An entrepreneurship consultant, author, trainer and the CEO of Global ARK Konsults, Mr. Rasheed Adelowo Kehinde has urged Nigerian graduates and the youths to change their mentality of seeking and depending on white collar jobs but to embrace entrepreneurship in order to be self-reliant.
While speaking at the 4th Annual Career Development Programme tagged “Building the Career Path,” organized by the Old Muslim Students of Lagos State Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo, Ikorodu for the JSS3 and SS3 students in order to enable them have a direction in choosing a career of their choice, on Saturday March 12, 2016, Mr. Rasheed Adelowo, the guest speaker demystified what it takes to build a career path.
In his words, “Career is a life-long pursuit of an ambition and it is continuous. It is not an instancenous thing and you must have been thinking about a career you want to have. Although, career and job are interwoven, some people build their career alongside their job but career has much to offer.”
He said further, “Your going to the university is for exposure and you are not graduating to get a government job. It is not what you have learnt from the higher institution that matters but what you can do with what you have learnt.” He explained that career is like a vision that needs a lot of efforts to be realized:
“If one does not have a vision, then that person does not know where he is going because vision is where you are going and mission is what you will do to get there. Vision and mission makes your career achievable.”
“Belong either in the sciences, humanities or commercial in case you are in JSS3, and if you are already in the senior class and you feel you cannot cope with the intended ambition that led you to the department you are, that does not stop you from being serious with our subjects and pass well before you graduate. You can move on with the new idea after your o’ level exams,” he noted.
In his words, the guest speaker analyzed the solution to unemployment, common among graduates. “Many graduates out there are of the notion that there is no job, but I do say it that there is job out there. If we continue to believe in the idea of getting a job in the ministry or working in a big organization, we will continue to have mass unemployed graduates rather, the quest for university education is worth it, emphasis should be placed on entrepreneurship and self-reliance” He added, “Nigerian university curriculum need to be looked into and priority placed on entrepreneurship, vocational skills and the likes while students should find their strength in what they can do confidently with passion, packaged with the education they have acquired.
A graduate should create jobs instead of becoming a liability in a country, where graduates are produced in droves. I believe if graduates get it right by coming up with entrepreneural ideas, , Nigeria will not face the challenge of unemployment. I studied engineering in the university but I focused more on other skills, which I learnt on the street after I graduated. I am now an author, a printer, a trainer., infact, a multi-preneur. Therefore, it is pertinent for students in secondary school to get it right now.”
The president of the Old Muslim Students Association, Brother Abdul Wahab Longe, commended the ingenuity of the guest speaker and his passion to help young folks achieve their dreams. “The guest speaker has done justice to the topic and I know the students fully understand what it means to build a career and the essence of planning to become an entrepreneur. We have been consistent with the programme since we started three years ago and we are convinced that students are benefitting yearly from the testimonies we have heard. We call on individuals and organisations to come in as sponsors for us achieve beyond our plans and give the students the best,” he said.
The head girl of the senior secondary school, Arnun Pretty, expressed her gratitude to the organisers of the programme.
“I am saying a big thank you to the organisers of today’s programme. It has helped me toidentify my strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in choosing my career. It has made me discover the real me,” she said.
The head boy of the junior secondary school, Ubama Lawrence, appreciated the effort of the guest speaker, explaining that the lecture has motivated him immensely. “I believe the skills and talent one has are superior to the education one is craving to acquire. I am not saying education is not important, but we are meant to make use of the education we acquire to portray our skills and that is where entrepreneurship comes in.
The programme has really changed my impression about vocational skills. They actually complement each other.” He said.
The representatives of the senior school principal and junior school principal, Mr. Akoteyan and Mr. Momodu, appreciated the doggedness of the organisers. They also urged the students to utilize the golden opportunity given to them in order to achieve the best in life.
The MC of the event, Miss Zaynab Alagbala, also encouraged the students to have a plan B as they pursue their career in life. “Failure is not the end of the world. Therefore, if you fail, you are not meant to quit; rather, you are supposed to work harder until you are successful.
Many of you will write exams but not all will pass. So, you should have a plan B; do not waste your time in writing and re-writing exams. You can try another thing either by learning a skill or innovating an idea. Who says you can’t be greater than Mark Zuckerberg?
The sky is your starting point, she noted.