By Dipo Olowookere
The need for students to develop their passions and interests to guarantee a bright future has been emphasised by a Senior Consultant with Thistle Praxis Consulting, Emilia Asim-Ita.
Speaking on Thursday in Lagos at this year’s edition of Beyond the School, an initiative of the Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, Asim-Ita stressed that students must focus on their abilities and talents in order to take advantage of opportunities in their chosen career.
She maintained that career choice should be hinged on passion and advised participating students to read wide, cultivate mentors and ignore distractions.
Asim-Ita, who spoke on Personal Development and Career Facts, while encouraging the students to dream big, urged them to develop their passions and interests to guarantee a bright future.
According to her, “The knowledge you now have will help you find disciplines that you are passionate about. You also have to develop the skills needed to succeed in those disciplines.”
In her presentation, Managing Director of Bestman Games, Mrs Nimi Akinkugbe, gave the students personal finance tips on saving, investing and spending. She counselled the students to be diligent, prudent and keep good company.
Mr Gbubemi Fregene, aka Chef Fregz, who spoke on his success story, implored the students to get education so as to be on a higher pedestal in their career and passion paths. He disclosed that as far as back as his days in secondary school, he developed interest in cooking.
“Life is about your passion, but education is important. The relationship is symbiotic because it is actually your education that will determine how far you go with your passion. Don’t be upset that you don’t have anything now, but focus on what you are going to do in your own circle,” Mr Fregene said, while urging the students to write their own story.
Earlier in his welcome address, Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Kufre Ekanem, explained that the initiative was introduced to complement other initiatives of the company targeted at the education sector.
According to him, “Beyond the School is designed for senior secondary school students in public schools to expose them to career options and factors they need to consider before making a career choice”.
Mr Ekanem equally called on the students to take advantage of the career guidance information provided to them, which is in line with best practices, to achieve their full potential.
This year’s edition drew students and teachers from Iponri Estate Senior High School; Stadium Senior High School; Onitolo Community Senior High School; Iganmu Senior Secondary High School and Adebola Baptist Senior High School, all in Lagos Education District Four.
The event also saw students from the schools compete in a game of Monopoly where they won various prizes.
Modupe Gbadeyanka