Jobberman, Mastercard Foundation Challenge Youths To Build Skills, Create Their Future

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Jobberman, Mastercard Foundation Challenge Youths To Build Skills, Create Their Fut

The Country Head, Programmes, Jobberman, Mr Olamide Adeyeye, has challenged Nigerian youths to deliberately build relevant skills, strengthen their character and take responsibility for creating their future rather than waiting passively for opportunities.

Adeyeye gave the charge weekend at the 2026 Akwa Ibom Career Clinic organised by Jobberman in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation in Uyo, where young participants were urged to prepare themselves for a rapidly changing world of work.

He said the partnership between Jobberman and the Mastercard Foundation, which began in 2020, was designed to help young people secure decent work they could be proud of while contributing meaningfully to the development of Nigeria.

Adeyeye introduced the participants to the “ABC” approach to career advancement — Audit, Build and Consolidate — urging them to audit their skills and mindset, build relevant competencies and relationships, and consolidate their progress through collaboration and effective communication.

In his words “Every young person is valuable to this country. Jobberman is interested in the future of young people in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria, and we want to help them get work they can be proud of and through which they can contribute positively to society”.

The career clinic also provided practical guidance on CV writing, interview performance, workplace readiness, professional confidence, digital skills and understanding the expectations of modern employers, alongside counselling, networking and interactive sessions.

Delivering the keynote address, “Blueprint for Success: Building Skills for the Future of Work,” Monica Inyang challenged the participants to take deliberate responsibility for their future, declaring: “Your future is not waiting for you; you create it.”

Inyang urged the youths to identify the problems they could solve, build relevant skills and embrace lifelong learning through workshops, books, online courses, internships and practical projects, stressing that confidence was developed through action rather than waiting to feel ready.

She warned the participants against allowing rejection, failure, limited resources or social media comparisons to define their future, urging them to audit their strengths, identify areas for improvement and consistently add value to themselves.

The keynote speaker further advised the youths to develop creativity, leadership, innovation and empathy, alongside technical and digital competencies, noting that while skills could open doors, character, reliability, honesty, punctuality and teachability were essential to keeping those doors open.

Representing the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, the Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Hon. Ikoedem Ekong, said the career clinic aligned with the administration’s ARISE Agenda and its commitment to equipping young people with digital, vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

Ekong said the state had introduced initiatives including ARISE ICT, ARISE Youth Centres across the 31 local government areas and the Akwa Ibom Employment Portal to expand access to skills development and employment opportunities.

He added that the government was also working to ensure that companies operating in the state complied with local content provisions on employment quotas, stressing that the administration remained determined to tackle unemployment by preparing young people for the demands of the changing employment market.

The commissioner urged the participants to take full advantage of the clinic, describing its theme as consistent with the state’s development blueprint, and declared the programme open on behalf of the governor.

For Mfoniso Solomon, a final-year Mathematics Education student of the University of Uyo, the clinic offered a new perspective on the opportunities available in the technology and remote-work space.

Solomon, who said she had struggled with limited confidence and a lack of mentorship since beginning her journey into the tech world, said the clinic had exposed her to artificial intelligence, new career opportunities and the need to use social media more productively, adding that she would also explore the Akwa Ibom Employment Portal for future opportunities.

Another participant, Richard Pedro, a Geo-Informatics student of the University of Uyo, said the clinic had helped him understand the importance of developing a strong CV, building digital skills and preparing for the future of work as the world increasingly transitions from analogue systems to digital platforms.

Pedro said the lessons would help him approach interviews with greater confidence and develop consistency in his personal growth, while encouraging other young people to explore Jobberman’s online learning opportunities to acquire relevant skills.

The 2026 Akwa Ibom Career Clinic was organised by Jobberman in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation as part of efforts to prepare young Nigerians for decent work and the demands of an evolving employment landscape. The programme brought together young people for career guidance, skills development, networking and practical exposure to emerging opportunities in the digital economy and future of work.