25/06/2015
I was invited to speak to the pupils of ADESIJI IFEBOGUN MEMORIAL NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL located at 32, Sanusi Street, Off Imam Shuaib Street, By Ogunlana Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos State during their Career Day program held on 18th June, 2015.
The program was designed to expose the pupils to the various career opportunities around and to help them develop their interest in a particular career path. The foresight of the school management in preparing their pupils for the future is highly commendable.
Some of the facilitators of the program were professional parents who have kids in the school. The rest of us were professionals invited to use our career experience to guide the pupils in the right career path.
I was invited to speak about the Engineering profession. Other facilitators included; Doctor, Nurse, Caterer, Teacher, Lawyer and many more.
The school management had taken their time to dress some of the pupils in the usual work cloth of various professions and the pupils selected for this purpose were carrying toy version of the professions' tools.
The school premises, venue of the Career Day program, was beautifully decorated with floral and balloons and the chairs well arranged. The pupils sat with the young ones in the front rows while the older ones sat behind them.
The event began with an opening prayer by Mrs Onu Ezinne and was followed by a welcome address from the proprietor of the school, Mrs M.A.M. Joshua. The Head Teacher, Mrs Akpan, introduced the resource persons present at the program.
The career talks began with the school Head Boy, Elvis Ike, giving a short speech centered on what a career means. He defined a career as the series of jobs that a person has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibilities as time passes.
He then went on to say, "Career is following your passion in life, what you feel comfortable and good doing, although some do it for the money. Career is doing something valuable, it should be chosen based on something that changes the world and influences it in its own way"
"...Career should be planned from the beginning and we the students of A.I.M.N.P.S have been given the foundation for a fulfilled future and career." He concluded.
The Doctor, myself and the other facilitators took turn to speak to the pupils about each of our professions: what we do, how we do it, who we do it for, the subjects they will be required to study if they choose to go down our career path.
Each of the facilitator went on to tell and showcase some of the tools of our professions, the benefits and the dangers involved in what we do, how we impact on the children's everyday lives and the general society.
Looking at the enthusiastic faces of those kids, I felt so happy to be investing my time and knowledge in the future generation.
Once again, I commend the initiative of the school's management in organizing a Career Day program for the pupils and I appreciate them for the opportunity and gift even though I would have gladly done it for free.
