Dayo Olajide
The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the world economy with an aftermath which saw industries and companies venture into downsizing and scaling down of their workforce. This trend gave rise to a massive shortage of workers requiring skilled labour force to reinvent themselves in the post pandemic era, especially in the west. This new wave, therefore, emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift from physical to virtual work engagement.
It is in this light that Alumni Association of the University of Ibadan (UI) reached out to Outsource Mart Limited, a US-Based Consortium for partnership. The collaboration is aimed at empowering UI students and initiate capacity building in order to position them to compete favourably with their counterparts all over the world, while leveraging virtual employment opportunities. In a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan on 10th March, 2022, the Executive Director of Outsource Mart Limited, Peter Oyewole affirmed that the initiative would provide opportunities for UI students beyond the shores of Nigeria. He noted specifically that the collaboration had become inevitable considering the fact that the remote work system had become one of the fallouts of the pandemic. According to him, this has enabled and opened up international workplace opportunities to Nigeria students. He commented that there was a need for a platform to be created to facilitate the outsourcing of jobs from the United States of America to Nigeria.
Furthermore, Oyewole mentioned that the University of Ibadan, being Nigeria’s premier university, is known for its wealth of experience in collaborations with businesses, government agencies and NGOs with highly qualified graduates from various academic units over the years. He mentioned specifically that he and another Executive Director (ED) of Outsource Mart Limited, Engr Robert Onyejekwe are alumni of the University of Ibadan. The third ED in attendance from Outsource Mart Ltd, Dr. Fredrick Igbinedion, expressed his delight to be part of the initiative which underpins the company’s passion for building a mutually beneficial collaboration.
In his response, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. K.O. Adebowale, who was unavoidably absent at the meeting but ably represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovations and Strategic Partnerships (RISP), Prof. Oluyemisi A. Bamgbose, noted that it was a pleasant homecoming for the UI Ambassadors who had returned to give back to their alma mater. She lauded the UI Alumni Association, Ibadan Chapter led by its chairman, Professor Olufemi Adegbesan for establishing the link for the University to benefit from such a profound initiative. She further stated that Private Public collaboration was not new to the university, but reiterated the importance of the proposition by Outsource Mart Limited because it had to do with student empowerment. According to her, Covid-19 had exposed the world to multitasking for advancement through technology. She then expressed hopes that as the organization identifies particular fields and areas of interests, the university would begin to raise a new breed of global ambassadors.
The visit had in attendance executives of the Alumni Association and Deans of Law, Technology, Economics and Science. The Dean of Student and the Directors of the University’s Distance Learning Centre and Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation were also in attendance as pivotal units for the collaboration.
In view of the leverage this collaboration offers, UI students will benefit from a global driven outsourcing which has become a viable option to address the issue of unemployment and underemployment. The subsequent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding formalised the collaboration and a duration of three months would be allotted to provide deliverables in section engagement work scope.
Thereafter, a Master Service Agreement will be designed with Departments that will serve as pivots for the initiative.
