CityMood Communications on Wednesday host Nigeria’s first ever pre-university conference, with the aim of enlightening graduating senior secondary school students and young school leavers about higher education pursuit, admission processes, career choices, university academic grading system, emotional intelligence and confidence needed to deal with peer pressure, challenges generally on campus and how to overcome them, among others.
Mr. Sewhude Akande, Chief Executive Officer of CityMood and Convener of the National Pre-University Conference in his welcome address said Developments in our Ivory Towers have necessitated a national re-orientation of our admission seekers with the hope of shaping and sharpening their perspective about university education and positioning them for a quick start at excelling on campus”
Keynote Speaker at the conference, Mr. Adebayo Adeyinka, Regional Bank Head, South West 1, Fidelity Bank decried the rate at which Nigerian youths were committing suicide due to failure in their academic pursuits.
Many Nigerian youths are committing suicide because of academic failure, not knowing that failure is part of life. Suicide is not the next thing in life, if you fail the first time, prepare and do it again he said.
He advised that students who did not secure admission to institutions of their choices after several attempts should work hard and prepare to try again.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Folaranmi Oyediran, an Author and Youth Development expert, urged admission seekers to understand their primary purpose of going to the university.
Knowing the purpose of going to university is to study and become purposeful in life and you must give it everything to succeed he said, while he advised that the university is not a place where you go and play, but to study squarely. He equally warned that to succeed in the university, young undergraduates should manage their lives within the time allotted to them.
Dr. Akande Aina, a lecturer at the Lagos State University spoke on understanding the university academic grading system. He led participants through the criteria and systems of grading in the university and how they can take advantage of this to succeed as undergraduates.
“Don’t wait for exams before you start reading. Study well and ask questions in class. Don’t go about seeking favours from lecturers and expose yourselves to unnecessary molestation” Dr. Akande advised.
Also, Ms. Chizobam Ofoegbu, a Certified Therapist and Confidence Coach, urged the participants to be careful in selecting friends in the universities. She said that relations they keep on campus could make or mar their future. She advised participants to keep friends that they share same values so that they dont put themselves under undue pressure. Peer pressure she says is a leading cause of death amongst youths these days.
The Executive Director, Equip Africa, Mr. Opeyemi Oke was also a speaker at the conference. He advised students to find, understand and develop their natural talents. He said parents should help their children to discover and explore their talents as we are in an evolving world that rewards your abilities and not your certificate.
The one day conference held at the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos State and was sponsored by Miwawiwe Foundation and Mr. Adebodun Toplonu Sewanu.
Representatives from Crawford University and The Bells University of Technology, both in Ogun State participated at the conference and interacted with participants to give them insights into university education. It was well attended by secondary school students and young school leavers across Lagos State.
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