Kunle Adelabu
Comrade Kazeem Ogunmuyiwa, President, Igbogbo Youth Coalition (IYC) addressing students of Zumrattul Islammiyyah Senior Secondary School on the opening day of the career talk organised by th IYC.
The leadership of the youths in Igbogbo, under the aegis of the Igbogbo Youth Coalition (IYC), has embarked on assisting students in the Senior Secondary School three, who are preparing for their WASSCE, in chosen courses of study and general career path.
The exercise, which commenced on Monday, November 7, 2022, has seen the IYC and other resource persons engaged hundreds of students in Zumratul Senior Secondary School, Elepe Senior Secondary School and Oreyo Senior Grammar School, Igbogbo.
Comrade Kazeem Ogunmuyia, President, IYC, addressing students of Oreyo Senior Grammar School, Igbogbo, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, said that the purpose of the exercise is to aid the students in choosing their career path since they are at a critical point to determine that.
“We are here to talk to you and assist you in your future career. You are now at your terminal point and this point is a major determinant point of your lives. The decision that you take now will in one way or the other affect your future”, Ogunmuyiwa said.
The youth leader, who said that many in his age were not opportuned to be counseled on career paths about 25 years ago when they left secondary school and this, according to him, had adverse effects on their life, charged the students to be conscious of what they are going into higher institutions to study.
“You should know why you are going to a University and why you are chosen a particular course and not because your friend is going for it or you are being forced to study a particular programme”, he charged them.
“You must be able to determine your intention and what you have passion for. These are things that will guide you in choosing your course of study and eventually your career”.
Ogunmuyiwa also charged the students to have alternatives to whatever that they are chosen so as not to be disappointed if their first choice is not attainable.
The immediate past President of the IYC, who was also a former student of the school, Mr Gbenga Odunniyi, speaking, recalled life at the school about 30 years ago when it was surrounded by forest and long trek to and fro the school.
He charged them to be wary of negative social influence and be focused, especially in the build up to their WASSC.
In his interactive session, Odunniyi asked some of the students to identify their choice courses and what they have been doing to achieve it.
He also charged them to consider vocational training after their secondary school as a means of engagement and an opportunity to learn a skill.
Mrs Oluwakemi Kalesanwo, the Director, Lagos State Adult Literacy Agency, while charging the students to ensure that they place their entire focus on studying to pass their WASSCE with good grades, added that the Governor of the State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu do not encourage students taking up vocational studies while in school.
Kalesanwo, who spoke on, ‘Vocation’, was represented at the career talk by Mrs. Adeshina Yemi, Vice Principal, Rotary Vocational Centre, Igbogbo.
While charging them to take up vocational training after school, she also enjoined them to discover the vocation that they have passion for, learn the skill and earn income while awaiting results and also while in higher institution.
The vocational teacher, who listed vocational centres in Ikorodu Division and Lagos State as a whole, also stated vocational courses available and their durations.
Mr Yinka Ogunlaja, Supervisory Councilor for Primary Health, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, in his own submission, charged terminal students to know everything about the career that they are going into.
“Try to know all about the career that you have chosen and ensure that you choose a career that is in vogue and in high demand. I don’t know if anyone among you have heard about Artificial Intelligence (AI), Aeronautics among others….”, he said.
“If you don’t choose a career that is good for you, a career that is bad will locate you”, he warned.
Another speaker, Mr Sanni Abidemi Yusuf who is also a former student of the school, charged the students to always think positively and desist from drugs and other things that are capable of adversely affecting their future.
While also enjoining them to engage in self – development, the speaker also charged his audience to be morally upright.
Miss Ogunlana Romoke, the General Secretary, lgbogbo Students’ Union (ISU) and an educationist, lectured the students on self – confidence and charged them to be number one motivators and encouragers of themselves.
At the kick – off of the career talk at Zumratul Islamiyyah Senior Secondary School, Igbogbo, on Monday, were Mr Yinka Ogunlaja, former Senior Prefect of the school and the Supervisor for Primary Health, Igbogbo/ Baiyeku LCDA, Mr Olayinka Ogunlaja, Mr Hameed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA), former Commissioner nominee, aspirant for the Lagos State House of Assembly in Ikorodu Constituency II and also an alumna of the school as facilitators, as well as staff of the Agency for Mass Education who were also in attendance to emphasize the importance of vocational skill acquisition.
