The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede says demonstrable skills will now be more needed by Nigerian graduates to secure employment rather than university degrees.
According to him, degrees will no longer be the sole guarantors of job opportunities in the country.
Prof Oloyede made these remarks in his convocation lecture, titled, “Learning, Unlearning and Relearning- Prerequisites of the Digital Age” which he delivered at the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, North Central Nigeria.
The JAMB registrar equally urged Nigerians to get prepared for the challenges of the information age by taking lifelong learning seriously and being willing to change as circumstances unfold.
Oloyede, who said that learning is useless without practice, added that relearning is the ability to acquire new skills, knowledge and perspectives quickly and effectively.
“For all, the imperative of learning, relearning and unlearning cannot be over-emphasised as the tonic that gives vitality to successful living in today’s Information Age. Those who can learn, relearn and unlearn are the successful ones, and those without the mindset that accommodates the triad are bound to lament perpetually,” he added.
He told the graduating students at the university and elsewhere that new opportunities would emerge in the high-tech sector and many skills that were not otherwise taught in traditional schools would be needed in the outside world.
Oloyede warned, “Degrees would no longer be sole guarantors of jobs but demonstrable skills will. In this regard, there won’t be any difference between those who are literate and those who are illiterate without the cutting-edge skills that are associated with learning, relearning and unlearning”.
According to him, the onus of the responsibility lies on everyone to get prepared for the challenges of the information age by taking lifelong learning seriously and being willing to change as circumstances unfold.
“As you embark on the next chapter of your lives, armed with knowledge and wisdom gained during your academic journey, remember that learning, unlearning and relearning are the compass that will guide you in the uncharted territories of the digital age. These processes are not separate but interwoven elements of a holistic approach to personal and professional development.
“The illiterate of the 21st century, as Alvin Toffler profoundly noted, will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. Your ability to embrace these principles will set you apart and empower you to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities of our rapidly changing world”
In his address to Wellcome, the Acting vice-chancellor of the University, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, lauded the impact of the TETFund on the institution, noting that the impact cannot be overstated.
He stressed that “The Fund’s unwavering support has been instrumental in the construction of major structures within KWASU.
“From state-of-the-art academic buildings to offices and research facilities, TETFund has aided the realization of our vision to provide a conducive learning environment for our students and faculty.”
While stating that the buildings have enhanced the aesthetics of the institution, he noted that they have “created a vibrant atmosphere that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration among our students and faculty members. They have become focal points that attract attention and admiration from all who visit.”
He therefore made more requests from TETFund to help the University in the construction of the second phase of the Senate building, augment the library and bring to life the Smart-City Hostel Model capable of housing above twenty thousand students in a cluster layout.
The Professor of Islamic Medicine and Theology thanked the Fund for their support to the institution.
Dominica Nwabufo
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