Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
The Teenage and Youth Summer Career programme organisesd by the Focus Teens Foundation, in conjunction with the iCare Foundation of Rep. Babajimi Benson, Member, House of Representatives, kicked off on Monday in Lagos.
About 150 youths and students from Ikorodu Federal Constituency are participating both at the physical venue at Regency Hall and virtual centre holding at Oriwu Senior Model College Hall, lkorodu.
THE IMPACT covered activities a the virtual centre in Ikorodu.
The summer programme was designed to engage the students in mentorship, career and place them on the part of self- discovery and fulfilment.
At the kick off were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Dr (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo – Olu and a host of other eminent personalities who interacted and mentored the participating youths.
The convener of the program, Mr Olaonipekun Kazeem, speaking, said that the summer programme was initiated based on his personal experience while growing up and the need to give the students path way to greatness.
“Why are we here? lt’s because of you, my young friends. I was once a teenager and young person like you. Most importantly, I want to welcome you all to teenage career summer programme 2024. Let me start by saying that you being here is a function of two things. It is a function of my own personal experience, and also, the kind of experience that I desired for the young people of this nation”, he said.
“I was privileged to go to a private school and also privileged to go to a public school. In my time, we had this experience, and I can tell that there are differences between the activities in private and public schools. Education is fantastic in some of the public schools, and same with some private schools, but there are some benefits that come with attending a private, but which are not available in public schools.
“This program is designed to create exposure, mentorship, access to people who are going to be leading the industries in the next couple of years and decades. Let them share their experiences of their teenage years with you as and be your role models.
“They will be sharing their professional and personal experiences, so that they will give you their knowledge which you needed as you proceed in life.
“What we do here is to create a template of information so that when you have to deal with some things in future, you can always go back to the information that will be shared by our resource persons. Tap from them and begin to build yourself”, he added.
He charged them to pay attention to information that are going to be shared with them, their names and organisations for future purposes.
The convener also charged the participating students not to allow challenges at home and other places to stop them, rather, they should use the challenges to aspire to the greater heights.
Mr Omobolaji Ogunlende, the Honourable Commissioner for Youths & Social Development, Lagos State, in his keynote address, also charged participants to give all their attention to facilitators that will be speaking with them.
He said that the summer programme was designed to catch them young and prepare them for today and future, and also instill discipline in them, so that they can become good citizens of Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.
Dr (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo – Olu, Lagos First Lady, in her own remarks, described the programme as a laudable one which is designed to guide youths towards a brigther future.
She was represented by Mrs Abimbola Odufeko.
“This program is timely and very important in guiding these young ones on the right path, especially during this period of long vacation. To all the participants, today might be the beginning of a journey filled with immense possibilities, and each of you would be filled with hopes and aspiration for better tomorrow.
“I am aware that this program is designed to be a stepping stone for the future careers of these young boys and girls, providing them with the tools, knowledge and inspiration needed to pursue their career goals with confidence and determination.
“This week – long adventure is unusual privilege that many do not have and I urged you to make the use of this opportunity by actively asking questions, seeking guidance and absorbing as much knowledge as you can.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan, the Ojaja II, who was represented by Oba Nureno Banjo, the Asoya of Isonya, Ile – Ife, commended the organisers of the program for the initiative which he said will engage the youths.
The Ooni of Ife encouraged youths at the programme to be fully engaged, challenge themselves and ask questions.
He also charged them to discover their passion and potentials and start working towards their self fulfilment and brighter future.
Other speakers at the program were Mr Segun Akintemi and Mrs Oginni Odiri among others.
