On Monday, some education experts urged parents to let their children choose their own lives with their guidance.
They provided the advise at the second edition of CityMood Magazine’s National Pre-University Conference 2021 in Badagry, Lagos State.
Mrs. Olawunmi Oni-Braimon, a lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU) Department of English Language, cautioned parents not to offer their children models to follow in their lives.
Oni-Braimon cautioned parents against pressuring their children to follow in their footsteps.
“Parents should guide their children rather than forcing them to pursue a university education.”
“It is our responsibility to assist them in choosing a university course of study.
“Students interested in attending university should be aware that higher education is a place where one discovers and builds oneself.”
“It’s a place where you can make an impact on your space and be prepared to make the best in whatever field you choose,” she explained.
According to Oni-Braimon, students should avoid social vices and instead focus on their future by reading.
“We believe it is preferable for these students to be aware of themselves prior to admission so that they do not become lost on campus.”
“They should know who they are and how to succeed in university.”
“Students should be diligent and consistent in their efforts.”
“Students should also be aware of and acknowledge their own abilities, as well as pay attention to continuous assessment in order to excel at university,” she said.
Mrs Dorcas Omoyele, an educationist, also spoke, urging parents not to limit their children’s education to Nigeria alone.
Omoyele urged them to provide opportunities for their children to explore other areas in order for them to succeed.
She advised schools to provide books for students to study for university entrance exams in other countries.
Mr Sewhude Akande, the conference’s Conveyer, stated that the purpose of the Pre-University Conference was to prepare students who had just completed the Universal Tertiary Examination (UTM) for challenges on campus.
Akande, the publisher of CityMood Magazine, explained that the conference arose from his experiences on campus.
“As a union leader during my university days, I observed that students arrive unprepared for the university environment.”
“The goal of the program is to prepare students for what they will encounter on campus, as well as to teach them what they will require at the university and what their contributions will be after graduation,” he explained.
Akande urged parents to always allow their children to attend the conference, saying it would be beneficial to them.
“We intend to spread our tentacles to other parts of the country so that students there can benefit from the program,” he said.
He requested collaboration from the Ministry of Education and corporate organizations in order to expand the program to other parts of the country.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), many students from various schools in Oko-Afo, Agbara, Badagry, and other communities attended the conference.