To shape Nigeria's future and reposition the country for greatness, stakeholders in the education sector have been charged to strategise on youth emancipation through efforts to educate more young people.
They spoke at a workplace readiness event held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) for future banking and finance industry leaders, organised by the Edike Foundation to educate undergraduates, recent graduates and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, about the industry.
The event, tagged: 'Gown to Town,' attracted participants from various universities, with speakers also drawn from across the various institutions.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director, Edike Foundation, Oluwatimilehin Akinola, stressed the need for greater focus on youth education and out-of-school children, saying this will do more to help the Nigerian economy and Africa at large.
Akinola said: "It's a new foundation that started in 2023. We are focusing on university students. We go to schools and, through our research, we try to reach the younger generation. We are taking care of students from the 100 to 400 levels.
Host of the event and Managing Partner, Edike Foundation, Tinuoye Akinola, said the organisation was founded in 2023 to empower disadvantaged youths through education scholarships, mentorship and advocacy. She said the foundation, which is the corporate social responsibility arm of Edike Africa, focuses on students who are unable to complete school due to financial hardship, especially after losing a parent to illness, and offers full university scholarships to them. She added that the foundation is also aimed at advancing education access and economic inclusion.
In his lecture on 'Preparing for global relevance,' Coordinator, National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Teju Abisoye, charged the students to focus on their performance, deliver results, and exceed expectations.
Abisoye charged participants to build their own brands and let people know what they stand for. She also advised students to create opportunities for their efforts to be seen either through volunteering, growing their networks, leveraging on mentors or cultivating relationships with individuals who can positively impact their growth.
An IT Audit Analyst at KPMG, Adekunle Morakinyo, described the programme as an awesome experience and insightful. Morakinyo said he learnt about the key skills of being successful in the banking industry, such as integrity, discipline and the fact that the world is already edging away from the traditional way of banking.