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 was in the light that Alumni Association of the University of Ibadan (U.I.) reached out to Outsource Mart Limited for partnership.
The collaboration was aimed at empowering U.I. 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 Outsource Mart Team, led by the Executive Director, Mr. Peter Oyewole, affirmed that the initiative would provide opportunities for U.I. 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 fallout of the pandemic.
According to him, this had 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, Mr. Oyewole mentioned that the University of Ibadan, being Nigeria’s premier university, had been known for its wealth of experience in collaborations with businesses, government agencies and Non Governmental Organisations 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, were alumni of the University of Ibadan.
The third Executive Director who was in attendance from Outsource Mart Ltd was Dr. Fredrick Igbinedion.
Dr. Igbinedion commented on his delight to be part of the initiative that U.I. underpins the company’s passion for building a mutually beneficial collaboration.
In his response, the Vice Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovations and Strategic Partnership, (RISP) mentioned that it was a pleasant homecoming, as the U.I ambassadors had returned to give back to their alma mater.
She lauded the U.I. 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 executive members 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, U.I. students would benefit from a global-driven outsourcing which had 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 would be designed with Departments that would serve as pivots for the initiative.
