UNILAG alumni challenge English graduates to reinvent themselves for future careers

Graduates of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Department of English have been challenged to reinvent themselves and embrace continuous learning to thrive in their future careers. At the department's maiden alumni reunion, academics and professionals stressed that a first degree should not define the limits of their aspirations.

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urged graduates of the department to remain resilient and committed to continuous growth, reflecting on his own academic journey as an example of the value of perseverance and self-investment.

Professor Tunde Ope-Davies, a specialist in Digital Linguistics and Discourse, urged graduates to remain resilient and committed to growth. He shared his own academic journey as an example of perseverance and self-investment, recounting how a scholarship to Germany significantly shaped his research. Ope-Davies attributed his guiding principles to grit, discipline, faith, and perseverance, noting the personal sacrifices he made to help establish a program he helped build.

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how a scholarship to Germany shaped his research direction

Dr. Jekwu Ozoemene, Group Executive at The Alternative Bank, delivered the reunion lecture themed, "Unlocking Global Opportunities with English Studies: The Akoka Legacy." He encouraged graduates to embrace lifelong learning and career adaptability, stating, "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." Ozoemene advised graduates to learn new things, understand new markets, and build new networks, viewing career shifts as deliberate choices rather than departures from their academic foundation.

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values including grit, discipline, faith and perseverance, and said he made significant personal sacrifices, including using personal funds, to help establish a programme he was involved in building.

Discussing the relevance of English studies in an increasingly AI-driven job market, Ozoemene noted that the future of artificial intelligence extends beyond technology to encompass contextual decision-making, critical interpretation, and complex social interaction. Veteran actress Joke Silva also spoke, cautioning that technology advances rapidly without sufficient attention to people. She urged English graduates not to view teaching as a secondary profession, encouraging them to "grab it with confidence" if the opportunity arises, while also noting Nigeria's slow development of its next generation of talent.

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embrace lifelong learning and career adaptability, stressing that a first degree should not define the limits of their professional aspirations.