In an effort to increase the number of Nigerians assuming leadership positions globally, the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) launched a new series program in 2022 themed – Graduate Mobility Opportunities. The Season 1 of the series lasted for 4-weeks, with engaging presentations from NHEF Alumni Scholars on relevant early career discussion topics relating to Full-time jobs, Internships and Scholarships.
Evaristus Okechukwu, a graduate of Law, kicked off the series on September 17, 2022, by discussing his journey from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria to the Bank of America in the United Kingdom. While narrating his career journey, he defined three factors that have guided his success story – Grace, Grit, and Gratitude, i.e., he appreciates that he is lucky to have opportunities to meet his preparations being a strong believer in the Law of Attraction. Hence, he has trained himself to develop a positive mindset towards his goals and growth.
Oluwafikayo Olaniyan, a graduate of Economics from the University of Ibadan, discussed her incredible journey to becoming a full-time fixed-income analyst at Bloomberg LP, where she is currently the deputy team lead of a fixed-income team. She highlighted that the NHEF Scholars Orientation Program was pivotal to her accomplishments. Oluwafikayo also recommended that prioritizing goals, leveraging the power of people, and being open to taking new opportunities are essential in achieving career success.
The Graduate Mobility series also featured a presentation on global scholarships by Mustapha Abdullahi – a Computer Engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University who is currently on a fully funded scholarship at the Queen Mary University of London in the United Kingdom studying MSc Artificial Intelligence. Mustapha narrated that the NHEF Scholars Program helped him to improve his networking ability, boosted his confidence and, most importantly, expanded his industry knowledge. He further challenged other Nigerian students to continue to strive for success, as hard work is essential to achieving any goal. Mustapha concluded his presentation with the quote, “Opportunities multiply as they are seized”.
The webinar series finally ended on October 22, 2022, with a presentation from Chidinma Jacobs, a graduate of Economics from the University of Lagos. She shared her experience securing a full-time job at Goldman Sachs, UK, after participating in both Spring and Summer internships at the firm. Chidinma mentioned that self-motivation and building the right network of contacts have been critical factors in her success. She further recommended that job-seeking candidates treat interviews as a competition as it may be the only opportunity to leave a lasting impression on recruiters. Therefore, it is important to demonstrate positive energy during the hiring process.
The Graduate Mobility series was created to provide young Nigerians with the chance to learn from the experiences of their peers and to assist in discovering future career advancement opportunities. The initiative will further help the NHEF achieve its goal of increasing the number of well-educated Nigerians assuming leadership positions on the global stage.
The Season 2 of the series program is expected to take place later in 2023.
The NHEF is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in 2004. The NHEF is committed to enhancing the capacity of higher education institutions in Nigeria. Our mission is to raise awareness about the role of higher education and Nigerian universities in social, economic, and political development.
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