Don’t impose career choices on your children, Foundation tells parents

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

Dr Ahmed Otunba, General Manager, Daniel and Fola Olukoya Biotechnology Foundation, has urged parents not to impose career choices on their children.

Otunba gave the advice at the maiden edition of the Career Counselling on Sciences initiative of the foundation, held at Government Senior College Hall, in Agege, on Thursday.

He said that children should not be used as tools of competition, but rather be allowed to choose career paths by themselves, which they can be proud of.

The general manager said it was important for children to have the right mind-set in making career choices and the foundation planned to extend the counseling initiative to the six education districts in Lagos State to support this.

According to him, the programme is to complement the Lagos State Ministry of Education’s efforts and ensure that Nigerian scientists are not left behind in the global biotechnological revolution.

Otunba said that the event was organised in partnership with Lagos State Education Board District 1 which created an enabling environment for the participation of 168 students and 42 teachers.

“We are looking forward to having more of financial partnership with the government to enable us capture all education districts, even across state, where seasoned stakeholders can come and impart knowledge to students.

“The idea is to ensure that the present generation of Nigerian students have the right mindset towards choosing a career in science and other fields in line with the revolution.

“They have been educated that scientists are meant to be problem solvers by identifying problems or challenges predominant in his/her environment and finding a solution, thereby developing a career,” he said.

While commending the Lagos State Government for upgrading and puting up infrastructure in the education sector, the general manager said more should be done in building capacity of teachers.

“I make bold to say that Lagos State Government is doing a great and significant job; we can see new structures, renovated and upgraded facilities, especially in public schools, but other states still have dilapidated buildings.”

A resource person, Mr Bamidele Salami, Coordinator, Centre for Entrepreneur Development and Innovation, Lagos State, said there was need to give back to the society.

Salami, a lecturer at Mountain Top University (MTU), enjoined the students to seek to stand out.

“Be it pure science, social science, art or commercial, note that no one is superior or less than the other.

“Every discipline has its own strength, something to offer and has its usefulness to the society,” he said.

On the sideline, Abiola-Amid Great, student/participant, Sasa Community Senior High School, Ayobo, Alimosho, commended Daniel and Fola Olukoya Biotechnology Foundation for organising the programme.

“This programme talked about sciences, what career is all about, purpose, how to choose aright and that we should seek to use our career to solve problems in our society.

“The speakers emphasised that we should go into a career with the mindset to make impact and not focus on the money, which the reverse is the case in present day Nigeria,” he said, describing the programme as impactful.

Also, Mrs Jegede Aderonke, a teacher and participant from Orisunbare Senior High School, Ayobo, expressed appreciation to the foundation and District 1 for educating the students on the need to follow their vision.

“I believe that with the two topics — introduction to career counseling on sciences and career path — we have all learnt a lot, particularly the students. They’re better informed,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)