By Elizabeth Uwandu

The notion that the large number of First Class and 2.1 graduates end up being job seekers due to lack of soft skills, such as corporate etiquette, dress sense, skill development, personal branding, and presentation and amp; communication skills and recruitment tips formed the core of the two day seminar on soft skills development for graduating students of the University of Lagos.

The seminar themed, ‘’Imparting Soft Skills in Graduating Students of the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos, Akoka,’’ was organised by Foundation for Leadership & Education Development, FLED, in collaboration with J. Soji-George & amp; Co, JSG and sponsored by Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria.

The sessions had First Class and 2.1 400 level students of Business Administration introduced to practical application of soft skills by facilitators from different professions.

Expressing optimism that the occasion will help them in the labour market, Ruth David, a 400 level, 2.1 student of Business Administration said if she had attended this kind of seminar, the  failure she recorded by shutting down a million naira  Cement business would not have happened, as she lacked the basic communication skills.

For Jeremiah Ndaowo , a First Class student of Insurance and Dimuna Tochukwu, also a First Class student of Accounting, the seminar was timely as it will give them the necessary skills needed  either as employees or as employers of labour.

Speaking on  the seminar, Dr Olusoji George, Director of JSG, said: ‘’The seminar is to orient graduates going into the labour market on dressing, presentation, communication skills, corporate etiquette that includes dining etiquette and emotional etiquette.”

He also noted that courage and confidence will stand head and shoulders above qualities desired by seminar organisers. Adding that after the seminar, 95% of the participants will get gainful employments as their data will be with them for the next 18 months to assist them in getting such jobs.”

On his part, the Director of FLED , Mr Joseph Ibekwe, said that it is ironic that First Class students end up working for the so called 2.2, or Third Class students. This is because most of these best students believed they have the best qualification for the best jobs out there, but when they go to the labour market, they lose out to those better at problem solving.

Mr Afolabi Akindele who spoke extensively on recruitment tips told the graduating students that value, promise and personal development are key factors that play a role in employment.

According, to Akindele, the belief that jobs are not available and that the few which are available are being gotten the based on what people calling Nigerian Factor said, although that could be applicable in public establishments; the private and some public sectors do not employ people based on Nigeria factor, but on the competency Factor.