Embrace Lifelong Learning, Career Adaptability, UNILAG English Alumi Urge Graduates

Graduates of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Department of English Alumni (UDEA) have called for a commitment to lifelong learning and career adaptability, emphasizing that a bachelor's degree does not restrict professional options. During the department's inaugural reunion, themed ‘Unlocking Global Opportunities with English Studies: The Akoka Legacy,’ Dr. Jekwu Ozoemene, Group Executive at The Alternative Bank, stressed that one's starting point does not dictate their destination. He advised graduates to continually learn, adapt, and invest in themselves, viewing career shifts as deliberate choices rather than departures from their academic foundation.

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Your starting point does not determine your destination, what determines your destination is your willingness to learn, to adapt, and to invest in yourself as a student. Learn new things, understand new markets, build new networks. Every shift should be a deliberate choice rather than a departure from your academic foundation.

Ozoemene addressed the relevance of English studies graduates in an evolving job market increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence. He argued that the future of AI relies not solely on technical study but on critical interpretation, complex social interaction, and contextual decision-making. He urged the university community to uphold integrity, patience, and self-investment, encouraging graduates to regularly evaluate their personal and professional progress.

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If you get the opportunity to teach, grab it with confidence.

Actress Joke Silva also spoke at the event, noting the rapid advancement of technology without sufficient focus on human needs. She specifically advised English graduates against viewing teaching as a secondary career option, stating, “If you get the opportunity to teach, grab it with confidence.” Silva commented that Nigeria is lagging in developing its next generation of teachers.

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Your starting point does not determine your destination, what determines your destination is your willingness to learn, to adapt, and to invest in yourself as a student. Learn new things, understand new markets, build new networks. Every shift should be a deliberate choice rather than a departure from your academic foundation.

Professor Tunde Ope-Davies, a specialist in Digital Linguistics and Discourse, shared insights from his academic journey, including a scholarship to Germany that influenced his research. He attributed his success to core values such as grit, discipline, faith, and perseverance. Ope-Davies also revealed that he made significant personal sacrifices, including using his own funds, to help establish a program he was involved in building. The University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who was represented at the event, called for the university community to prioritize student safety and well-being.

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If you get the opportunity to teach, grab it with confidence.