Ex-Lagos commissioner urges youths to seek counselling on career choice
The immediate past Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, has advised Nigerian youths to empower their minds for academic and career success.
Adefisayo encouraged the youths, especially undergraduates, to study appropriately, develop a growth mindset, master time management, and seek help when needed.
She stated this at the Free National Career Development Workshop held at the Conference hall of the Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State.
She said, “The youths must imbibe four key habits for achieving academic excellence: studying appropriately, developing a growth mindset, mastering time management, and seeking help when needed.
“Essential career success traits include teamwork, critical thinking, open-mindedness, and integrity. Also, there are seven habits of highly effective people: being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand then to be understood, synergizing, and striving for continuous progress.”
She encouraged participants to seize opportunities, take responsibility for their personal growth, and cultivate leadership qualities to stand out in their chosen fields.
Delivering a speech on the topic “Empowering Minds for Academic and Career Excellence,” Engr. Olalere Kayode stated that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work.
According to him, an empowering mindset is built on resilience in the face of failure, openness to learning and adapting, confidence in one’s abilities, critical thinking, goal setting, and mentorship and networking.
Also speaking, Aaare Oladotun Hassan provided insightful guidance on how young students should choose their career paths and maintain the motivation required for success.
He also addressed the issue of parents misleading their children in career decisions, stressing the importance of allowing young individuals to pursue their passions.
The event also featured panel discussions with prominent speakers, including Opeyemi Eniola, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Basic and Secondary Education; Engr. Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Lagos State Chapter; Yetunde Junaid; Sedomo Ajisegiri; Dr. Omopeju Afanu; Ademuyiwa Ademola Taofeek; Asiwaju Lekan Saheed Oloko; and Barrister Afeez Ibikunle.
The Fireside Chat segment was another highlight of the event, featuring personal stories and insights from Sheriff Babatunde Lamidi, the convener of the Free National Career Development Workshop, along with Adeyemi Shukroh, Nora Anyasodo, Ayomide Zul Kazeem, and Israel Adekanye.
The session was moderated by Owolabi Arafat, who expressed her gratitude and inspiration, noting how the speakers’ experiences had transformed her perspective.
