The Reality of Nigerian Career Fairs

You see a flyer on Instagram: “Mega Lagos Career Fair 2026! Over 50 companies hiring!” You print 20 copies of your CV, pay exorbitant transport fares to get to the venue in Victoria Island, only to find thousands of other sweaty job seekers and booths that just tell you to “go and apply on our website.”

Are career fairs in Nigeria a scam? Not entirely. But as a recruiter who has manned those booths, I can tell you that most job seekers attend them with the wrong expectations.

Here is how to make career fairs actually work for you:

  1. Quality over Quantity: Skip the massive, generic job fairs. Look for niche events (e.g., a “Fintech Developers Meetup” or a “Marketing Professionals Breakfast”).
  2. Do Your Research: Find out which companies are attending. Pick your top 3 targets and research them heavily before you arrive.
  3. Don’t Hand Over a Generic CV: At the booth, don’t just shove your CV in my face. Ask a smart question about the company’s recent product launch. Build rapport first.
  4. Collect Business Cards: Your primary goal is not to get hired on the spot. Your goal is to get the recruiter’s name and email address so you can follow up later.
  5. Follow Up Within 24 Hours: Send an email the next morning. “Hi Chukwudi, great meeting you at the fair yesterday. As discussed, here is the link to my portfolio…”

The Hidden Value of Fairs

The real value of a career fair is rarely the companies—it’s the other attendees. You are in a room full of professionals in your industry. Talk to them. The guy standing next to you in line might be a mid-level manager whose team is looking to hire a junior associate.

Stop treating career fairs as places to drop off paper. Treat them as networking hubs to build the relationships that will eventually lead to a job.