‘Jobberman’s career clinic has exposed me to emerging opportunities in tech, remote work’ — Participant

• L–R: Innih Ikhide, Head of Youth Engagement and Learning, Jobberman; Hon. Ikoedem Ekong, Commissioner, Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning; Monica Inyang, Franchise Partner, Café One; Olamide Adeyeye, Country Head of Programmes, Jobberman Nigeria; Oladoyin Kolawole, Strategy Lead, Jobberman; Babajide Anjorin, Head of Marketing, Jobberman

A final-year Mathematics Education student of the University of Uyo, Mfoniso Solomon, has said the 2026 Akwa Ibom Career Clinic exposed her to emerging opportunities in technology, artificial intelligence and remote work, while helping her overcome some of the confidence challenges that had affected her career journey.

Solomon, who spoke with newsmen on Friday at the sideline of the career clinic organised by Jobberman in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation in Uyo, said the programme had broadened her understanding of the opportunities available in the technology space and encouraged her to use social media more productively.

She said she had struggled with limited confidence and a lack of mentorship since beginning her journey into the technology world, but the clinic helped her understand that there were several opportunities available beyond the conventional career paths.

According to her, the exposure to artificial intelligence and emerging opportunities in the digital economy had strengthened her determination to continue building relevant skills and exploring new career possibilities.

Solomon added that she would also explore the Akwa Ibom Employment Portal and other available platforms for career opportunities, saying the lessons from the clinic had given her a clearer understanding of the need to deliberately prepare for the future of work.

Similarly, Richard Pedro, a Geo-Informatics student of the University of Uyo, said the clinic had helped him understand the importance of developing a strong curriculum vitae, building digital skills and preparing for the changing demands of the workplace.

Pedro said the programme had made him realise that the transition from analogue systems to digital platforms required young people to constantly update their knowledge and acquire skills that would remain relevant in a rapidly changing employment environment.

He said the practical lessons from the clinic would help him approach interviews with greater confidence and develop greater consistency in his personal and professional growth.

Pedro also encouraged other young people to take advantage of Jobberman’s online learning opportunities and other platforms that could help them acquire relevant skills, build their capacity and improve their chances of securing decent employment.

The experiences of the two participants reflected the broader objective of the career clinic, which sought to prepare young Nigerians for emerging opportunities and the demands of an evolving world of work.

Earlier, the Country Head, Programmes, Jobberman, Mr Olamide Adeyeye, said the partnership between Jobberman and the Mastercard Foundation, which began in 2020, was designed to help young people secure decent work they could be proud of while contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.

Adeyeye challenged the participants to deliberately build relevant skills, strengthen their character and take responsibility for creating their future rather than waiting passively for opportunities.

He introduced the participants to the “ABC” approach to career advancement — Audit, Build and Consolidate — urging them to audit their skills and mindset, build relevant competencies and relationships, and consolidate their progress through collaboration and effective communication.

“Every young person is valuable to this country. Jobberman is interested in the future of young people in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria, and we want to help them get work they can be proud of and through which they can contribute positively to society,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, titled, “Blueprint for Success: Building Skills for the Future of Work,” Monica Inyang challenged the participants to take deliberate responsibility for their future, declaring: “Your future is not waiting for you; you create it.”

Inyang urged the youths to identify the problems they could solve, build relevant skills and embrace lifelong learning through workshops, books, online courses, internships and practical projects, stressing that confidence was developed through action rather than waiting to feel ready.

She warned them against allowing rejection, failure, limited resources or social media comparisons to define their future, urging them to audit their strengths, identify areas for improvement and consistently add value to themselves.

The keynote speaker further advised the youths to develop creativity, leadership, innovation and empathy alongside technical and digital competencies, noting that while skills could open doors, character, reliability, honesty, punctuality and teachability were essential to keeping those doors open.

Representing the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, the Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Hon. Ikoedem Ekong, said the career clinic aligned with the administration’s ARISE Agenda and its commitment to equipping young people with digital, vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

Ekong said the state had introduced initiatives including ARISE ICT, ARISE Youth Centres across the 31 local government areas and the Akwa Ibom Employment Portal to expand access to skills development and employment opportunities.

He added that the government was also working to ensure that companies operating in the state complied with local content provisions on employment quotas, stressing that the administration remained determined to tackle unemployment by preparing young people for the demands of the changing employment market.

The career clinic provided practical guidance on CV writing, interview performance, workplace readiness, professional confidence, digital skills and understanding the expectations of modern employers, alongside counselling, networking and interactive sessions.

The programme was organised by Jobberman in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation as part of efforts to prepare young Nigerians for decent work and the demands of an evolving employment landscape, with participants receiving career guidance, skills development, networking opportunities and practical exposure to emerging opportunities in the digital economy and future of work.