Under the theme “Beyond the Certificate: Mastering Value Creation,” the second edition brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs and industry professionals who challenged participants to see their certificates as a foundation for building capability, solving problems and creating value.
The one-day programme featured a keynote address, a Design Thinking Workshop, a panel session and a closing keynote, creating a platform for participants to gain practical insights into career readiness, workplace expectations and value creation.
From Certificate to Capability
Delivering the opening keynote, Mrs. Feyisayo Alayande, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), challenged participants to rethink the place of a university certificate in their career journey.
While acknowledging the importance of education, knowledge and professional qualifications, Mrs. Alayande stressed that academic credentials should serve as a foundation for what comes next rather than an endpoint.
“Your certificate matters. Education matters. Knowledge matters. Professional qualifications matter. But a certificate is not the destination; it is the beginning.”
She outlined a progression that captured the central message of the programme: from certificate to capability, from capability to value, from value to jobs and enterprise, and from jobs and enterprise to nation-building.
For Mrs. Alayande, value creation extends beyond securing employment. It includes solving problems, creating opportunities, building useful products and services, employing others and contributing productively to society.
She therefore encouraged participants to move from simply looking for vacancies to identifying problems they could become good at solving.
“Don't only look for vacancies. Look for problems. Every persistent problem is potentially an economic opportunity.”
Turning Ideas Into Action
The emphasis on practical value creation continued with an interactive Design Thinking Workshop led by Mr. Omona Daye, Business Development Officer, Edike Africa.
The session equipped participants with practical tools for user empathy, ideation and rapid prototyping, giving them an opportunity to engage with approaches to understanding problems and developing solutions.
The workshop complemented the broader conversations of the day by demonstrating that creating value requires more than identifying opportunities; it also requires understanding real needs and developing solutions around them.
What Employers Look For
While much of the day's conversation focused on what young people can build and contribute, Mr. Oluwatimilehin Akinola, Executive Director, Edike Foundation and Convener, Gown to Town, offered an employer's perspective on what makes a young professional valuable in the workplace.
According to Mr. Akinola, employers are not necessarily looking for candidates who already possess every skill or have exceptional credentials. Instead, he emphasised the importance of diligence and the willingness to learn.
“To be honest, we are not looking for anything extraordinary; we are also still learning and expect to teach. Diligence is key. Under diligence, you have timeliness, hard work, and commitment. Once we see diligence, we can work on the rest.”
The message placed emphasis on qualities that young professionals can demonstrate regardless of their level of experience: showing up on time, working diligently and remaining committed to responsibilities.
Mr. Akinola also challenged the perception that entrepreneurship is the only desirable career path for young graduates, noting that traditional employment remains a legitimate avenue for learning, contributing and building a career.
“There is nothing wrong with working a 9-to-5 job.”
Learning From Industry Experience
The programme's panel session brought together professionals from different sectors to share practical experiences and perspectives on navigating the world of work.
Moderated by Miss Atinuke Towoju, a Mathematics student at Covenant University and certified Data Scientist, the panel featured Mr. Babatunde Akin-Moses, Co-Founder and CEO, Sycamore Group; Ms. Oluwanifemi Adeniyi, Treasury Finance Professional and Balance Sheet Manager, Rand Merchant Bank; Mr. Wale Hassan, CEO and Founder, NOVAC Payments; and Mr. Bowofade Elegbede, Associate Director and Head of Investments, West Africa, Acumen Fund.
The panellists reflected on the value of exposing young people to real workplace experiences rather than relying solely on theoretical advice.
Mr. Akin-Moses described the conversations as practical and insightful because speakers were able to draw from their personal experiences rather than theory.
For Ms. Adeniyi, the conversations were relevant not only to students but also to professionals already navigating their careers.
Mr. Hassan, who also attended the inaugural 2025 edition, noted that the 2026 programme was more deliberate in guiding students through the realities of post-school life.
Mr. Elegbede described Gown to Town as an important response to a gap in the education system, particularly by creating a platform for experienced professionals to transfer knowledge to younger people preparing to enter the workforce.
Becoming a Value Maker
Closing the programme, Mrs. Edememe Oladiji-Wusu, CEO, Semper Discens Limited, reinforced the day's focus on moving beyond qualifications.
Speaking on “Career Readiness: Becoming a Value Maker in the Real World,” Mrs. Oladiji-Wusu reminded participants that a degree alone does not guarantee career success.
“What you really need in the real world of work is value creation and sustainability.”
She encouraged participants to leave the programme with “the mindset of a value maker,” reinforcing the idea that career readiness is not simply about finding employment but about developing the capacity to remain useful, solve problems and create sustainable value.
Beyond Gown to Town
For Edike Foundation, the purpose of Gown to Town extends beyond a single annual gathering.
The programme provides a platform for students and recent graduates to engage directly with professionals, gain practical perspectives and better understand the transition from academic life to the world of work.
The 2026 edition also represented an expansion from the inaugural 2025 programme, which focused on banking and finance, to a broader cross-industry conversation around value creation.
Beyond Gown to Town, Edike Foundation's work also includes mentorship and scholarships for indigent students in federal and state government-owned universities. Mr. Akinola noted that while the Foundation's current focus remains on undergraduates, it aims to expand its scope across educational levels.
Ultimately, Gown to Town is built around a simple but important transition: from gown to town, from academic achievement to practical capability, and from qualification to contribution.
The 2026 edition challenged participants to look beyond what they have studied and consider what they can do with what they know, the problems they can solve, the value they can create and the contribution they can make to society.
As Mrs. Alayande put it, the next chapter has not yet been written, and young Nigerians have a role in writing it.
Appreciation
Mrs. Tinuoye Akinola, Director, Partnerships, Edike Foundation, delivered the vote of thanks as the Foundation expressed its appreciation to all sponsors, partners, speakers, facilitators, participants, and supporters whose contributions helped make Gown to Town 2026 a success. The programme concluded on a note of gratitude and renewed commitment to empowering young people with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive beyond the classroom.