The Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun (FUHSI), Osun State, has urged students to build stronger relationships with industry and professional mentors, stressing that meaningful national development depends on graduates who possess practical skills alongside academic qualifications.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Akeem Olawale Lasisi, made the call through his representative, Prof. Simiat Jimoh, at the university’s maiden Career Fair themed, “One Day, Endless Opportunities.”
Jimoh said universities must equip students not only with academic knowledge but also with the capacity to collaborate with industries and organisations that can nurture their talents and prepare them for the demands of the workplace.
She urged students to remain open-minded, embrace continuous learning and actively seek mentorship opportunities that would enhance their professional growth and relevance.
“Success extends beyond academic excellence. Students must connect with companies, industries and mentors who can help them contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.
Speaking, the university’s Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Coordinator, Dr. Suliat Oyinkansola Fadiji, said the career fair was conceived to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace by exposing students to prospective employers before graduation.
According to her, many graduates struggle to secure employment because employers demand years of practical experience, making early engagement with industry indispensable.
She explained that the initiative targets students preparing for graduation, SIWES placements and the Student Work Experience Programme (SWEP), providing them opportunities to interact directly with employers, explore career paths and secure internship opportunities.
“Our goal is to create an industry-university relationship where employers can meet our students, identify talents and even recruit future employees based on their competence and character,” she said.
Fadiji noted that healthcare extends beyond doctors and nurses, encompassing pharmaceutical manufacturing, diagnostics, monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance, stressing that stronger collaboration between universities and industry would expose students to the sector’s diverse career opportunities.
She added that such partnerships would also promote collaborative research capable of translating academic knowledge into practical innovations that address societal challenges.
According to her, the university hopes to institutionalise the career fair as an annual event that would eventually attract employers seeking to recruit outstanding graduates directly from the institution.
“The importance of industry-university collaboration cannot be overemphasised. Industry provides resources, while universities provide knowledge. When both work together, innovation flourishes and national development accelerates,” she said.
Fadiji also urged participating organisations to sustain their collaboration with the university by supporting research, mentoring students and investing in talent development.
“In a country where everyone wants finished products, organisations must be willing to train young professionals. Knowledge can only be transferred through deliberate mentorship and training,” she added.
An Human Resources expert and founder of Prime Talent Consult, Oladele Omotayo, advised students to pay attention to professionalism, character and interpersonal relationships during job applications.
He said employers begin assessing candidates from the moment they enter an organisation, stressing that attitude and conduct often determine employability as much as academic qualifications.
“A good CV should clearly communicate who you are, your career objectives, achievements and skills. Beyond that, your attitude towards people and your understanding of professional boundaries can determine whether you secure the job,” he said.
One of the participants, Abdullahi Mariam Oiza of the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, described the career fair as enlightening, saying it exposed students to the importance of professionalism, networking and proper preparation for interviews.
She said she learnt that employers evaluate candidates from the moment they arrive at an organisation, including how they relate with receptionists and other staff members.
“I also learnt the importance of building connections, writing a good CV and maintaining the right attitude throughout the recruitment process,” she said.
The maiden career fair brought together students, industry leaders, recruiters and professionals to discuss employability, workplace readiness, mentorship and stronger collaboration between academia and industry.
