Chemical Engineers Urge Young Graduates to Embrace Job Creation

The Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE), specifically the FCT/Nasarawa Chapter, has called upon graduates of chemical engineering, as well as other professionals nationwide, to acquire skills and implement initiatives that empower them to become job creators instead of merely waiting for job offers.

This appeal was made during a workshop entitled “Transitioning from Job Seeker to Job Creator,” hosted at the National Engineering Centre, Central Business District, Abuja, under the auspices of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

Facilitated by Mamoud Abubakar, the Chief Executive Officer of Engineering and Environmental Management Services Limited, the workshop was organized in response to the rising issues of unemployment, underemployment, and economic uncertainty that significantly affect engineering graduates and young professionals in Nigeria.

According to the speakers, while engineering education equips graduates with significant technical abilities, many face challenges securing jobs due to the constrained capacity of the job market to accommodate the increasing number of graduates. They emphasized the urgent need to pivot towards entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

The organizers stated that the workshop aimed to expose participants to the principles of entrepreneurship, the identification of business opportunities, and the development of enterprises utilizing their engineering knowledge and technical skills.

In a presentation titled “The Concept of Entrepreneurial Mindset,” Abubakar differentiated between a job seeker’s mindset and that of an entrepreneur. He pointed out that job seekers tend to concentrate on obtaining roles within existing organizations, whereas entrepreneurs focus on recognizing issues and crafting solutions that add value and generate income.

Participants were urged to look at their surroundings from a problem-solving viewpoint instead of just seeing them as potential employment sources.

The training also addressed essential aspects of business planning and enterprise development, covering market analysis, operational necessities, and financial strategies vital for sustainable success.