Mrs. Layo Bakare-Okeowo, President of FAE Group, has urged employers to support government efforts to reduce brain drain by incentivising talented professionals to remain in Nigeria and contribute to national economic growth.
She made the call during the 2025 edition of World Envelope Day and job fair, held in Lagos on Wednesday. The event was supported by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Jobberman.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the theme of the event was: “Empowering Job Seekers across Nations with Essential Skills and Knowledge.”
Bakare-Okeowo noted that although envelopes might seem mundane, they play a vital role in communication and connection. She said the day provided an opportunity to celebrate the brains and professionals behind envelope production.
She added that Nigeria must urgently stop exporting its brightest talents, noting that the job fair was part of efforts to reduce the ‘Japa syndrome’ and give back to society.
“As well as celebrating envelopes, this event includes a career fair, providing a platform for talented individuals to explore opportunities with medium and large organisations,” she said. “It is a way to invest in our youth and prepare them to meet future workplace challenges.”
LCCI President, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, described envelopes as timeless carriers of information and unveiled a partnership between FAE Group and LCCI aimed at equipping job seekers with critical skills and knowledge.
Quoting data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Idahosa said over 73 million young people were unemployed globally in 2023, with 40.1 per cent of employers reporting difficulties filling vacancies due to a lack of necessary skills.
He said the FAE-LCCI partnership reflects a commitment to corporate responsibility that extends beyond the factory floor into shaping the future of Nigerian youth.
“The envelope, though modest, symbolises opportunity—be it an appointment letter, a scholarship offer, or a business proposal. Similarly, this partnership is a vessel for transformational change amid global unemployment and widening skills gaps,” he added.
Citing Nigeria’s N-Power programme as a model, Idahosa said it had demonstrated the value of structured training in integrating young people into key sectors like agriculture, education, and technology.
He said the FAE-LCCI partnership would be anchored on three pillars: skill acceleration, innovation hubs for envelope production, and job connector series.
Also speaking, Mr. Oreoluwa Boboye, CEO of Jobberman (represented by Mr. Innih Ikhide, Head of Youth Engagement and Learning), said the fair was designed to create opportunities for attendees to network, learn, and secure employment.
