Speakers make case for reading, education at Career Day

By Our Correspondent

Speakers at the Career Day event of Cleverhill Schools, Likos, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria have made a case for the reading culture and education as catalysts for national and societal development.

At the colorful event, students and pupils in the primary session were taught the need to inculcate the habit of reading related subjects to become professionals after graduation from tertiary institution.

Speaking at the event titled: “Career Day”, Mr. Nsikan Ikpe of Sunbird African Media Ltd., Publisher of The Difference Newspaper, urged students to maintain a sound reading culture considering the alarming rate of youth unemployment in the country and its negative effects on the economy. He further enjoined the students to connect their skills to their passion, nothing that it is one thing for them to be graduates of a particular course and it is another thing to be skilled in what they are passionate about.

According to him, journalism as a career path has many opportunities even as it is broken into two categories – the print and electronic. He listed electronic outlets to include television, radio and internet while print journalism involves the production of newspapers, magazine and journals among others.

“Journalists educate and inform the public about events and related issues in the society,” he stressed.

Enumerating the importance of the career talk session, Ikpe advised the students to be moderate in their conduct, concentrate on their studies and be good ambassadors of their school, families and the entire society. Similarly, other parents at the event advised the school authority to adopt strategies that would promote the reading culture, adding that priority should be given to career programmes to encourage students to read and be prepared for their future careers.

Earlier in his speech, the  School’s Administrator, Cleverhill, Pastor Joseph Esedion described education as key to the growth and development of any society. While buttressing the importance of  careers, Esedion maintained that academics are meant to use their knowledge in bridging gaps hindering developmental initiatives as it concerns all strata of the Nigerian society,

“The idea of career programme is to bring together young people to share ideas with professionals”, he said.

Other highlight of the event were the presentation of the school anthem by the students, exhibition of talents by students and the presentation of gift items by the school.