The Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Ota, Prof. Jeremiah Ojediran, has called on academic institutions and parents to devote quality time to reorientation of youths to enable them achieve success.
He said this in his welcome address at the 8th annual seminar series organized by the Bells University Parents’ Forum (BUPF), on Friday in Ota.
The seminar had the theme: “Investing in the Future.”
Ojediran said the reorientation of youths would help them actualize their vision and desired future.
The VC implored parents, educational institutions and the society at large to be resolute and provide the necessary support to enable youths achieve their dreams.
“Together, we will stand, shoulder to shoulder, and forge a strong front to make the necessary impact in re-orienting these young ones,” he said.
Ojediran commended the BUPF for sustaining the objectives and programs of the university, saying the partnership had been rewarding.
He noted that the theme of the seminar, “Investing in the Future,” could not have come at a better time.
“The youth is the future. I know this has become a cliché, but it is simply the truth as they hold the future in their hands.
“Hence the need to prepare them to take seriously the responsibility for the future.
“The future is technology. And, if we are serious about protecting the future, then we must introduce the future (the youth) to the tool of the future (technology). Then we must truthfully invest in the future,” he added.
In his welcome address, Mr David Oladapo, BUPF Chairman, assured that the forum would continue to foster a cordial relationship between parents and guardians of the students.
He also promised that the forum would support the university’s management to create an enabling environment for learning through sustainable projects.
Mrs Florence Chikezie, Founder of ReDahlia and Entrepreneurs.ng, a guest speaker, in her presentation, advised the students to understand that entrepreneurship was about problem-solving, and encouraged them to start early and be smart about their dreams.
She added that when solutions were provided to problems facing human beings, money would come from the solutions provided.
“The take home for the students is for them to realize that there are many possibilities to achieve success in life, in academics and business.
“Those possibilities are only restricted by individual limits. This means that whatever they aspire to become in life and how to go about achieving such dreams depend on them.
“They should not be limited to what they are taught in the classrooms but probe further, expand on it and implement it in the quest to realize their dreams,” said Chikezie.
She charged the students to leave their comfort zone to achieve excellence.
The parents, she said, “Should realize that we live in a fluid world where careers such as medicine, law and management studies should not be forced on children.
“Parents should support the dreams of their kids without forcing a particular academic program on them. They should support them and ensure their dreams are achievable.”
In the same vein, Mr. Ayodeji Ademola Agboola, Founder and CEO of Akowe, another guest speaker, encouraged students to consider every challenge as an opportunity to create a future.
He urged them to deliberately invest their raw energy and time in knowledge acquisition; and endeavor to learn new things and never be afraid of failure, saying it encouraged and emboldened them for success.
