The Department of Cell Biology and Genetics (CBG), University of Lagos (UNILAG), has held its first departmental symposium to celebrate its M.Sc. students and prepare them for career opportunities in academia and industry.
The symposium, themed “Science of Success: Building a Successful Career in Academia and Industry”, brought together members of the academic community, graduating students and industry professionals to discuss career development, problem-solving and the importance of applying academic knowledge to real-world challenges.
In his welcome address, the Head of Department, Prof. I. A. Taiwo, congratulated the graduating students, describing them as exceptional. He also commended the postgraduate coordinator and lecturers for their contributions to the programme.
Reflecting on the challenges of building the postgraduate programme, Taiwo mentioned demanding schedules, late-night communications, rigorous meetings and financial constraints.
He urged the graduates to maintain professional relationships with their lecturers and colleagues, noting that such connections could create opportunities for collaboration, career advancement, references and recommendations.
The Chairman of the Departmental Committee, Mr. Roland Ododo, also encouraged the graduates to remain confident and open to opportunities.
He said the department had cleared previous backlogs and remained committed to ensuring that students completed their programmes on time.
Delivering the first lecture, Mr. Awe David Oluwadamilare, a Forensic DNA Analyst at the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, challenged the graduates to look beyond their academic qualifications and actively pursue career opportunities.
He explained that academic training provides a foundation for professional growth but must be complemented by initiative, networking and the ability to meet industry expectations.
Oluwadamilare advised the graduates to reach out to experienced professionals, remain persistent despite rejection and use platforms such as LinkedIn and X to build professional connections and improve their visibility.
He identified determination, collaboration, continuous learning and networking as important factors in building successful careers.
In another lecture, Prof. Njoku Kelechi of the department highlighted the importance of problem-solving, urging the graduates to identify the root causes of challenges rather than focus only on their symptoms.
He introduced the Five Cs and Fishbone Model as approaches to problem-solving and explained the stages of developing an idea: inspiration, incubation, illumination and execution.
Kelechi stressed that ideas become meaningful when they are put into practice to address real-life problems.
Speaking on academic careers, he noted that teaching, research, publications and grant writing require intellectual engagement, discipline and continuous learning.
He encouraged the graduates to remain purposeful, consistent and determined as they pursue their professional ambitions.
The symposium provided an opportunity for the graduating students to reflect on the demands of their chosen career paths and the importance of translating their academic training into practical contributions in research, industry and society.
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