Emmanuel OluwadolaI
n partnership with Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Jobberman Nigeria, a non-profit organization set up free soft-skills training to help students enhance their employability after school.
Jobberman is a free online and offline soft skills training program focused on equipping young people between the ages of 18-30 with the right skills to compete in the Nigerian job market.
The training which started on the 25th of November 2022, will continue for three weeks, two days a week (Wednesdays & Fridays) between the hours of 12-2 pm at Obafemi Awolowo Multi-purpose Hall (OBJ).
The students of AAUA will be exposed to skills such as Personal Effectiveness and Time Management, Effective Communication, Business Etiquette and Workplace Ethics, Emotional Intelligence and Teamwork, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Creativity and Innovation, and other employability skills.
The Community Engagement Manager, Ayodeji Ilesanmi assured that the students will be issued a professional certificate after the training based on their performances.
"Students will first fill a baseline assessment test before the training and after the training, an endline assessment test will be done and students must at least answer five questions correctly to be eligible for the certificates that will be issued out."
He added, " Today being the first day, the turnout was impressive and we hope to train more youths. The door is still open to students who have not participated, they can join".
Ilesanmi also expressed his gratitude to the school management, the Students' Union President, and everyone who has supported the training.
Representing the Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Professor Olugbenga Ige, the Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Akanbi Olusegun spoke on behalf of the VC who noted that the Institution wants students to acquire skills that will help them progress outside the school walls.
"It is a good program based on our findings. If not, we would not have allowed it to take place here. Some of us, when we finished our Degrees back then did not know how to write a CV, prepare for interviews and all, but our students have the opportunity to learn all these for free during this training.
"Even the VC wishes that all students of this school participate in the training because it will help them learn and enhance their capacity after they have left the University," the DSA remarked.
The facilitator, Aisha Amin exposed students to these various modules where she urged students to be disciplined and take up action instead of complaining and be self-aware to be personally effective and creative.
"As a student, you have to be self-aware of your strengths and weaknesses to be personally effective in school and at work. In this training, we will also teach you how to write an effective email and CV for job opportunities," she said.
One of the participants, Favour Itasanmi, a 100-level student of Animal and Environmental Biology revealed that she heard about the training through a broadcast message and was compelled to register and participate in the training.
"The training was amazing. I enjoyed all the sections and I have been able to learn time management, personal effectiveness and other skills that will help me become a better version of myself in all endeavors," Favour noted.
Igbaro Kehinde, a 400-level student of Political Science explained how he thought the training would be one of the usual training but he said it was a different experience for him.
"These are professionals that have come to teach us how to compose and present ourselves for job opportunities. The skills that I have learned will not only help me after I graduate but from this very moment," he said.
Another participant, Olajide Praise, a student of Early Childhood Education reiterated that the training will afford her a better opportunity when applying for jobs.
"We were exposed to communication skills, creative thinking, how to write a CV and some other skills. I believe that if I can apply them, it will make me have more advantage over others during a job interview or when looking for jobs," Praise affirmed.
Oke Oluwasegun, a 300-level student of Business Administration also affirmed that he got the opportunity to participate through a link sent to him, "as a software developer, I have learned how to write a cover letter and this will help me when applying for jobs. With this training, I believe I now have a better understanding of how these skills work," he said.
Jobberman has trained over 60,000 and placed over 50,000 in dignified jobs, 31 of whom are now facilitators in the soft skills training programs.
