Career experts task young Nigerians on AI, lifelong learning

Some career experts have called on young Nigerians to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) embrace continuous learning and uphold integrity to remain competitive and relevant in an increasingly evolving workplace.
They made the call on Saturday in Lagos, at the New Estate Baptist Church (NEBC) – Foresight Ministry Career Fair 2.0.
The fair is with the theme: “Future Ready; Workplace Alignment”.
Chief Executive Officer, Lawbreed Ltd., Mr Layi Babatunde (SAN) said AI would continue to automate repetitive digital tasks, such as data entry, transcription, routine reporting, basic customer support and low-complexity bookkeeping.
He however noted that careers requiring human judgment, trust, accountability, creativity and physical presence would remain resilient.
“The currency of the future is integrity. Technology will continue to change the way we work, but human values and sound judgment will remain indispensable.
“This means that in spite of technology, whether now or in the future, there are things peculiar to us that only humans can ever possess,” Babatunde said.

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He urged young people to deliberately improve their skills, remain globally competitive, while combining faith with knowledge, accountability and excellence.
On her part, People Operations Expert, Mrs Omosigho Ozor, encouraged young professionals to prioritise competence over immediate financial rewards in the early stages of their careers.
She advised participants to embrace volunteering, continuous learning and relationship building, to strengthen their career prospects.
Ozor added that professionals seeking leadership positions must go beyond technical competence by developing strategic thinking, financial literacy, organisational awareness and people management skills.
“Leadership is a different profession. It is no longer about doing the work yourself, but enabling others to succeed,” she said.
Ozor added that while AI would continue to transform workplaces, professionals who combined human judgment with AI tools, would remain highly valuable.
She identified lifelong learning, adaptability, digital literacy, networking, understanding business operations, building a strong reputation and consistently creating value, as enduring principles for career relevance.
An AI specialist, Mr Justice Anaba, urged professionals across all sectors, to leverage AI to improve productivity and accelerate career growth.
He identified four pathways for career advancement through AI as learning faster, becoming discoverable, securing employment and improving workplace performance.
Anaba advised job seekers to tailor their applications with relevant skills and keywords, to improve visibility during AI-assisted recruitment processes.
He also emphasised on the responsible use of AI, urging professionals to verify AI-generated content, maintain authenticity and avoid submitting unchecked materials or exposing confidential information through public AI platforms.
“AI should serve as an assistant to enhance productivity, rather than replace human judgment and ethical responsibility,” he said.
Also speaking, Senior Pastor of the NEBC, Rev. Amos Kuntat, said every individual had been endowed by God with unique abilities and potentials that should be developed for societal benefit.
Kuntat said the career fair was designed to inspire young people to challenge the status quo, discover their purpose and contribute to solving Nigeria’s unemployment challenges through entrepreneurship and job creation.
“Our desire is to stir something in young people that will make them become productive and impact generations to come,” he said.
In his contribution, the church’s Youth and Education Minister, Rev. Solomon Ajibade, said the NEBC was committed to equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Ajibade noted that workplace alignment had become imperative as technology continued to reshape careers, adding that the church intended to expand the initiative beyond its congregation.
He urged participants to maximise the opportunity by learning from facilitators and repositioning themselves for greater productivity.
Youth President of the NEBC, Mrs Omotayo Okewunmi, said the 2026 edition of the career fair was organised to help participants discover purpose, pursue excellence and prepare for future opportunities.
She said the event featured reviews of Curriculum Vitae (CV) mock interviews, career mentoring sessions and networking opportunities.
Okewunmi revealed the ministry’s N1 million business grant for a winning pitch and interactions with industry experts for graduates, mid-level and senior professionals, retirees and business owners.
She said professional success should be anchored on faith, integrity and continuous personal development.
Okewunmi also announced plans by the youth ministry to establish a business hub to connect entrepreneurs within the church and encourage collaboration.

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(NAN)