MEMAN Youth Enlightenment Career Readiness Webinar

Overview

MEMAN hosted a virtual career readiness webinar aimed at equipping students and young graduates with the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed professionally. The webinar focused on equipping students and young graduates with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to succeed professionally. Discussions emphasized the importance of career readiness, including understanding career paths, industry expectations, and the progressive acquisition of both technical and non-technical skills.

Speakers highlighted emotional intelligence, discipline, personal responsibility, and strategic preparation as key factors for long-term career success. Practical guidance was provided on crafting effective CVs, optimizing LinkedIn profiles, and performing well in interviews using structured techniques such as STAR and CAR. The Q&A addressed common graduate challenges, including lack of experience, misaligned applications, and limited networks, with advice on internships, volunteering, online certifications, and presenting academic or community experiences as professional achievements.

Key Discussion Points

1. Safety Briefing & Introduction

Engr. Moses Okoh, Operations Manager, opened with a rainy-season safety reminder, advising participants to check wipers and tires, slow down in rain, use hazard lights, avoid flooded areas, and keep children indoors.

Moderator Ms. Halima Oyakhire then outlined the webinar’s focus on employability and career readiness. She welcomed the speakers, Mr. Babatunde Omojola (TotalEnergies), Mr. Olufemi Oguntolu (NNPC Retail), Mr. Olugbenga Awomodu (Tweak-Centric Solutions), and Mr Celestine Imianmian (an associate of the Nigeria Youth SDG Network).

2. Opening Remarks

MEMAN CEO/Executive Secretary, Mr. Clement Isong, emphasized that employability goes beyond academic qualifications, highlighting discipline, responsibility, and preparation as critical qualities for success. He encouraged young people to see the webinar as a chance to build readiness for diverse paths, whether in corporate careers, entrepreneurship, or family businesses. He also stressed the role of experienced professionals in guiding and mentoring the next generation.

3. Mr. Babatunde Omojola – Understanding Career Readiness

Mr. Omojola, who has worked for over 35 years in the downstream oil and gas sector, explained that career readiness is not just about technical skills but also about attitude, character, and emotional intelligence. He highlighted Emotional Intelligence as the most critical factor in career success, breaking it into self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, social awareness, and relationship management.

He urged participants to reflect on their knowledge of career paths, industry expectations, and personal values. Citing John Maxwell, he challenged youth to move from confusion or frustration to fulfilment by being disciplined, proactive, and intentional in building both technical skills and emotional capacity. He concluded: “Nobody ever got ready by waiting. You only get ready by doing.

4. Mr. Olufemi Oguntolu – Top Skills Employers Look For
   Mr. Oguntolu emphasized that employability comes from skills gained through training, experience, and practice. He classified skills into non-technical (adaptability, leadership, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, result orientation, communication) and technical (strategy, project management, HSE compliance, quality assurance, instrumentation, sustainability).

While technical skills are vital, he stressed that behavioural skills are the strongest predictors of career success. He encouraged participants to start small, pursue continuous growth, and leverage employer support for certifications, reminding them that skills development opens doors to leadership opportunities.

5. Mr. Olugbenga Awomodu – Crafting a Professional CV & Acing the Interview

Mr. Awomodu, who built a career in marketing communications, focused on CV writing, LinkedIn optimization, and interview preparation. Drawing from reviewing over 1,000 CVs, he noted that recruiters spend only seconds scanning applications, making networking and referrals crucial.

He advised tailoring CVs with action verbs, measurable results, and keywords, while avoiding typos and irrelevant details. LinkedIn, he stressed, should showcase achievements, professional photos, strong “About” sections, and recommendations. Finally, he introduced STAR and CAR frameworks to help candidates give clear, results-driven responses in interviews, ensuring they leave lasting impressions.

6. Q&A Session

Mr. Celestin Imianmian from the Nigerian Youth SDG Network outlined the Network’s United Nations recognition and encouraged students to connect, volunteer, and grow their professional profiles, especially via LinkedIn.

Discussion points included:

• Babatunde Omojola (NNPC Retail): Noted common graduate mistakes such as poorly written CVs and misaligned applications. He advised tailoring CVs to skills, aligning roles with abilities, and preparing thoroughly for interviews.
• Olufemi Oguntolu (TotalEnergies): Addressed lack of experience, recommending internships (even unpaid), volunteering, online certifications, and entry-level trainee roles. He stressed treating small tasks and conversations as career-building opportunities.
• Olugbenga Awomodu (TweakCentric): Urged students to present internships, volunteering, projects, and coursework as real work experience with measurable impact. He emphasized honest but strategic storytelling on CVs and LinkedIn, focusing on contributions, results, and leadership.

Conclusion & Closing remarks

Dr. Emmanuel Akinwale, Director of the Career Development Centre at YabaTech, closed the session by emphasizing that career readiness requires both local and international perspectives. He acknowledged challenges such as inadequate guidance, weak professional networks, and limited job opportunities, but commended the webinar for providing practical solutions. He advised participants to remain transparent and honest when preparing CVs. Dr. Akinwale also highlighted YabaTech’s strong reputation for skills and learning, crediting the institution’s leadership for positioning it on the global stage, and encouraged students to take advantage of future sessions.

The moderator, speaking on behalf of MEMAN, thanked the speakers for their contributions and the participants for their active engagement. She expressed confidence that attendees left with clarity and direction, and signed off warmly, noting it was an honour to moderate the event.