Workplace mentor and career development expert Margaret Omovbude has urged Nigerian professionals to stop fearing artificial intelligence and start upgrading their skills if they want to stay relevant in today’s fast-changing job market.
Margaret Omovbude gave the advice at the maiden edition of the Corporate Power Room Conference in Lagos, where career experts and business leaders equipped participants with practical tips on leadership, career growth, salary negotiation and succeeding in the workplace.
Speakers at the event agreed that having technical skills alone is no longer enough, warning that professionals must also develop emotional intelligence, leadership abilities and adaptability to survive the changing world of work.
Speaking at the conference, Omovbude said Nigerian workers now face tougher competition as artificial intelligence reshapes workplaces and employers raise expectations.
“If you look at the employment landscape in Nigeria today, it is, in many ways, what it has always been. Nigeria has an enormous talent pool, but the depth of employable talent remains a challenge,” she said.
While acknowledging that entrepreneurship, freelancing, remote work and digital businesses have created fresh opportunities, she insisted structured organisations still play a vital role in shaping successful careers.
“Structured organizations still provide something invaluable. They teach discipline, relationship management, communication, emotional intelligence and professional maturity. These are life skills that remain relevant regardless of where your career eventually takes you,” she added.
Omovbude also dismissed fears that artificial intelligence will wipe out jobs, saying workers who embrace technology will have the upper hand.
“AI has changed the speed at which work gets done. Tasks that once took days can now be completed in minutes. But AI cannot replace human judgment, leadership, emotional intelligence or experience. The professionals who will thrive are those who embrace technology and learn how to work alongside it,” she said.
Other speakers, including Yemi Fasheun, Taiwo Dayo Abatan and Edward Esene, urged participants to build strong personal brands, invest in continuous learning and develop leadership, resilience and workplace influence.
Many attendees described the conference as life-changing. Dorcas Ononose said it gave her the confidence to negotiate better and become more assertive at work, while Ibn Jobe Victor said the event inspired him to break out of what facilitators called the “comfort cage” and pursue deliberate personal and professional growth.
Omovbude blamed Nigeria’s unemployment crisis on rapid population growth, soaring living costs and a shortage of quality jobs. She revealed that her organisation received over 25,000 applications when recruiting just 45 graduate trainees, describing it as proof of the fierce scramble for employment.
She called for greater investment in job creation while urging professionals to keep learning and strengthen the human qualities technology cannot replace.
Omovbude expressed optimism that the Corporate Power Room Conference would become an annual gathering where professionals and emerging leaders can network, exchange ideas and prepare for the future of work.
She stressed that while technical skills may get people through the door, lasting career success depends on leadership, adaptability, emotional intelligence, strong relationships and lifelong learning.
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