Kisii University launches career fair to engage students as lecturers' strike continues

Kisii University has launched a week-long Career Fair and Skills Expo at its main campus, a move aimed at keeping students engaged as the nationwide lecturers' strike continues to paralyse learning in public universities across the country.

The fair, officially opened on Monday by Vice Chancellor Prof Nathan Ogechi, is designed to equip students with practical skills, career guidance and entrepreneurship knowledge as they wait for lectures to resume amid the ongoing standoff between the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the government over economic balancing and implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Speaking during the opening ceremony at the university pavilion, Prof Ogechi said the university management decided to engage students positively instead of sending them home. He said the institution supports its lecturers in pressing for what is rightfully theirs, but it also has a responsibility to keep students engaged, and the career fair was the best way to make use of the lost time.

Ogechi, who interacted freely with learners, particularly student leaders, called for utmost decorum during and after the session. He urged students to maintain discipline, respect university property and uphold peace, noting that the fair was meant to build them, not to be a platform for chaos.

He encouraged students to attend daily from 8 am to 5 pm, noting that top companies, banks, tech firms and government agencies had been invited to mentor students on career choices, CV writing, interview skills and online jobs. The fair will also include exhibitions from various schools within the university, including the School of Business, School of Law, School of Information Technology and School of Agriculture, where students will showcase innovations.

Ogechi added that once the strike ends, the university will resume with a crash programme to recover lost time, urging every student to make use of the opportunity, which is free to attend and comes with certificates of participation.

Students who spoke to Education News welcomed the initiative, saying it has eased boredom and anxiety as the national stalemate continues. Faith Kerubo, a third-year student, said the fair has opened their eyes to opportunities beyond the classroom. The career fair will run until Friday.