Multiple award-winning singer, actor and entrepreneur, Olubankole Wellington, popularly called Banky W alongside the founder of She Leads Africa, Afua Osei, are among the panellists billed for the 2019 Nexford University’s Open Day on Saturday.
In a statement on Friday, the organisers of the Open Day, scheduled to hold at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, said the panellists would discuss critical job skills needed in workplaces and for entrepreneurs.
The panellists include the Founder of Business Lab Africa, Tricia Ikponmwonba; the Lead at Teach for Nigeria, Bunmi Adefisayo; and Mark Igbinedion from Get Qualified.
Others are Miss Olamidun Majekodunmi and Dr Robin Johnston from the Nexford University.
According to the organisers, this Saturday’s Open Day is tailored towards addressing the needs of small businesses/startups.
“The Open Day will give participants high-quality, affordable, dynamic enlightenment that prepares them for the global workplace.
“NXU launches Lagos Open Day to curb youth unemployment. The goal is to empower and support the region’s entrepreneurs.
“In the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, more than one in eight of all 15- to 24-year-olds are not in employment, education, or training – Nexford Insights. The International Labour Organisation estimates that 75 million young people are unemployed.
“Estimates of underemployed youth could triple this number. This represents a huge pool of untapped talent and a source of social unrest if left unchecked. Local economies can’t meet rising job demands.
“To help with this, NXU equips learners with the skills they need to be globally competitive and tap into international economic opportunities,” the statement signed by the Nigeria Country Director of Nexford University, Majekodunmi read partly.
It also quoted Nexford’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Fadl Al Tarzi, as saying, “With the rapid advancement of tech, skills are the only barrier between ambitious youths across the world and attractive economic opportunities. Our next-generation university focuses on this, precisely.”
Justifying its investment in curbing unemployment and aiding entrepreneurship, the university said, “The university surveyed Fortune 500 companies and analysed millions of job vacancies to create a curriculum focused on job skills. Nexford’s online learning model bridges the skills gap between graduates and employers.
“Students can choose from elective courses or specialise on hot topics such as Sustainability, Managing Hyperconnectivity and Doing Business Across the World – Nexford programmes overview. Learners pay a flat-fee monthly tuition, similar to a phone or data bill.”
“No long-term commitment or huge lump sum is needed. They pay the same monthly fee regardless of the number of courses or credits taken. The faster they go, the less they pay, which gives students an incentive to finish on time,” it added.
