University can be a transformative journey, but it’s also a complex, often overwhelming space to navigate alone. Between grappling with academic pressures, adjusting to newfound independence, making career decisions, and building networks, students frequently find themselves underprepared for the scope of challenges university presents. This is precisely where mentorship becomes not just helpful but essential.A mentor is an experienced and trusted person who provides guidance, advice, and support to a mentee, who is typically less experienced in a particular field or area. Mentors share their knowledge, skills, and insights to help mentees develop and grow. A mentor is not a luxury; they’re a necessity in today’s hyper-competitive and fast-evolving world. Whether they’re lecturers, industry professionals, alumni, or even senior students, mentors offer real-world perspectives, targeted advice, and a roadmap for success that cannot be found in textbooks. University education should not be limited to passing exams and earning degrees. It should prepare students to make informed life choices, avoid avoidable mistakes, and build meaningful careers. A mentor can fast-track this process.Unfortunately, many Nigerian university students still undervalue or misunderstand the power of mentorship, seeing it as optional or overly formal. That thinking needs to change. If higher education is about equipping students for the real world, then mentors are an indispensable part of that training. Here’s why every university student, regardless of their field should have a mentor.
1. Mentors Provide Unfiltered Insight
Academic programmes are designed to build knowledge, not necessarily to reveal industry truths. A mentor bridges that gap. They offer behind-the-scenes insight into what the industry demands, where opportunities lie, and what skills matter most. This type of information is rarely shared in classrooms but is critical for making strategic academic and career choices. A mentor saves students time, effort, and misdirection.
2. They Help Students Set Clear Goals
Many students drift through university with vague ambitions and no actionable plan. Mentors change that. They help students define their short- and long-term goals, whether academic, professional, or personal. More importantly, they help break down those goals into realistic steps. This clarity builds confidence and ensures time spent in university is purposeful.
3. Academic Guidance Beyond the Syllabus
While lecturers deliver curriculum content, mentors go further. They help students make sense of what they’re learning, how it applies in the real world, and how to go beyond surface-level understanding. A mentor can advise on which electives to take, which research areas to explore, and how to build a portfolio that strengthens employability or postgraduate applications.
4. Mentorship Builds Soft Skills
Beyond grades, today’s employers look for communication, critical thinking, resilience, and adaptability. Mentors play a pivotal role in nurturing these skills. Through conversations, feedback, and shared experiences, students gain emotional intelligence, learn how to deal with failure, and develop problem-solving habits that formal education often overlooks.
5. Mentors Expand Professional Networks
Networking remains one of the most underutilised advantages in the university experience. A mentor connects students to opportunities they would never otherwise access. Whether it’s an internship, a scholarship, a conference, or an introduction to a key industry figure, mentors often become the bridge to such opportunities. In a country like Nigeria where connections can open doors faster than credentials, this is invaluable.
6. Emotional Support and Accountability
University life isn’t just intellectually demanding, it’s emotionally exhausting. Many students deal with anxiety, self-doubt, and the pressure to succeed. A mentor offers a safe, non-judgemental space to talk through these struggles. Their support can be the difference between burnout and breakthrough. Moreover, mentors keep students accountable. When someone believes in your potential and tracks your progress, it’s harder to give up on yourself.
7. Mentors Help with Decision-Making
From choosing a final-year project to deciding between job offers or postgraduate routes, students are often forced to make decisions they don’t feel equipped to handle. Mentors bring context, objectivity, and experience to such decisions. They don’t make choices for students, but they do ensure those choices are informed, strategic, and aligned with long-term goals.
8. Career Planning and Readiness
Too many students graduate unprepared for the workforce. A mentor demystifies career paths, helps tailor CVs, prepares students for interviews, and advises on professional etiquette. They also challenge students to think about the future: where they want to be in five years, and what they must do today to get there. This long-range thinking builds maturity and foresight.
9. Encouragement in Times of Doubt
University is not a linear path. There are moments of confusion, disappointment, even failure. A mentor can say, “I’ve been there too,” and mean it. Their presence offers perspective—turning setbacks into learning moments instead of reasons to quit. In a system where student mental health support is still poor, a mentor can be a lifeline.
10. Personal Growth and Self-Awareness
Perhaps the most underrated benefit of mentorship is self-discovery. By engaging in honest conversations, receiving feedback, and observing their mentor’s journey, students come to understand their strengths, weaknesses, passions, and values. This self-awareness lays the foundation for intentional living—far beyond university.
Mentorship is not a nice-to-have; it’s a game-changer. In an academic environment that often prioritises grades over growth, and lectures over lived experience, mentors bring the balance students urgently need. For Nigerian university students facing an uncertain job market, evolving industries, and institutional challenges, mentors are not just support systems, they are strategic partners for success. Every student deserves guidance. Every student deserves someone who’s been ahead on the path and is willing to point the way.
