With a mission to equip first-year students with insights into the ever-evolving job market in the Built Environment field, the University of Nairobi’s Office of Career services recently organized a campus career mentorship program at the Faculty of The Built Environment and Design ADD Space 108.

Naomi Nyaboga, the Section Head in the Career Office highlighted the mandate of the Office and highlighted the 21st century skills that most employers are looking out for and how acquiring extra skills will make the students more marketable upon graduation.

The program featured a lineup of mentors who are distinguished alumni of the faculty, offering invaluable advice to the first-year students. The session with a mission of enabling students to understand the Changing Job Market involved Mentors who emphasized on the importance of staying up-to-date with the rapidly evolving job market within the Built Environment sector. They shared crucial insights on the skills and knowledge students should acquire to enhance their marketability upon graduation.

One of the mentors, Monica Gathuo, a Planning Officer at Women in Real Estate Kenya, shared a powerful message in the student’s social circle stating that “Your networks are your net worth.” She encouraged students to choose their friends wisely right from their first year, as these connections become a vital part of their support system throughout their campus journey.

This mentorship program not only offered first-year students a glimpse into the real-world application of their studies but also highlighted the significance of building a strong professional network from the very beginning of their academic journey. The Office of Careers and Faculty of Built Environment and Design continues to foster a supportive environment for its students, ensuring they are well-prepared for successful careers in their field.

In a bid to shape the business leaders of tomorrow, The Office of Career Services organized an enlightening mentorship program for students at the Faculty of Business and Management Science, Lower Kabete. The event which got an attention of more than 430 first years focused on personal growth, digital readiness, and professional development, equipping students with the essential skills they need to excel in the competitive job market.

The mentorship program featured a distinguished panel of accomplished speakers, all proud alumni of the Faculty of Business and Management Science. Their insights and experiences left a lasting impression on the aspiring students. Here are some key takeaways from the mentorship session.

The session was officially opened by Johnson Kinyua, the dean of Student and Career Services who encouraged students to work on being Future-Ready and Globally Competitive in the evolving job market. Naomi Nyaboga, the Section Head in the Career Office highlighted the mandate of the Office and highlighted the 21st century skills that most employers are looking out for and how acquiring extra skills will make the students more marketable upon graduation.

Mr. Livingston Makori, who is the  founder of the Corporate Career Academy, emphasized on the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in the ever evolving business landscape. “In today’s world, the ability to learn and adapt is as crucial as any other skill.” He said.

Mr. Martin Mwabia is the Education Support Manager at ACCA, He stressed on the significance of professional certifications stating that “Acquiring professional certifications adds significant value to your profile and opens doors to various opportunities.”

Mr. Washington Mageto, CEO of PLAT-DEL, shared his entrepreneurial journey starting from his hard life on campus and at times getting into depression after his sponsorship was terminated and highlighted the role of resilience. “Entrepreneurship demands resilience, you must keep pushing forward, even in the face of challenges.”

Mr. Stephen Muchangi, who is now a successful entrepreneur, inspired students to embrace innovation. He said, “Innovation is the key to staying competitive. Seek out opportunities to innovate and make a difference.”

This mentorship program was not just a source of inspiration but also a roadmap for students to chart their future in the world of business. It reinforced the importance of acquiring soft skills, embracing change, and always being prepared for the demands of the job market.

The UoN Office of Career Services is committed to nurturing the potential of its students, and this event was a shining example of their dedication to elevating the business leaders of tomorrow. Through such initiatives, students at the Faculty of Business and Management Science are well on their way to achieving excellence in their careers.

Thursday, October 19, 2023,

Aicat Trust Kenya (ATK) and Young Agriculture Professionals (YEP) partnered with the University of Nairobi’s Office of Career Services to host an impactful career guidance program targeting the final year students in the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.

The mentorship session was held at the 8.4.4 Building, located within the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at the Upper Kabete Campus, and it attracted a significant turnout, with 367 eager students looking to embark on their career journeys. The session was attended by esteemed alumni from the faculty of Agriculture and experts from YEP and ATK. Speaking during the session the head of Career Services Madam Naom Nyaboga reminded students on the importance of soft skills and encouraged them to enhance themselves in terms of skills set and upskill themselves to equally compete in the job market.

The ‘GET IT RIGHT’, session was expertly crafted to equip students with the tools and insights needed for a successful entry into the job market. The program encompassed a rich array of activities, including a keynote address, engaging panel discussions, one-on-one mentoring sessions, and the establishment of virtual follow up connections with mentors representing diverse disciplines. Students were provided with invaluable guidance on a range of critical career development topics which included networking, strategies for securing internships and market penetration, exploring self-employment opportunities, honing their skills in crafting impressive CVs and cover letters, investigating opportunities abroad, and considering further studies. In a rapidly evolving job market, emphasis was also placed on cultivating 21st century skills.

This collaborative effort between ATK, YEP, and the University of Nairobi’s Office of Career Services played a pivotal role in empowering these aspiring professionals, ensuring they are well prepared to proactively pursue their careers and seize opportunities in the competitive world of agriculture and veterinary medicine. The program served as a guiding light, illuminating the path to success for the students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nairobi.

The University of Nairobi’s Office of Career Services organized a transformative career mentorship session on Friday, November 17, 2023, at the Mombasa Campus. The career mentorship program was attended by over 100 students from diverse faculties, the session aimed to arm  and equip students with the knowledge and awareness essential for navigating the fiercely competitive job market. The session included remarks from the Office of Career Services and a panel discussion involving experiences Peers from different fields

Madam Naomi Nyaboga, Head of Career Services, Explained the pivotal role of the Career Services Office in transforming ordinary students into qualified, market-ready graduates, thereby addressing the unemployment gap not only in Kenya but globally.

Stephen Okiki, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Express Shipping & Log LTD, Shared valuable advice on learning from mistakes, identifying opportunities, and adapting to the digital era. Emphasized the importance of being updated in a rapidly evolving world.

Madam Lucy Gikundi, who a mental health champion and assistant dean faculty of arts and Social Sciences Encouraged students to seek career guidance, utilize available resources, and form meaningful relationships. She advised on avoiding misinformation, facing challenges head-on, and ensuring relationships are reliable.

Dr. Melba Wasuna, External Affairs Manager, Highlighted the commitment to fostering a competitive edge among students, stressing the necessity of continuous improvement and upskilling. Underlined the idea that achievements today pave the way for future ventures.

Key Takeaways from the session included; Emphasis on transformation from student to market-ready graduate, Learning from mistakes and identifying opportunities, Navigating challenges with career guidance and resources and Importance of continuous improvement and upskilling to equally Compete in the competitive job market.

The mentorship session echoed a commitment to empowering students with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-changing job landscape. The University of Nairobi, through its dedicated mentors and speakers, is paving the way for a generation of skilled, resilient, and informed graduates poised to shape the future. This program serves as a testament to the university’s dedication to nurturing not just academic success, but holistic development for each student.

In September 2023, the University of Nairobi’s Law Faculty secured the runner-up position in the fiercely competitive 2023 All African Moot Court Competition. This prestigious event unfolded at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, spanning from the 3rd to the 9th of September, and drew participation from law schools across 17 African nations.

The competition’s themed, “The Africa We Want,” addressed important issues like illegal mining, climate change, education, harmful practices, and the rights of gender and sexual minorities in Africa. It challenged participants to apply their legal knowledge to real-world problems. With 92 teams from 19 African countries participating, it was a significant event.

This annual competition, which started in 1992, plays a crucial role in legal education in Africa. It trains future lawyers to argue cases involving human rights violations, as if they were presenting before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

While the University of Nairobi’s team did not win the championship, their journey to the finals deserves recognition. The team members, Njapit Ntikiya and Trevor Kamau, represented their university with distinction.

The All African Moot Court Competition has had a lasting impact beyond the event itself. It has played a significant role in shaping human rights teaching and research across Africa. Over the years, 170 universities from 47 African countries have participated, making it a permanent fixture in African legal education. It has also led to the establishment of important human rights programs, cultivating a new generation of African legal professionals dedicated to justice and human rights.

As we celebrate the University of Nairobi’s impressive performance and their role as ambassadors, we also recognize the competition’s profound influence on legal education and the pursuit of justice in Africa. It is through events like this that we continue to shape the legal landscape in our continent and work toward achieving “The Africa We Want.”

Dear Staff/Students,

The Office of Career Services in partnership with Lapid Leaders has organized a Webinar on the ‘Power of Resilience’

The aim of the webinar is to inspire and equip African youth with the tools and mindset needed to overcome challenges and unleash their full potential.

Webinar Title: Empowering African Youth: Power of Resilience
Date: 15th September 2023
Time: 7Pm to 8:30PM
Speaker: Melita Ole Tenges, Senior Political News Writer, NTV Kenya

WEBINAR REGISTRATION

Webinar Registration Link: bit.ly/LS-Power

Webinar Zoom Link: 

Lapid Leaders Africa is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: LAPID WEBINARS: POWER OF RESILIENCE WITH MELITA
Time: Sep 15, 2023 07:00 PM Nairobi

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906288179?pwd=a2o1MlNZYWJrQ2tLRjJiWkFObXNzdz09

Meeting ID: 839 0628 8179
Passcode: 713793

We are pleased to announce that eMobilis is offering a Fully Sponsored Web Development Scholarship that is aimed at equipping the youth with technical skills through an intensive training starting on October 2, 2023 for two and a half months. 

eMobilis is an award-winning, accredited, 12-year-old Technology and Digital Training Institution and Innovation Hub with 4 computer labs based in Westlands, Nairobi.

Our globally accepted curriculum has enabled us to run Training, Incubation and Youth Development programs for partners such as Mastercard Foundation, Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy (Ajira Digital), Safaricom (Safaricom Academy incubation), Google, UNESCO, KICD, World Bank (Mlab Regional Laboratory in consortium with iHub), GIZ (Android Developer Boot camps for the EAC Secretariat in 6 countries), Dot Connect Africa (All female Coding class), Microsoft (JKUAT Boot Camps) etc.

The program targets 3rd and 4th Year University and TVET students in the ICT field who are passionate about technology and have access to reliable internet connection and a Laptop/Desktop. The classes will be conducted virtually for 3 hours per day by our able Lecturers who have extensive experience as Developers.

Application link: https://bit.ly/3DT5d6e

Registration Deadline: Wednesday 20 September, 2023.

In collaboration with the University of Nairobi’s Admission Office, the Office of Career Services received students from Chebonei Girls Secondary School – Bomet on August 8, 2023. The students made their way to the University of Nairobi’s Towers, 3rd Floor, Room 302 for a career guidance session with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the courses provided at the University as well as the general student life at the University of Nairobi.

The Career Guidance Session that started at 10 am was facilitated by a team from the admissions office who shared in detail the admission requirements for various courses offered at the University of Nairobi as well as the admission process of the University of Nairobi. Naomi Nyaboga – Head of Section Career Services shared a presentation on the role of the Office of the Dean of Students and Career Services in handling the non-academic aspect of students’ lives, to make their journey at the University both wholesome and productive. In addition, Naomi Nyaboga encouraged the students to make great use of their holiday by learning a new skill to not only keep them busy but widen their scope and knowledge.

The students from Chebonei Girls displayed great enthusiasm and excitement to potentially enroll at the University of Nairobi. They promised to work hard in order to qualify for the various undergraduate courses offered at the University of Nairobi. The session was concluded by a tour of select areas and faculties of the University of Nairobi.

We look forward to receiving these beautiful young minds as scholars at our beautiful institution.

The University on Tuesday August 1, 2023 flagged off 60 students set to travel to the Arava region in Israel. The flagging of was held after a thorough pre-departure training for the students. Sixty (60) students from the University of Nairobi have been admitted to the AICAT program for the 2023/2024 intake.

The Government of Kenya and the State of Israel signed a Jerusalem Declaration on February 2016 for an 11 months’ experiential internship program in Israel for Kenyan University graduates pursuing Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.  The program is run in partnership with Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training (AICAT) in Israel that mentors students on professional, theoretical and practical knowhow and skills in advanced agricultural studies, based on ‘Learning by Doing’.  About 480 students from Kenya and 150 from UoN have benefitted from this prestigious program since its inception in 2016.

The pre-departure preparation training covered various areas including being Physically, Mentally, Financially and emotionally prepared for the program. Other areas covered included packing for international travel, departure from the JKIA airport, connecting flights at Dubai/Bole International Airport, arrival in Tel Aviv, Program Terms and Conditions, Financial Management Tips, Professionalism and 21st Century Skills as presented by Naomi Nyaboga, Section Head, Office of Career Services. “We expect you to uphold your ethical and moral values and be good ambassadors of the University of Nairobi during your 11 months stay in Israel reiterated Ms. Naomi Nyaboga.

The UoN Office of Career Services has since 2017 sent students to Israel to learn extensive agricultural skills. “Today we flag off 60 more and wish them well as they embark on this 11 months journey of hard work” said Mr. Johnson Kinyua, Dean of Students University of Nairobi.

AICAT Alumni represented by the outgoing Student Leader Sharon Namu, incoming student leader, Jesse Obimbo, Ebby Soita and Diana Shianda mentored the students on overcoming challenges and taking advantage of opportunities during the AICAT Program.

The pre-departure training was crowned by the flagging off of the students by the Ag. Vice Chancellor and DVC Academic Affairs, Prof. Julius Ogeng’o. He wished the students well and reminded them of their duty as Ambassadors of the University of Nairobi.

As part of our commitment to supporting students mental health and well-being, the Office of the Dean of Students’ Wellness Centre held a sensitization webinar titled, ‘Mindful Digital Wellbeing’ on Wednesday July 5, 2023 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm via zoom.

The interactive session themed, ‘Navigating Online Spaces and Mental Wellness’, explored the impact of online spaces on mental health and provide practical strategies to maintain a healthy digital presence. The session aimed to address the impact of online spaces on mental health and provide strategies for maintaining a healthy online presence for students as well as how students can harness the power of technology to work for them and advance their careers.

The session which had an attendance of 50 students began at 2:00pm with students logging in to the session for the first 10 minutes, followed by an opening prayer by Nina Kinya, a student setting a positive and reflective tone for the session.

Moderated by Mary Oloo, Student Assistant, Career Services the webinar kicked off with welcoming remarks and session introduction by Lucy Gikundi, Coordinator of the Wellness Centre. She delivered the welcoming remarks and provided an overview of the session’s objectives and agenda. Lucy Gikundi then proceeded to present on, ‘Mental Health and Self-care’. The session focused on the importance of prioritizing mental well-being and provided practical strategies for self-care in the digital age.

The second part of the session was on,’ Navigating Online Spaces for Optimal Mental Health,’ facilitated by Naomi Nyaboga, Head of Section from Career Services. She discussed strategies for maintaining a healthy online presence and managing social media usage. Participants learned about the potential impact of online spaces on mental health and explored ways to navigate these spaces mindfully. She also discussed the benefis of harnessing the power of technology and social media to advance your careers through taking online professional courses and advertising skills and expertise.

The session came to a close with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Mary Oloo, Student Assistant, Career Service and a closing prayer led by Maureen Otieno, a Students Assistant to the UoN Wellness Centre.

Students shared their thoughts the usefulness and the informativeness of the session before proceeding to log out of the meeting at their own pleasure.