SASA Community Senior High School, located in the Egbeda-Akowonjo LCDA of Alimosho LGA, on Thursday, May 4, 2023, celebrated the year 2023 Career Day and Pageant at the school premises.
While speaking at the event tagged ‘The Future is Now’, the Principal of the school, Miss Nariwo, welcomed the students and guests to the event while praying to God to direct the students to pick a favourable and sustainable career.
She also urged the students not to give in to peer pressure when choosing a career, stating that the essence of celebrating Career Day yearly is to give the SS 3 students insights on how to pick an appropriate career according to their passion.
On his part, Mr Alade Abiodun, a journalist, who counselled the students on choosing the right career, highlighted some factors that should not be considered when choosing a viable career.
According to him, one’s background and immediate environment should not affect their career choice; likewise, peer pressure and influence should also not be a career determinant, rather an individual should discover their passion and turn it into a viable and sustainable career.
In his words: “Your background should not be a determinant of your career. I want you to know that your background is not a barrier to your career or what you can become in future. So don’t look at your background and begin to limit yourself. Don’t let your environment corrupt you. Don’t look at what is happening in your environment and make it a determinant of who you want to be. Your environment should not determine you; rather you should make your environment better. Don’t give in to peer influence.
“What is that thing that you are passionate about? What is that thing that you know you can do? That thing that you know is so easy for you to do that will be your passion. Determine your passion and then pick the right career for yourself. There is dignity in labour; professionalize your passion.”
He then advised the students to develop themselves digitally, adding that any career that cannot be developed digitally might not be able to function in the next 10- 20 years.
Mr Fatoberu, an Accountant, while advising the students on accounting as a career, stated the processes required to become an accountant.
He said that for an individual to become an accountant, he/she must have O levels in English, Mathematics, Economics and other subjects, spend four years in the university, and then take the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) exam.
Fatoberu stated that the ICAN exam is in three stages; ATS level, Intermediate level, and Professional level, which he said can be achieved in three years.
On her part, Adesanya, a Computer Expert, counselled the students on having a career in the Information Technology (IT) sector. She highlighted five courses that are viable and sustainable in the IT world; they are computer science, computer engineering, cyber security, information system and communication technology, and software engineering.
She said: “Computer science encompasses the whole computer system, and when you have a degree in computer science, you can be a practitioner, a consultant, you can carry out system designs, website designing, website development, application software manager, and so on.
“Computer engineering has to do with you repairing either the software or hardware part of the computer system. A Cyber security personnel is a person who manages or secures the website of a company or an organization. Information systems and communication technology deal with how you can use the system to work effectively in your organization through networking and communicating through different platforms that are IT based. Software engineering is for you to be able to develop an app or software that would work for your company or in line with what you are doing in that organization.”
She also added that “With the level, we find ourselves now in the country today and the world at large, every student must acquire a skill in IT. There are positive values to learn in IT, and there are negative ones.”
She then concluded that coding and robotics, software engineering, web engineering and development, database administration, graphics designing, and so on, are other IT-based skills that can be acquired with tertiary education.
Mr Famose Taiwo, an educator and an entrepreneur, enlightened the students that to become a successful entrepreneur, an individual has to have passion, discipline, determination, and creativity, among others.
On her part, Mrs Dupe Olulana, a gospel artiste, nurse, educator, French expert, and the Eru Olorun Bami crooner challenged the students to imbibe the culture of reading, adding that “you can become whatever you want to become, but that is dependent on how much you learn about that thing.”
She then highlighted the impact of reading, stating that reading elevates one above current situations. Reading multiplies one experience. Reading allows one to spend time with smart people. Reading can quickly build one’s expertise. Without reading, one’s expertise will be limited to direct experience. Reading provides a way of escape.
She also added that her initiative, ‘Proud Library User, will visit the school library to stock it with books and educate the students on the importance of reading.
In her words: “Education gives us a world view. Tell yourself, my mind is made up. I will read. Because education, whether formal or informal, is meant to make you useful to yourself in the best way and useful to your generation in the best way.”
The 2023 Career Day was packaged by the school counsellor, Mrs Ilesanmi; while the planning committee includes Mrs Musa Olanrewaju, Mr Akinbowale, Mr Akindoyeni, and Mrs Okafor.
The highlight of the event is the Master and Miss SACOMS pageant.