Themed “The Talent Paradox: Enabling the Talent Ecosystem in Africa,” the one-day Career Fair 4.0 brought together thousands including industry leaders, professionals, students, and job seekers for an immersive experience focused on unlocking the potential within Africa’s talent pipeline.

During the event, participants engaged in a dynamic series of keynotes, panel sessions, and mentoring sessions that challenged conventional thinking and sparked new ideas around the future of work in Africa. From practical career resources to strategic insights, the Career Fair delivered a holistic experience designed to equip attendees with tools for success in a fast-evolving labour market.

Setting a compelling tone for the event, Mitchell Elegbe, group managing director and chief executive officer, Interswitch Group, delivered an inspiring message to participants. Drawing on his entrepreneurial journey, he emphasised the power of resilience, bold thinking, authenticity, purpose, and a deep commitment to solving real problems.

Addressing the event attendees, he said –

“Starting Interswitch at a young age wasn’t easy. The odds were stacked high, but I was determined to break new ground in Nigeria’s emerging tech scene and that grit shaped what you see today. In a world where visibility is often mistaken for value, one must avoid falling into the trap of inflating your skills because of the ‘LinkedIn effect’. Authenticity builds trust. Embrace your learning curves, own your gaps, and grow deliberately. More importantly, focus on creating real value. Solving meaningful problems is not just the gateway to career success, it’s how we build lasting impact.”

Oremeyi Akah, chief customer experience officer, Interswitch, who was one of the company’s first employees, opened the programme with an engaging session that combined storytelling and LEGO block demonstrations.

She highlighted how creativity, resourcefulness, consistency, and incremental action can drive impactful career outcomes.

During the session, Franklin Ali, Group Chief Human Resource Officer, Interswitch Group noted that the Interswitch career fair remains the firm’s flagship platform for supporting the best of Africa’s rich and diverse talent.

Adding further depth, Dr. Harry Akinola, executive director, JP Morgan Chase & Co, delivered a keynote on self-awareness and personal development.

He encouraged young professionals to identify their unique strengths, define their own paths, and commit to continuous learning.

Other notable speakers included Kemi Okusanya, Chief Executive Officer, Hydrogen; Charles Ifedi, Founder, eBanqo; Lanre Basamta, Co-Founder, Optimus AI Labs; Isioma Utomi, CEO, Catalyst Experience Solutions, among others.

Together, they addressed systemic challenges affecting Africa’s talent ecosystem, identifying the need for scalable skilling programmes, agile hiring models, and stronger collaboration between public and private sectors in supporting the next generation of African innovators.

With a mix of mentorship sessions, practical career resources, and exposure to recruiters and hiring managers, the Interswitch Career Fair once again lived up to its reputation as one of Africa’s most impactful platforms for talent development, knowledge exchange, and opportunity creation.

As the world of work becomes increasingly dynamic, digital, and global, Interswitch continues to lead the way by championing a talent agenda that is inclusive, future-focused, and distinctly African.

The company affirmed this as it announced the Interswitch Career Fair 4.0 set to hold at the Landmark Event Centre, in Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

The highly anticipated Career Fair event, tagged “The Talent Paradox: Enabling the Talent Ecosystem in Africa” aims to spotlight the various resources and insights available to skilled, career-driven individuals and young professionals to strategically align them for the workplace of today and the future.

Going into the fourth edition, the event will host experts from Interswitch Group including Franklin Ali, Group Chief Human Resources Officer and Oremeyi Akah, Chief Customer Officer, alongside other industry experts including Lanre Basamta,  Co-Founder, Optimus AI Labs; Isioma Utomi, CEO, Catalyst Experience Solutions; Adora Ikwuemesi, CEO, Kendor Consulting; Olushola Olaleye, Business Consultant and Gloria Babarinde who will draw from their prolific experiences and expertise to unravel the theme in a panel session.

The event will also feature other engaging segments such as keynote and thought leadership sessions bordering trends and masterclasses on upskilling and thriving in the workplace amongst other pertinent discussions.

Attendees can also look forward to the job fair where potential candidates can have face-to-face interactions with the expansive pool of hiring experts on ground.

The Interswitch Career Fair also presents an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals as well as a resourceful platform for the active exchange of knowledge and ideas.

Mitchell Elegbe, the founder and group managing director at Interswitch, underscored the essence of the Interswitch Career Fair 4.0 event, highlighting that the programme is a pathway to recognize and equip emerging talents and raise transformative leaders that consistently innovate to solve Nigeria’s biggest challenges and impact the African labour market overall.

According to Elegbe,

“The Interswitch Career Fair reflects our deep-rooted commitment to nurturing African talent. This platform was conceptualized to cast the spotlight on individuals ready to lead, manage effectively, and create meaningful impact wherever they go. It’s more than just an event—it’s a launchpad for career advancement, connecting high-potential professionals with the right opportunities.”

Also commenting on the programme, Franklin Ali, Group Chief Human Resource Officer, Interswitch, said that

“This Career Fair goes beyond simply matching people with jobs—it’s designed to equip ambitious talent with the tools and skills needed to excel in the ever-evolving world of work. As a company that values the power of collaboration, we’ve joined forces with respected partners like ALX, Philips Consulting, Udemy, GLSS and Pluralsight to enrich the experience and broaden what’s possible for every attendee.

Interswitch Group, which recently bagged the 2024 ‘Happiest Workplaces around the Globe’ award, remains unwavering in its mission to Inspire Africa to greatness.

Interested participants are encouraged to follow Interswitch’s social media handles for more information about the upcoming Career Fair.

The event, which is scheduled to hold at the Landmark Event Center in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, will feature top speakers like Mitchell Elegbe, the founder and group managing director of Interswitch Group; Debola Deji-Kurunmi, Founder, IMMERSE Coaching Company and Franklin Ali, Chief Human Resource Officer, Interswitch Nigeria.

Other speakers include Robinta Aluyi, Vice President, Sales & Account Management, at Interswitch and Ivie Temitayo-Ibitoye, Head Employee Experience, Sahara Group, among others.

This year’s edition, themed: “Reimagining Work: People, Culture, Technology” highlights the need to view the future of work from a different lens by leveraging innovative technologies to enhance productivity in the modern workplace.

The Interswitch Career Fair 3.0, which is free for all attendees, has been designed to provide attendees with the fundamental and advanced tools and skills to thrive in the new world of work. Furthermore, attendees will have the opportunity to connect, network, and extensively explore new career opportunities.

Interswitch has forged strategic partnerships with leading organisations such as LinkedIn, ProductDive, ALX, Oscar Temple, Kendor, Udemy, Decagon, and Semicolon, ensuring that attendees have direct access to a vast pool of expertise and unparalleled upskilling opportunities delivered by renowned experts.

Attendees can look forward to insightful panel sessions exploring the possibilities of tech-focused careers and driving value at work with seasoned industry leaders providing guidance on how to build successful careers.

Speaking on the forthcoming event, Franklin Ali, Chief Human Resource Officer at Interswitch Nigeria, said;

“We are excited to announce the third edition of the Interswitch Career Fair. This marks another significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to nurturing and empowering early-stage and experienced talent in Nigeria thereby fostering sustainable growth – especially within the tech ecosystem.

“At Interswitch, we believe in harnessing the endless potential of African talent. This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering innovation, growth, and purpose-driven careers within Nigeria’s vibrant tech community. We look forward to yet another impactful event as we continue to shape the future of Nigeria’s workforce.”

Interswitch is also offering interested attendees the opportunity to join the Interswitch talent community, which will allow them keep abreast of current and future job openings at the company.

To sign up for the Interswitch Career Fair 3.0 and to join the talent community, click here.

The event, themed ‘The Future of Work’ explored trends around relevant subject matters such as navigating the Nigerian job market, career acceleration in today’s digital age, innovation in the workplace and navigating the world of tech as a woman.

The event drew attendees from different professional spaces from across the country seeking career growth opportunities.

The Interswitch Career Fair 2.0, like its antecedent, serves as a platform for career professionals to connect with like-minds and interface with experts in various fields including Finance, Technology, Marketing and Human Resources, among others.

Attendees were also exposed to valuable tips on how to stand out at the workplace and given insights into becoming a part of Interswitch’s recently launched talent community tagged #TalentConnect.

To give a better understanding of Interswitch’s goal, mission and vision for Africa and Africans, and the prospects that the pioneer technology firm offers, Interswitch’s representatives were on ground to deliver impactful and engaging discourses. These were tailored to aid attendees whose philosophies align with the tech giant’s objective to inspire a prosperous Africa.

Attendees were also treated to panel discussions, presentations, and workshops on various topics relating to career development and growth, featuring industry experts including Franklin Ali, Chief Human Resources Officer, Interswitch Nigeria; Akeem Lawal, MD, Interswitch Payment Processing and Switching (Interswitch Purepay), Damilola Olokesusi, Co-Founder/CEO Shuttlers; Halima Usman, Divisional Head, Core Operations, Interswitch; Adaobi Okerekeocha, Chief Innovation Officer, Interswitch;  Ivie Temitayo-Ibitoye, Head of Employee Relations, Sahara Group and Sikemi Tayo, CEO, Kit for Professionals.

During the job fair segment, attendees were given the opportunity to interact with company representatives stationed at the various booths set up to satisfy their career curiosities and employment potentials at The Switch.

Speaking about the event, Ali explained Interswitch’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s expanding workforce by empowering them through initiatives such as the Career Fair.

He stated that the Interswitch Career Fair 2.0 was a great success and a significant milestone for them at Interswitch. “We are committed to empowering talented young people in Nigeria, and this event was an opportunity for us to equip aspiring professionals with the latest work trends and point them towards the right opportunities” he added. 

With thousands of job seekers in attendance and a chance to join the Interswitch community, many left motivated to pursue their career goals, having gained valuable insights and advice to propel their dreams of kick-starting and accelerating their professional careers.

The Career Fair was proudly supported by Google, Udemy, LinkedIn, dbrown Consulting and the Interswitch Developer Community.

The success of the Interswitch Career Fair 2.0 is a testament to Interswitch Group’s commitment to grooming and nurturing the sharpest and best minds who will in turn become leaders in various sectors of the economy in the future.