Alumni Networks Key to Unlocking Hidden Job Market, Enterprise Growth, Says Expert

Professional relationships have become a vital economic asset, with many job, business, and investment opportunities now emerging through trusted networks rather than public channels, according to Godwin Oyedokun, a Professor of Accounting & Finance at Lead City University.

Speaking at the 2026 Babcock University Alumni Association Week in Ogun State, Oyedokun emphasized that graduates and institutions that intentionally build strong alumni networks are better positioned to access opportunities, strengthen innovation, and remain globally competitive. He advised that networking should no longer be viewed as a social activity but as a strategic tool for career advancement, entrepreneurship, and institutional development.

"Success is no longer determined solely by what one knows but by who one knows and how effectively one collaborates," Oyedokun said, describing networking as a necessity for personal success, institutional advancement, and global relevance. He noted that meaningful professional relationships create access to information, mentorship, funding, business referrals, and collaborations that conventional channels often fail to provide.

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Success is no longer determined solely by what one knows but by who one knows and how effectively one collaborates.

Oyedokun stressed that many employment opportunities and leadership appointments are secured through referrals long before they are publicly advertised, urging professionals to cultivate authentic, long-term relationships built on trust and value creation. He stated that alumni networks, when properly mobilized, can strengthen business growth, improve graduate employability, facilitate research partnerships, expand mentorship, and attract investment for universities.

"The strength of the alumni network lies in its collective capacity to open doors that individual effort cannot. Traditional job hunting reveals only about 20 percent of available opportunities. Networking uncovers the remaining 80 percent through trusted referrals rather than public advertisements," he added. However, he identified weak alumni engagement, poor personal branding, limited digital networking skills, and inadequate networking platforms as barriers preventing many professionals from maximizing available opportunities. To unlock the economic value of alumni communities, Oyedokun urged universities to invest in structured networking platforms, mentorship programs, technology-driven engagement, and entrepreneurship collaborations.

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The strength of the alumni network lies in its collective capacity to open doors that individual effort cannot. Traditional job hunting reveals only about 20 percent of available opportunities. Networking uncovers the remaining 80 percent through trusted referrals rather than public advertisements.