Interswitch Career Fair 4.0 Draws Thousands, Champions Africa’s...

Group Managing Director and CEO of Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe, says resilience, authenticity and value creation remain key drivers of sustainable career growth, as the company’s flagship Career Fair drew thousands to the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos for its fourth edition.

The one-day event, themed “The Talent Paradox: Enabling the Talent Ecosystem in Africa,” brought together students, professionals, industry leaders and job seekers for an immersive experience that challenged conventional thinking and offered strategic insights into Africa’s evolving labour market.

Elegbe, in his opening address, drew from his entrepreneurial journey, noting that the early challenges of building Interswitch shaped its present success. He cautioned against the illusion of inflated visibility and urged participants to focus on real value, authenticity, and deliberate growth. “Solving meaningful problems is not just the gateway to career success, it’s how we build lasting impact,” he said.

The fair featured keynotes, panel discussions, and mentorship sessions that provided attendees with practical career tools and inspiration. One of the most engaging sessions came from Interswitch’s Chief Customer Experience Officer, Oremeyi Akah, who used storytelling and LEGO demonstrations to highlight the power of creativity, consistency and incremental action in achieving impactful career outcomes.

Franklin Ali, Group Chief Human Resource Officer at Interswitch, reinforced the company’s commitment to advancing Africa’s talent ecosystem, describing the fair as a platform dedicated to nurturing the continent’s best and brightest.

A keynote address by Dr Harry Akinola, Executive Director at JP Morgan Chase & Co, emphasised self-awareness and lifelong learning as cornerstones of career development. He urged young professionals to define their unique strengths and forge their own paths.

Other speakers included Kemi Okusanya, CEO of Hydrogen; Charles Ifedi, Founder of eBanqo; Lanre Basamta, Co-Founder of Optimus AI Labs; and Isioma Utomi, CEO of Catalyst Experience Solutions. Collectively, they addressed structural gaps in Africa’s talent landscape, calling for agile hiring practices, scalable skill-building programmes and stronger collaboration between private and public sectors.

With opportunities for mentorship, access to recruiters and an array of resources tailored to today’s job market, the Interswitch Career Fair once again underscored its role as one of Africa’s most impactful platforms for talent development and opportunity creation.

As global work environments evolve rapidly, Interswitch reaffirmed its leadership in shaping a future-ready, inclusive and authentically African talent agenda.