Repton CEO Urges Digital Skills Development at Lagos Career Fair

By Goke Ilesanmi

Otunba Odeyeyiwa Kazeem Olayemi, GMD/CEO of Repton Group, emphasized the importance of acquiring technology skills, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI), for career advancement in the digital era. He stated that building a successful career in today’s technology‑driven global economy requires a strategic blend of continuous technical upskilling, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

The CEO of Repton Group—a conglomerate that includes subsidiaries such as Kazab Heritage Limited (distribution), Defrost Ventures Limited (haulage and logistics), Kazab Oil and Gas, Heritage Engineering Services Limited, and Kazab Homes and Properties—made the remarks at the recent Lagos Career Fair 2026, where he served as the keynote speaker.

Speaking on the theme “Building a Winning Career in Today’s Technology‑ and AI‑Driven Global Economy,” Odeyeyiwa noted that as AI, automation, and digital platforms reshape industries, workers must shift from routine tasks to roles that involve human‑AI collaboration.

According to the Repton CEO, “This step becomes imperative because research confirms that by 2030, nearly 90% of jobs will require digital skills. The emerging trends clearly show that new technologies, including AI, will definitely have both positive and negative impacts on careers in the digital age of the global economy.”

“A recent research report by Nexford University says anyone who does not know that artificial intelligence will affect jobs and careers between 2026 and 2030 must definitely be living under a rock. One major recurrent question is whether or not AI will enhance careers and the global economy or disrupt them. This is a controversial subject that has proponents and opponents on both sides of the divide,” Odeyeyiwa explained. He added that many market‑research analysts believe AI can bring numerous positive changes to society, such as enhanced productivity, improved healthcare, and increased access to education, but also called for immediate adaptability. The CEO noted that others, especially those in manually repetitive human‑work roles, view AI and robotics as a disruptive force that may displace jobs.

In his own words, Odeyeyiwa said, “Building a winning career in today’s technology‑ and AI‑driven global economy requires a deliberate and strategic transition from viewing AI and other technologies as competitors to treating them as collaborative partners. In 2026, AI is transforming roles across all sectors rather than just eliminating them, with a shift from ‘human vs machine’ to ‘human × machine’ orchestration.”

“In other words, it will be wiser to embrace AI and other technologies as powerful tools that can both enhance and elevate your talents rather than completely replace them, and to stop being afraid of them. The people whose professions are genuinely future‑proofed are those who understand how to collaborate with AI. Thriving in this environment demands a combination of technical fluency, uniquely human skills, and continuous rapid learning,” he added.

He urged that to strategically build a future‑proof, winning career in today’s technology‑driven global economy, people need to be proactive about technological change, develop a “T‑shaped” career profile, embrace continuous learning, engage in self‑positioning, and master essential high‑impact skills.

The Repton CEO stressed the importance of soft skills such as interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, analytical skills, effective communication, negotiation skills, self‑development, creativity and innovation, self‑awareness, and self‑motivation, even in the digital age.

He said soft skills become imperative in the digital age because general intelligence, emotional intelligence, creativity, and higher‑order reasoning are still areas in which AI falls short, as it is not endowed with human intuition, interpersonal abilities, or broad mental flexibility.

In the Repton CEO’s words, “This reality simply implies that even after having mastered AI and other technological skills, soft skills are still largely required in building a winning career in the digital age. Soft skills are capable of setting you apart from your tech‑savvy peers who have only mastered technical or other technological skills but lack them.”