The Founder, Olawole Lanre Akinsanmi Foundation, Folayemi Akinsanmi, has urged Nigerians to motivate children to make the right decisions that will secure the future of the nation.
She spoke at a lecture organised by the foundation for pupils of St Joseph Secondary School, Agege, Lagos State. It had as theme: ‘’Making life changing decisions’’.
According to her, children must be mentored to make life-changing decisions right from childhood. This, she said, would enable them to have a bright future both for themselves and the nation at large.
“Making the right decision right from childhood would guide the children towards choosing the right career path. It would also enable them to disconnect from following bad gang; they will have motivation towards their future and aspire to be something in life,” she said.
Akinsanmi noted that the gathering was aimed at celebrating children and to let them know that they meant a lot to the nation because their tomorrow would determine the future of the country.
“This lecture is geared towards giving children positive attitude to life and to teach them how to make decisions about their future, to guide them, enable them change their life style, make themquit from following bad gang and help them to choose the right career path. ”
She noted that the foundation had been helping to reduce the number of out-of-school children for the past ten years.
“The Foundation has recorded a modest result by placing some street kids in schools with the help of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and some Education Districts. We also provide them with required learning materials, nutrition and healthcare.
“We get our children in the foundation from slums and streets; we give them quality education and entrepreneurial training; we add value to their lives and build in them the self-confidence required to face life and contribute positively to the society,” she said.
Executive Director, St Joseph Secondary School, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ukana-Bisiriyu, said children must be celebrated and prepared for the future of which they are its future.
“We need to talk to them and encourage them on what is ahead of them. They must be taught good manners and character; they should put more efforts in their studies to enable them stand up right to face and overcome any challenges that may come their way,” she said.
The guest lecturer, Adeyinka Adebukola, said there was the need to retune the minds of children to attain excellence, reset how they want to live their lives, make the right decisions and make positive changes.
She urged them to strive for excellence, noting that with excellence they could attain any position in life. “Children must know how to set values for themselves, have purpose, build good behaviours, change their perceptions and discover themselves,” she said.
The Principal, St Joseph Secondary School, Adegboye Augustine, said children need to be educated in making life-changing decisions.
“There is need to educate children on how to make decisions about their future career. They must follow their passion and interest ant not just what they see their peers do,” he said.
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