

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has reaffirmed its resolve to produce graduates equipped for the realities of the modern workplace as it hosted the maiden edition of the Workplace Preparedness Interactive Forum on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

The event, held at the Tayo Aderinokun Hall on the Akoka Campus, was organised by the Office of Advancement and themed “From Lecture Room to Boardroom.” It attracted a large and enthusiastic audience of students across all levels, with a particularly strong presence of final-year students from departments within the Faculty of Management Sciences.

According to Akahi News, the forum was conceived as a practical bridge between academic learning and professional life, aimed at exposing students to the vast professional and entrepreneurial opportunities embedded in their courses of study, while grounding them in the values, orientation, and mindset required to thrive beyond the university environment.

Bridging Academia and the World of Work

Beyond career talks, the interactive session underscored UNILAG’s growing emphasis on alumni engagement as a strategic tool for mentoring, inspiration, and institutional development. Participants were encouraged to see alumni not just as success stories, but as accessible guides whose lived experiences offer practical roadmaps for career navigation.

Two distinguished alumni of the Faculty of Management Sciences served as keynote speakers at the forum: Dr. Samuel Ogbodu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sunu Assurances Limited, and Mr. Segun Odusanya, Managing Director of First Securities Discount House (FSDH). Both delivered what many students described as candid, practical, and deeply inspiring masterclasses on career building and personal development.

Odusanya Shares Lessons from a Transformational Journey

The first keynote speaker, Mr. Segun Odusanya, reflected on his personal journey at the University of Lagos, recalling his arrival as a 17-year-old freshman and his early struggles as a self-described “distracted JAMBITE.” He shared how a disappointing first-year academic performance became a turning point that forced him to refocus, recover academically, and eventually graduate as a University Scholar with multiple awards.

Drawing from decades of experience in the African financial services sector—including his rapid rise to Director level at Standard Chartered Bank and his deployment to manage operations across five East African countries—Mr. Odusanya outlined five core values he said students must deliberately cultivate alongside technical competence. These values, he listed, are discipline, focus, integrity, teamwork and consideration for others, and multicultural awareness.

“Whatever you have to do, you must set your mind to it,” he charged the students. “Have a clear goal for your studentship at the University of Lagos and pursue it with devotion and commitment.” He stressed that these values, rather than brilliance alone, were the attributes that enabled him to leave every organisation he served “better than I met it.”

In a moment that drew loud applause, Akahi News gathered that Mr. Odusanya announced his decision to give back to his alma mater by endowing a prize for the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Business Administration. He explained that the prize would come with a financial reward substantial enough to support the recipient’s chosen career path, whether in corporate advancement or entrepreneurship. He described the initiative as a way of honouring “the University and Department that gave me so much.”

Ogbodu Highlights Power of Relationships and Mentorship

Taking the stage next, Dr. Samuel Ogbodu expressed appreciation to the Office of Advancement, UNILAG, for what he described as “a timely and purposeful programme.” He urged students to approach their university experience intentionally, advising them to “go through the University and let the University go through you.”

Sharing how he transformed perceived personal liabilities into lifelong assets, Dr. Ogbodu highlighted the strategic importance of mentors and healthy relationships. He recounted how credibility built during his time as a student leader at UNILAG later translated into career-defining opportunities. According to him, an encounter with industry leaders—who turned out to be former classmates and friends—marked a turning point in his professional life.

“That was how I moved from the back office to the front office, became the face of my company, and gained the exposure that accelerated my career growth,” he said, adding humorously that the same network was “even how I met my wife.”

Emphasising relationships as a critical career currency, Dr. Ogbodu advised students to be intentional about peer connections, noting that today’s classmates would soon become tomorrow’s collaborators, clients, and partners. He also urged participants to study organisational culture upon entering any workplace, stressing that understanding whether an environment is customer-centric, professional, or legalistic is key to thriving within it.

Like his co-speaker, he underscored the importance of teamwork, honesty, and integrity. “Let transparency and integrity be your identity,” he charged. “They will always aid you and vindicate you.” He further encouraged students to develop resilience, confront challenges head-on, and nurture business ideas early, reminding them that while the job market is competitive, many graduates are destined not just to be employees, but job creators.

On a lighter note, the insurance executive disclosed his bias for graduates of the University of Lagos during recruitment, affirming the quality, adaptability, and value UNILAG alumni consistently bring to organisations across Africa. He concluded by announcing an endowment for the Department of Actuarial Sciences and Insurance, drawing cheers from participants.

Vice-Chancellor Commends Initiative, Urges Students to Maximise Opportunity

Earlier in the programme, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, delivered opening remarks through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Afolabi Lesi, FAS. He commended the Director of the Office of Advancement, Dr. Taiwo Ipaye, FNIM, for leadership “marked by innovation and growing alumni engagement.”

Professor Lesi assured the speakers that their counsel would “fall on fertile ground,” citing UNILAG’s robust entrepreneurship culture and the critical role of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre (ESDC) in producing problem-solvers and value creators—many of whom, he noted, already own thriving businesses.

He urged students to take full advantage of the rare mentorship opportunity offered by the forum, describing the insights shared as assets that would remain valuable long after graduation.

Heads of the Departments of Actuarial Sciences and Insurance, and Finance—Professor Sulaimon Adeleke and Dr. Shiro—who were also present, encouraged students to fully embrace the guidance offered by the speakers.

Proceedings at the event were moderated by the Director of the Office of Advancement, Dr. Taiwo Ipaye, who challenged participants to actively network with the speakers and members of their professional teams.

Investing in Holistic Student Development

The forum also featured a lively question-and-answer session, with students engaging both speakers in an atmosphere of openness and humour. Observers say the exchange further reinforced UNILAG’s strong Town-and-Gown philosophy and its culture of alumni mentorship.

With the successful hosting of the maiden edition of the Workplace Preparedness Interactive Forum, Akahi News gathered that the University of Lagos has once again demonstrated its deliberate investment in the holistic development of its students—preparing them not only to graduate, but to lead, create value, and excel long after they leave the classroom.

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News. Read more about him here.
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