By Zika Bobby
Aimed at linking Nigerian graduates from United Kingdom universities with prospective employers back home, the Graduate Guidance Group (GGG), in partnership with 12 UK universities, has put together a talent hunt event in Lagos.
Tagged #NGTalentUKEducated2022, the event serves as a platform for employers to meet Nigerians who have acquired international experience through their UK education studying with students from across the globe and seeking to apply their skills and build their career in the country.
Speaking at the event, founder of GGG, Emma Tarrant Tayou, said the programme is to facilitate interactions between UK graduates and employers in Nigeria to network and get the best talents for their organisations.
Tayou noted that UK universities are looking to support these graduates by linking them up with the best employers in Nigeria to boost the economy of the country.
She said her firm has launched a mobile app called career fair plus, to help digitise interactions between graduates and employers.
With this app, she said the organisers can provide visibility to employers who were not able to join physically but desire to have linkage to this particular group of talents.
Director of students recruitment, University of Nottingham, Mohammed Elmaghribi, said the event provides insights for universities and allows them to fashion programmes for students that build actual skills required in the world of work after graduating.
Head of partnership, Jobberman Nigeria, David Mbelu, said the event is another platform for his firm to connect the best graduates with the right employers.
Mbelu said despite the fact that many talents are migrating out of Nigeria, there are still some students who graduated in the UK and are willing to return to work in the country, as he charged young people who are looking to succeed in their work to embark on a continuous learning journey.
Lagos State deputy head of mission, British Deputy High Commission, Abby Bernards, advised alumni, institutions and employers to use their platforms and positions to enable access to education for girls by removing barriers to ensure girls can enjoy a meaningful career, including positions of leadership.
Abby said education remains one of UK’s priorities as the government in the last 10 years has sponsored over 500 Nigerians to study for master’s degrees through the Chevening Scholarships.
She said: “As the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child today, I encourage the alumni, the institutions and employers present to use their platforms and positions of influence to enable access to education for all girls and remove barriers to ensure girls can enjoy meaningful careers, including positions of leadership.
I am especially proud that over the past 10 years, through our Chevening Scholarships, the UK Government has sponsored over 500 Nigerians to study master’s degrees.
Education remains one of the UK’s priorities and really hope everyone will make good use of today’s opportunities.”