Youths get mentorship on 21st century skills

By Shakirah Adunola |   22 November 2019   |   3:51 am  

In an effort to support youths in their educational pursuits, Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI) has mentored over 500 secondary school students preparing to transit into tertiary institutions.

The one-day orientation programme is one of the many ways the group use to mentor secondary school student and school levers by equipping them with the right skill-set required to secure admission in higher schools of learning and bridge the skill-gaps hindering employability.

Speaking at the 12th yearly youth orientation programme (YOP), the Executive Director of AEI, Engr. Faheed Olajide, said that the programme is aimed at re-orientating secondary school students as they prepare to transit into the tertiary institutions.

“The programme is the high point of AEI engagement with the students in various learning circles at the unit level as they seek admission into tertiary institutions,” he said.

Olajide noted that the organization is formed to alleviate the deplorable condition in Nigeria education system.

He added that most students does not have access to counsellors and mentors that could guide them on their academic pursuit.

“Mentorship is one of the core responsibilities of AEI on its members. We also conduct a symposium, quiz competition and award. This year we had a quiz competition that was held in Lagos State and we also did an award scholars day so that students that have displayed exemplary performance are also rewarded. At the same time we also sponsored students for WAEC and UTME exams, this also in partnership with well-meaning individuals within the society who want to give back to the society,” he said.

Olajide advised Nigeria youths to be focused and be determined in their academic pursuit. “No one is going to set their future for them, the ball is in their court. The best that we can do is to support them and give them advice”.

Head of Department, Science laboratory Technology, Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Dr Oluremi Olaleye, said the 21st century is quite challenging for upcoming youths and it is required of them to attain skills that will fit them into the system.

“Things are happening very fast more skill and expertise are required for people to fit into the contemporary system. The upcoming youths need to ensure that they have the skills that are required for them to fit into the system,” he said.

Olaleye noted that upcoming youths must be verse in the use of technology, be multilingual and must be certified in various field. “They should try to fix themselves into contemporary societies were skills and certification are required and also, upgrade their selves so that they become wanted into the system”.

He said the majority of university applicant fails to gain admission despite meeting the cut off mark because of deficit in the capacity of local tertiary institutions compared to growing student populations.

“I think the government is doing the best it can, more rooms are available for improvement. Education institutions are not enough for our population.

For instance, we have about five Lagos government institutions across Lagos. If you look at other cities in the world with a population of Lagos, they have tertiary institution intense. There is the need for the government, individuals and cooperate organization to come up with more tertiary institutions,” he said.

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