'MISMANAGEMENT RESULTS IN SHRINKING ECONOMIC BASE'

The Human Resource Director, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Mr. Victor Famuyibo, has said that the cumulative effect of the mismanagement of the country's economy is manifest in the shrinking economic base and employment opportunities.

As the effects of the alleged mismanagement bite harder, he said that many companies had resorted to downsizing their workforce, while some had opted for outsourcing of some of their works to smaller organisations in order to stay afloat.

Famuyibo was one of the professionals invited to a mentoring session by the Sigma Club of the University of Ibadan on Wednesday, to tutor students on how to fit into the society without relying on white-collar jobs.

Others were the President, Africa Nutrition Society, Prof. Tola Atinmo; Chairman, Wemabod, Dr. Kunle Olajide; and Vice-President, Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria, Mrs. Lilian Amah-Aluko.

The Chairman, Publicity Committee for the event, Mr. Oshati Bayode, said that the club decided to invite alumni members to expose the students to the intricacies of the business world.

The guests, who were alumni of the UI, were invited to share their experience in the business and corporate world with the students in order to prepare them for post-graduation challenges.

The mentoring session was entitled, 'Beyond the four walls of the university.'

Famuyibo urged the students to realise that the world outside the university community was tougher than the experiences they were likely to pass through during their course of study.

About 30 years ago when he graduated from the university, he said that employers were scrambling to engage his service, an experience he shared with his colleagues who graduated at the same period.

He said, 'The world outside is rough and tough. It has become the survival of the fittest. You are going into a competitive world, where your hardwork, focus and integrity you build for yourself today will be your weapons.

'The mismanagement of the economy has led to employers downsizing the workforce or outsourcing to smaller organisations. The economic base and employment opportunity are shrinking day by day.

'For this reason, over-dependence on white-collar jobs is no longer attractive or tenable.'