Jobberman, Mastercard Foundation Empower Entrepreneurs, Job Seekers at Benue Career Clinic

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Jobberman Nigeria, a leading career development and recruitment solutions company, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, has hosted a Career Clinic in Makurdi, Benue State, aimed at training young professionals, entrepreneurs, and aspiring talents.

The event, held on September 13, 2025, with the theme “Your Career Compass: Gain Clarity in Work and Business,” equipped participants with tools and insights to grow or pivot in their careers and business ventures.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Gideon Ikyernum, Founder and Managing Director of Gandaria Ventures Limited, encouraged participants to pursue determination in their chosen fields. He advised them not to let others dictate their career paths but to identify their passion and follow it.

“Talented entrepreneurs or youths must not wait for their conditions to improve before starting out. No matter how disadvantaged you feel, start something, and results will come,” he said, stressing that opportunities for breakthroughs exist wherever hard work and determination are applied.

Speaking on behalf of Jobberman, the Head of Marketing, Mr. Babajide Anjorin, explained that the Career Clinic was designed to expose Benue talents to the skills and competencies needed to excel in job interviews, craft quality CVs, and navigate workplace challenges. He added that the program also provided business counseling sessions to help entrepreneurs scale their enterprises and secure fulfilling jobs.

According to Anjorin, Jobberman expects participants to apply the skills acquired while assuring that professional counselors will conduct follow-ups to measure the program’s impact. He further noted that Jobberman, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and the Benue State Government, has extended training opportunities to internally displaced persons (IDPs), people with disabilities (PWDs), and young women, who made up 80 percent of the trainees.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Theresa Ikwue, represented by Mrs. Magdalene Andor, praised Jobberman for bringing the program to Benue. She highlighted its potential to reduce the challenges facing women and youths, while reaffirming the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with Jobberman to address issues such as gender-based violence and economic empowerment.

Some participants, including Abigail Oche, a recent graduate of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), and entrepreneur Tor Raphael, expressed gratitude for the initiative. They noted that the one-on-one counseling sessions boosted their confidence and erased their career fears.

“The ideas I’ve gained will help me explore opportunities, network, and volunteer because these build confidence, dignity, and skills,” Oche said, urging Jobberman to expand its reach to schools, communities, and other institutions.

The clinic also featured expert panel sessions and breakout discussions, where panelists such as Mr. Jonathan Isah, Lead Strategist of iRead Africa Consulting; Arc. Nguvan Kyenge, Founder of The Mindset Series International; Dr. Victoria Daaor, Founder of Elohim Development Foundation; and Hon. Anne Kadev, Special Adviser to the Governor on Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, shared actionable strategies on leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.

The Benue Career Clinic is one of Jobberman’s key initiatives to equip Nigerians with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities required to thrive in today’s evolving economy.