Students Advised to Study Beyond Curriculum

By Abdulrofiu Agboola, Osogbo

Nigerian undergraduates have been advised to study out of their academic curriculum in order to compete favourably with their colleagues across the world.

The admonition was made by the Chief Executive Officer of Famolex Integrated Consult, Mr Olakunle Fakiyesi at the AGMT Africa Career Readiness Programme, organised by the consultancy in collaboration with Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) at the Fountain University campus, in Osogbo.

Fakiyesi said studying only the academic curriculum is not enough these days considering the number of graduates that populate the labour market every year.

He also advocated the review of the Nigerian education system to meet up with the international standard in order to produce graduates that will stand shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts the world over.

Speaking on the scope of the programme, the Chief Executive Officer enunciated the inherent values of the programme to include making graduates more analytical inclined with sound verbal reasoning.

Fakiyesi stressed that the combination of verbal reasoning and analytical skills would equip graduating students to excel tremendously in postgraduate educational pursuit and labour market anywhere in the world.

He added that the programme also instill rare leadership skills and business knowledge, including networking tools in existing and prospective graduates.

” These seminars will help graduating students become aware of the GMAT exam and the developmental value of GMAT preparation, i.e., acquire reasoning and analytical skills that are in high demand by both graduate management programs and employers.

“In addition, by exposing candidates to world class preparation materials, the programme will improve performance on pre-employment aptitude tests, which will increase the likelihood of career success for those seeking employment immediately after graduation.

“Also, the programme  will complement the role of Fountain University in ensuring that graduates are fully prepared to excel in society and advances the university’s vision of significant national impact.

“We propose to implement the GACRP by conducting an intensive 5-day seminar for final year students early in the first semester in their final year, which we have started for the 2016/2017 academic session,” Fakiyesi stated.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice-chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo, Prof. Abdulateef Usman said there was need to prepare students for better future through thorough engagements.

The VC, who was represented by the Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies, Prof. Goke Lalude noted that the university management recognises the fundamental philosophy of creating a sound personality in the students through qualitative and verbal reasoning, like what Famolex is doing.

He however enjoined students to be receptive and learn the basic and rudiment of post-graduation life, and survival, especially in the labour market.

According to him, early exposure to critical reasoning and analytical skills make job search and further educational pursuit more easier and attainable for students.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Sunday Olajide, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Dr Victor Olaniyi opined that the event was a major turning point as it relates to career readiness awareness.

Olajide explained that the GMAC Africa Career Readiness Programme is strategically creating awareness and improving quality performance on Graduate Management Admission Test(GMAT).

He averred that “the training programme would go a long way to prepare graduating students for stiff competition for good jobs with high remuneration and challenging life opportunities worldwide”.

The PS who expressed state government to partner with the consultancy in its bid to prepare students of the state owned tertiary institutions to be self-reliant expressed the hope that training such as this one will further expose the undergraduates to certain basic requirements in the competitive global labour market.