Kunle Adelabu
It was a big opportunity for about hundred young students in Ikorodu to learn about how to choose their career path, especially for the coming JAMB examinations, as they were educated on the importance of course combinations for the examination and charged to prepare well to attain good grades for admission into higher institutions.
The occasion was at One – Day Workshop on Education Career, organized by the Council of Ikorodu Division Indigenous Teachers (CDIT) in Ikorodu Division Human Resources Development Board (IDHRDB) and Ikorodu Oga Development Association (IKODASS), which was held at the Oteju Hall, Ikorodu Ultra-Modern Town Hall, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, on April 20, 2023.
Sen. (Otunba) Dr. Kingsley Adeseye Ogunlewe, Chairman, Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG), chaired the education gathering.
The guest speaker, Prof. M.O.H. Amuda (PhD, IIUM), the Director, Centre for Information Technology and Systems (CITS), University of Lagos (UNILAG), who spoke on, ‘Pre-requisite for UTME Examinations and Modalities for Admission’, emphasized the need for adequate preparations with informed choices on the path of the candidates if they are to surmount the complex JAMB process and gain admission into the higher institution of their choice.
“Yes, the admission process appears complex, but it is actually straightforward if candidates are well-informed and guided. Indeed, many institutions have low subscription rates, whereas, hundreds of thousands could not gain admission. This is a paradox! Making a well-informed choice guarantees admission into a programme of one’s choice”, he said.
“Admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria is very tough! Admission rate is often 25-35%. Therefore, candidates should and must be deliberate and strategic.
“You must consciously pick your programme and university. Is it Public or Private? (concentrating on University now). The same applies to Polytechnics or Colleges of Education.
“For private ones, once you can pay and have the right combinations of results; you are in. But public University (Federal/State), it is tough.This is where being deliberate and conscious comes in”, he said.
While stating that JAMB candidates must have necessary O’ Level results, Prof. Amuda also highlighted other processes for successful JAMB outcome for students.
“JAMB candidates must have passed the School Cert examinations at credit level, 5 ‘O’ level subjects in the right combination: Some at single sitting, while some take at two-sittings; Awaiting Results candidates are also eligible (but problematic).
“Know the information needed in applying for your choice course and filling out the form. Obtain, fill, and submit the form diligently. Particulars must not be wrongly supplied. Very important!
“Other steps/requirements are to get necessary information about the exam through JAMB Website (e-resources): information about admission requirements, syllabus for the examinations. Prepare, prepare, and prepare for the exam and take the UTME Examinations”, the guest speaker charged.
He identified five categories/generation of Universities which students must consider critically before making a decision to pick from.
“First Generation Universities (1948-1969): UI, UNN, OAU, ABU and UNILAG (most competitive); Second Generation Universities (1970-1980): Calabar, BUK, Ilorin, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Jos & Sokoto; Third Generation Universities (1980-1990): Federal Universities of Technology (FUTO, FUTA, FUTMINNA, Yola, Bauchi); Fourth Generation Universities (1991-2000): National Open Universities, and Fifth Generation Universities (2010+): Both Federal and States”.
Prof. Amuda also stated that the post JAMB examination is also quite critical for students.
“Candidates are boarded onto JAMB’s Central Admission Processing System (CAPS)’s Portal. Candidates track their admission progress and eventually accept the admission or accept a transfer to a new programme (this is usually supplementary admission). Print the Admission letter, and wait for the announcement of the screening exercise by the Institution”, he said.
“At this stage, it is no longer possible to correct any inconsistency in personal data information such as Date of Birth. Once successful at screening, the candidate has now become a tertiary institution student and can proceed to generate and pay relevant fees as indicated”.
Why charging students to consider programmes of study that offer them knowledge in specialization that are in hot demands in the market, the guest speaker. who was the immediate past Head, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, UNILAG and the pioneer Deputy Director, Innovation and Technology Management Officer (Formerly Innovation Unit), blamed the lack of adequate data on areas where skills are needed in the country as one of the factors that affected students making good decisions on course to study.
“Choices of disciplines are mostly not informed (not data-backed or trending), but peer or mob sensibilities. The typical keeping up with the Joneses!!!”, he said
“National Bureau of Statistics hardly provides national job outlook, dynamics, and in-demand jobs/qualification/competencies; capacity gaps and other indicators. The implications are skewed pursuit of disciplines in tertiary institutions.
“Some courses become extremely competitive and very difficult to get into, particularly in public universities; while some are grossly under-subscribed (Medicine vs Education/Linguistics)”, he said.
He charged students to consider pursuing Digital technology, machine learning, Artificial intelligence, coding, etc.
Prof. Amuda commending CIDIT for the initiative, described the group’s effort in assisting the young ones in choosing the correct career path as germane to social development.
“Doing this is a great sacrifice and commitment to social development. This is the way to grow the critical mass of educated, knowledgeable and ethical populace needed for community and societal development. Committing group resources via a commonwealth offers incentives for communal effort”, he said.
Chairman, Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, charged students on developing a positive mindset and engaging in adequate preparations for their JAMB examinations.
He also commended CDIT for initiating the programme which he said will bring about human capital development in Ikorodu Division.
“If you set your mind to anything, you can achieve it. All that you need is to have a positive mindset and work committedly in achieving the set goals”, Mr Erogbogbo said.
“Although, the admission process is complex and very competitive, with commitment, seriousness and constant reading , you will be adequately prepared, you can pass the examinations and get admission. Your hands don’t have to be among those with short hands because they said that all hands are not equal”.
Erogbogbo, who said that his administration as IKODASS Chairman, has awarded over 40 scholarships to students in Ikorodu, said that there is abundance of talents in the division going by the grades and performances of many students that usually apply for the scholarships.
Alhaji Sikiru Amure, General Secretary, IDRDHB and Mrs Sobona, a Principal, in their separate remarks, charged students to develop interests in teaching and also consider studying educational programmes.
