* As AEI holds youth orientation programme for students
* Commemorates World Science Day for Peace and Development
* Take higher institutions as a means, not an end: Prof Obalola urges students
A Mathematics lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU) and winner of the best PhD Thesis for the 2023/2024 academic session at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Aminat Olawunmi Ige-Ariyibi, has called on the government and private sector to invest more in science and technology, saying they are determinants of the future.
Dr. Ige-Ariyibi made the call on Saturday, 9th November at the 2024 Youth Orientation Programme (YOP) organised by the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI), with the theme: “Empowering Youth Through Science, Education and Technology for a Better Future”.
The programme, organised in commemoration of the World Science Day for Peace and Development, was held globally on Sunday, 10th November, 2024 and attended by students from both private and public secondary schools within Lagos.
The Don who revealed that Nigeria is not where she ought to be in the tech space noted the significant improvements among Nigerians in Diaspora, breaking grounds in tech globally.
She, therefore, advocated increased investment by the government and private sector in technology.
According to Dr. Ariyibi-Ige, “Science and technology, such as engineering, mathematics, among others, are key to the future. We now have robots that can do virtually everything that humans can do. If the future is bringing robots, artificial intelligence (AI); nobody should be missing in that future. It’s therefore important to learn and understand the science and tech aspects of whatever we are doing, because it is people that will operate the robots. So, prepare yourself for the future.
“Of course, little improvement in terms of technological advancement can be seen coming from the country but Nigerians in diaspora are breaking grounds in tech globally. We have Nigerians everywhere in the world. We have them on broad teams advancing the technology. We have Nigerians doing great in science and tech singlehandedly.
“Besides, government is also doing a lot. The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is doing aggressive training in technology, and Lagos State is into ‘Code Lagos’. There’s an innovation hub in Lagos, and if every governor continues to replicate this, before long, the problem is solved and Nigeria will soon become a tech-advanced nation. For us to achieve this, we also need more private sector investments in technology.”
The lecturer lauded the organisers of the programme, urging them to uphold the legacy.
“It’s a laudable programme and my advice is for it to be sustained. I pray that in the next few years, they should get enough funding, so they can go more practical by camping the students for two or three days of intensive training, and get them tools to perform and innovate. This will surely go a long way,” she said.
She urged students, irrespective of their courses to embrace emerging technologies for learning experience and productivity, saying they could set the pace for the greatness they want to achieve in life, right in Nigeria.
* See university as a means, not an end: Prof Obalola urges
Renowned academic and Dean, Students’ Affairs (DSA), University of Lagos, Prof. Musa Adebayo Obalola, who took the students through a session on “preparing for university and beyond” urged the participants to see university as a means and not an end.
Obalola, a Professor of Insurance, added that if students understand university is a means, it will be easier for them to get to where they want to be in the future.
He noted that the younger generation lacks basic understanding of the university environment and what is required to thrive therein, thereby appealing to institutions and their guardians to consciously guide the students in order to excel in their academics and life endeavours.
According to him, “It is quite important for them to attend orientation programmes at the undergraduate and at Masters level, where experts will be invited to sensitise them on life on campus. It’s quite important for students to attend the orientation, once they missed it, they should be asked to wait till next session.
“They will learn a lot in the university, including how to calculate their CGPA and do better. They should also know that university is not only about the grades. It’s a place for team work as well, where they make friends, establish social network that goes beyond the university.”
The DSA commended AEI for organising such beneficial programme, saying it will assist the students to understand that life is not a straight curve.
“The programme will also help them understand that, to accomplish, they must make efforts. Whether aspirant, advisor, or whatever platform that we are, we must continue to sing it for them to make efforts. That’s why I want to commend Academic Excellence Initiative for organising this programme. I call on other NGOs to similarly engage students who are leaving secondary school for universities.
’18-year university admission policy is not new’
Reacting to 18-year minimum age government policy for university admission, Prof Obalola said it’s not new, adding that developed countries of the world also have appropriate age requirements for admission into schools.
According to him, “The way we designed our curriculum, it has already stipulated 18 years as the minimum age to enter university. In most cases, you will grow to be age 6 before you go to primary school. You will spend 6 years in primary school. That’s 12 years. You will spend another 3 years in junior and senior secondary school each, that makes it 18 years.
“The problem nowadays is that we don’t allow these younger ones to enjoy being children. That’s why right from age 2, we enroll them into nursery and primary schools. This is the age for them to be playing and discover themselves but because of their parents’ busy schedules, we don’t have that time for them. Therefore, we see that as an avenue where the children can be occupied.”
He explained that most underage students admitted into universities are vulnerable. He said, “What I discovered with the younger ones being admitted to university is that they are not mature, and they are very easy to be lured into all forms of vices. Sometimes, we assume they are mature, but in most cases, they are not.
“That’s why we need to look at the context of competition globally. What is the entry age in other climes and in our own country. If we are on the same page with other countries, we can retain it but for me, or most of us, we entered universities when we are already mature, we knew what we wanted and pursued it to a logical conclusion,” he added.
We support students towards attaining academic excellence: AEI Director
Executive Director, Academic Excellence Initiative, Engr. Faheed Olajide, affirmed that there is a great need for the youths to be more productive, saying they need guidance to maximise their talents and optimise their potentials.
“In Nigeria today, everyone laments the economic hardship, but there’s a need for our youths to be more productive and energetic. These are brainy and smart youths. We only need to support and guide them to follow the right path. If they get the right orientation and guidance, they’ll contribute meaningfully towards the development of the country, and Nigeria will be a better place for everyone.”
He stated that AEI was set up to “ensure that every single impediment or challenge that hinders students’ academic excellence is confronted and removed.
“AEI positions itself as a vanguard that supports as many students as we come in contact with towards attaining academic excellence and career success. That’s why our slogan is ‘Excellence, our duty, our right.’ That’s because we want every student to get the opportunity and support they need to excel in their studies and pursuit.
“We are here today for our Youth Orientation Programme, which is one of our cardinal programmes. It is intended to orientate the young ones, especially the finalists in secondary schools, that have written their School Certificate Examinations and the freshers in tertiary institutions. We tend to show them a bigger picture of the realities in the university, disillusion them, and make them realise that the expectations beyond the secondary school life they are hitherto familiar with. We equip them with coping mechanisms to ensure they excel in the tertiary institutions. That’s the goal of this programme”.
The programme featured a presentation from Canada-based Dr Gbolahan Ayetoro, who joined virtually. Ayetoro was one of the beneficiaries of the AEI programmes and projects about two decades ago.
Academic Excellence Initiative is a nonprofit making organisation that guides secondary school students towards excellent performance in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), and throughout their days in higher institutions.
It teaches them the subjects, exposes them to the realities of the tertiary institutions, and continually guides them through the journey. Its flagship programme, the Youth Orientation Programme (YOP), prepares students scholastically in the university and to live a meaningful life afterwards.
