By Evelyn Nduu
KEMAK Foundation for Enhancing Sustainable Livelihood has empowered 90 fresh university graduates with practical knowledge and guidance for navigating careers, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and life after university at the 8th edition of its Fresh Graduates Career Mentorship Summit held in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The programme, which took place recently at the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Hall, Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FETHA II), was organised under the theme, “Preparation for a Successful Career.” Participants comprised recent graduates of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI) and Ebonyi State University (EBSU), particularly members of the 2025/2026 graduating class.
The programme was designed to equip fresh graduates with the knowledge and practical insights required to distinguish themselves in the competitive employment environment, navigate job and postgraduate scholarship applications, maximise their NYSC experience and make informed decisions about careers and personal development.
Speaking during the programme, the Executive Director of KEMAK Foundation, Dr. Makuachukwu Ojide, shared practical guidance on preparing competitive curricula vitae (CVs), drawing from his personal experience. He emphasised that repackaging a CV should focus on projecting achievements rather than merely listing responsibilities, urging the graduates to present their value effectively to prospective employers and scholarship selection committees.
Other speakers brought perspectives from corporate employment, entrepreneurship, professional development and public service.
Dr Comfort Wilson, an Assistant Director at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ebonyi State, spoke on career growth and emphasised hard work, integrity and mentorship as important pathways to success. Sharing her personal experience, she stressed that anyone of them could achieve greater heights in any chosen profession if they work hard, remain focused, and maintain resilience and the fear of God.
Charles Chikwe Okpala, a Professor of Production and Engineering and Management Systems and the incumbent Head of Department of Industrial/Production Engineering at Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka, encouraged the graduates to seriously consider entrepreneurship as the first career option and to approach it with a problem-solving mindset, noting that entrepreneurs transform problems into opportunities. He also supported the participants with gifts of notebooks.
Similarly, Ambassador Mrs. Enene Fonne, an accountant and Director of Enene Akonjom Foundation, charged the graduates to cultivate courage, resilience and a positive vision of success in pursuing their career and life goals. She emphasized the need to challenge personal or family career limits. She noted that “challenges will always be there, but only those who are courageous enough to face their challenges become successful.”
The programme also featured a session by Comrade Onyebuchi Mpamugo, NYSC Mobilisation Officer, AE-FUNAI, who provided participants with guidance on the NYSC mobilisation process and how to make the most of their service year. He encouraged them to avoid common errors that delay many prospective NYSC candidates. Mma Ofoma, a public relations expert and staff of Public Relations unit at AE-FUNAI, also addressed the importance of public presentation and speaking skills. She shared personal experience on how determination, focus, self-confidence, continuous practice and learning can afford any individual great career opportunities.
Participants were further introduced to the relevance of digital skills, with the ApTech team (Ebonyi State) encouraging the graduates to take advantage of available technology and digital-learning opportunities to improve their employability and relevance in the modern workplace.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Ojide urged the participants not to allow the knowledge acquired at the programme to remain theoretical, but to put what they had learnt into practice. He assured them that the Kemak Foundation team will continue to mentor them in career and postgraduate scholarship opportunities for the next five years. He reassured them that their success stories will be celebrated as an inspiration to others.
The participants expressed appreciation to the Executive Director KEMAK Foundation and his team, the speakers and the sponsors for creating an avenue through which they could gain practical knowledge and broader awareness of the opportunities and challenges that await them after university.
Specifically, Evelyn Nduu, a graduate of Mass Communication, considered the summit as a huge opportunity to learn and re-engineer their mindset for successful career. On the other hand, Testimony Onwe, an engineering graduate, noted that the programme was very impactful – the lectures, interactions, game, and personal experience shared by successful professionals – these were all learning opportunities that have given one clear picture on how to start up successful careers.
Another participant, Chinedu Julius, an economics graduate, said that the Summit was very inspiring – it provided valuable lessons, guidance, and motivation that will help them make better decisions and prepare for a successful future. They all expressed gratitude to the Foundation and everyone who contributed to making the Mentorship Summit a success.
The 8th edition of the programme was supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Ebonyi State, Zenik Tech, One Youth Global, Aptech Ebonyi Team, and F&T Freeman Petroleum Ltd, among others.
Certificates were presented to participants at the conclusion of the programme. KEMAK Foundation for Enhancing Sustainable Livelihood is a non-governmental organisation established to impact young people and families with the knowledge, skills and mindset needed for successful career and build sustainable livelihoods.
