As many Nigerian graduates worry about where their first job will come from, six final-year students of the Department of Estate Management at the University of Lagos already have their next step mapped out.
The students have been offered automatic employment by real estate firm Jide Taiwo & Co.
The company also announced a ₦1 million scholarship and rewards package for outstanding students, including the overall best graduating student and the best female graduating student.
The announcement was made during the firm’s 2026 Career Day and Job Fair held over the weekend at the University of Lagos.
According to the Regional Manager, Lagos Island, Bashir Tajudeen, the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to helping young professionals transition smoothly from the classroom to the workplace.
He explained that the event was designed to bridge the gap between university training and industry practice while preparing students for careers in estate surveying, valuation, and the broader built environment sector.
Career fairs like this are increasingly becoming important platforms for students to connect with employers, understand industry expectations, and explore possible career paths.
The event featured interactive sessions that exposed students to real-world experiences in estate surveying and valuation practice.
Speaking at the event, the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Olumide Adenuga, emphasised that education should go beyond earning certificates.
“What is of utmost importance is the application of knowledge derived from hours of study and deliberate preparation for life after graduation,” he said.
The Head of the Department of Estate Management, Prof. Hikmot Koleosho, commended the firm for strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.
She encouraged students to take advantage of such opportunities as they prepare for professional life.
Delivering a lecture titled, “Classroom to Boardroom: Mapping Your Career Path in the Built Sector,” the General Manager, Facilities Management at Jide Taiwo & Co., ESV Adebiyi Ayeni, said success in the profession requires more than academic excellence.
“The profession rewards excellence, integrity, focus, adaptability, experience and continuous growth, far beyond what the classroom alone can offer,” he said.
As competition in the job market continues to increase, initiatives that connect students with employers before graduation could help more young Nigerians make a smoother transition from campus life to the workplace.
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