Oge Elumelu has launched the inaugural edition of the Africa and Everywhere Festival, a one-day careers and internship fair designed to translate online career conversations into tangible employment opportunities for young people.
Speaking at the event, Oge, daughter of Heirs Holding chairman Tony Elumelu, said the initiative was born from the “success of her podcast, The Africa and Everywhere, which has completed two seasons with 20 episodes, amassing over 60,000 plays across more than 80 countries”.
While the podcast helped demystify various industries, she noted a pressing need to move beyond digital dialogue.
“How can we make sure that it translates to actual, tangible impact in young people’s lives?” she asked, describing the festival as a bridge between an online community and an offline network where “opportunity is able to meet talent”.
The maiden edition featured four panel sessions addressing key professional stages: securing a first job, career advancement, personal finance management, and transitioning from employment to entrepreneurship.
The event was structured as a “speed-dating internships and careers fair,” aimed at equipping attendees with practical skills while directly connecting them to recruiters.
The event opened with a panel session on career development featuring Toni Sanni, Sam Nwanze and Obong Idiong, who shared insights into their professional journeys and discussed the experiences that shaped their careers.
Attention then shifted to employability, as Faith Nelson-Ojeaga, Yetunde Ayeni and Tomilayo Esan discussed what recruiters look for in graduate CVs.
The panellists advised young job seekers to keep their resumes concise while ensuring they include relevant experience, a professional email address and an active phone number.
The conversation later turned to personal finance, with Oghogho Osula, group director at Emerging Africa, joining Onyinye Osunwoke of United Capital and Ibi Ibru, founder of Money Start, to discuss the financial habits needed to build long-term wealth beyond earning a salary.
The festival concluded with a session on entrepreneurship, where Reni Abina, Yanmo Omorogbe and medical doctor and health communicator Aproko Doctor shared how unexpected career paths led them to build successful businesses.
