Kisii University Vice Chancellor Prof Nathan Ogechi has challenged university students to look beyond academic qualifications and acquire practical skills that can help them earn a living after graduation.
Prof Ogechi said having a university degree should not be viewed as an automatic guarantee of employment or financial success, urging students to complement their academic training with skills, innovation and entrepreneurship.
“It is not the degree that you are doing here that will earn you a living, it is more than that,” Prof Ogechi told students at the university.
He was speaking during the 2026 Career Fair and Skills Expo at the institution’s main campus, an event designed to expose students to opportunities beyond the classroom.
The career fair is being held under the theme “From Learning to Earning” and brings together students, industry experts, companies and other organisations to discuss the changing world of work.
Prof Ogechi urged students to use their time at the university to develop additional competencies that could enable them to create opportunities rather than wait solely for formal employment.
The Vice Chancellor said the institution was keen on equipping learners with practical knowledge, career guidance and entrepreneurial skills to enable them to navigate an increasingly competitive job market.
The university has invited companies, banks, technology firms and government agencies to mentor students on career choices, CV writing, interview skills and online jobs. Students are also showcasing innovations from different schools, including Business, Law, Information Technology and Agriculture.
Prof Ogechi said education should ultimately translate into opportunity, impact and purpose, stressing the need for students to connect what they learn in class with the realities of the world of work.
Keeping students engaged during strike
The career fair comes at a time when learning in public universities has been disrupted by the ongoing lecturers’ strike. Kisii University opted to keep students engaged through the skills expo instead of sending them home.
Prof Ogechi said the university supports lecturers in their pursuit of better terms but also has a responsibility to ensure students make productive use of the period.
He urged students to attend the sessions, interact with industry players and explore opportunities that could help them turn their knowledge and talents into sources of income.
The VC has previously encouraged students to participate in sports, cultural activities, leadership and other programmes, saying such engagements help develop teamwork, communication and leadership skills alongside academic qualifications.
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He also assured students that once the lecturers’ strike ends, the university will introduce a crash programme to recover lost academic time.
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