The Nation Newspaper

Tag: career

  • Experts to unveil agenda for career, skills

    Experts to unveil agenda for career, skills

    Preparations are now in top gear for the unveiling ceremony of the 21st Century Skills Roadmap.

    The two-day event is scheduled to hold at the University of Lagos between November 14th and 15th.

     Hosted by Career Digest (CD) Limited, a social business enterprise, in collaboration with leading stakeholders in the education sector, the event promises to unveil before a colourful audience, the fundamentals of the perennial wide-scale skills gaps between the institutions of learning and the workplace in Nigeria and across parts of Africa.

    More significantly, CD will unveil credible solution pathways to resolving the endemic problem that has spanned decades and seemingly defied solutions.

    The 21st CSR , event its organiser said shall provide participants access to an uncommon assemblage of key relevant sector stakeholders, keen to resolve the unfortunate problem.

     The epoch-making event which is planned as a hybrid occurrence, will host about 500 onsite and 3,000 offsite participants.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: Oyo, Osun, 24 others with zero foreign investments in one year

    It will feature activities that include keynote addresses, goodwill messages, a Big Picture presentation, panel discussions, official endorsements, Business to Business (B2B) Sessions, networking and exhibitions, among others.

    Among expected participants, include academic institutions/educators, employers of labour, development institutions, policymakers including ministries, government executives at federal, state, and local government levels .  Also expected are chief executives/human resources managers of corporate organisations, the media, Non-Governmental Organisations and philanthropists, community leaders, learners, PTAs/parents & guardians.

    For the first time, the problems of the skills gaps and failures by stakeholders of the continent to achieve 21st century skills will be given a comprehensive, sustainable and pragmatic approach and diagnosis.

      A media statement released by the Chief Executive Officer of Career Digest, Mrs. Joy Chinwokwu, a veteran journalist and  World Bank award-winning business development consultant, remarked that “the Career Digest initiative is strategically guided by its Advisory Board Chairman,  Emeritus Professor, Olugbemiro Jegede,  Foundation Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria; former Chief Executive  of the Association of African Universities; and Chairman, TETFund Advisory Committee on Digital Literacy, Productivity and Emerging Skills.

     A statement credited to Emeritus Prof. Jegede observed that “The CD initiative will indeed be very helpful in ensuring that Nigeria maximises the privileges of its recent admission into WorldSkills community as its 89th member by effectively positioning every stakeholder in the country to embrace emerging global skills, in real time. CD is hopeful of assisting WorldSkills Nigeria, to generate needed energy and insights to the global skills movement.”

    Also keenly behind the initiative’s success, is its Advisory Board Vice-Chairman, Mr. Tim Rose,  the CEO of Growbridge Advisors Ltd UK , an international firm that provides a range of corporate advisory and training services to companies and International Donors and who is also Chartered Director and None Executive Director of Fintech Start-up & Senior Technical Advisor on SME Donor Programmes, in London. The initiative is equally backed by other high-level advisors in the core areas of Strategy, Policies & Interventions, Content Development and Management and Study, Curriculum and Jobs.

    The press statement further added that the management of CD is driven by a vibrant Business Team and a colourful Editorial Board profiling veterans and GenZ journalists.

     Said Mrs. Chinwokwu, “The Editorial team is expected to give some bite to the post-event implementation plans, designed to execute its clear transformation agenda of impacting the economies of individuals, families and nations. Vital to this initiative are the mentorship and informative programmes delivered online and onsite through the Career Digest website, www.careerdigest.com.ng  and other programmes designed in partnerships with schools at different tiers of education that range from kindergarten through to primary, secondary and tertiary institutions and with employers, targeting workplace rookies.”

    The Career Digest initiative is designed to empower skillful and morally upright students, youth, and women to help themselves, their families, industries, and the economy.

    Among the expected outcomes is an enabled mutual training environment for the classroom and workplace and a close-knit work interface among various sector stakeholders.

    The initiative has been applauded by leading members of both the public and private sectors as “a timely and long-awaited social business tonic for career and curriculum reforms.”

  • Sustaining the Christian home (1)

    Dear Reader, happy new month! This month speaks new beginnings! This might be in your family, career, health, finances, etc.; however, in whatever area you believe God for a change, He will do something new for you. Just as God promised in His Word:  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:19). This verse shall be practical in your life this month in Jesus’ name.

    Building an ideal family, fashioned after God’s Word can be a beautiful experience. Yes, it comes with a lot of hard work, but the end result is always priceless. Moreover, it is not enough to build a Christian home, it has to be sustained. This is why this month, we will be learning how toSustain a Christian Home.

    What is a Christian Home?

    A Christian family is not just a home, where everyone is a Christian, but much more, it is a Christ-like home. A family that is administered according to Scriptural principles; which represent God’s mind, ways and styles. Jesus Christ is the foundation of a Christian family. Therefore, a Christian family is a group of people who are related to each other through marriage, birth or adoption and are committed to the person and work of Jesus Christ. A home where Jesus Christ is loved, honoured and obeyed (Colossians 2:6-7).

    Importance of the Christian Family

    1. The family is the oldest institution known to man. It began in the Garden of Eden when God said, it is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him a help meet for him (Genesis 2:18).
    2. The family is the parent and not the child of the society. If the family is weak, the society will be weak and vice versa. The health of any nation/society is determined by the health of the families there.
    3. The family is the bedrock of the church. Strengthening the family implies strengthening the Church and in turn, the world and vice versa. One of the most important things that anyone can do for his country and for the Lord’s church is to establish and maintain a Christian family. In order to accomplish this noble purpose, the family must be founded upon and guided by the Word of God.
    4. It is the right platform for godly home training, thereby building godly and strong character in individuals who are future leaders.

    Characteristics of A Christian Family

    1. Christ-like manner.

    A family that is truly Christian is Christ-like which means that its members will treat each other as each would like to be treated (1 John 2:6, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1-2). They would act like Christ and be worthy of emulation.

    1. Every member of the family accepts Christ.

    The acceptance of Christ is a solid foundation on which a Christian home is built. Your family’s relationship with Jesus is the corner stone to the success of your home. This is why it is important for parents to ensure that all

    members of the family are devoted to Christ and are in active service in God’s vine year. That way, you can be assured of a good future for your family.

    1. Accepting Scriptural responsibility.

    All members of a Christian home are required to accept their scriptural responsibilities. The Christian father will not provoke his children to wrath but will nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4) The Christian son and daughter will obey their Parents in the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-3). And a Christian wife will be submissive to her husband, loving all members of the family in the love of Christ.

    1. Open honesty and integrity

    A Christian home is where open and complete honesty and integrity are practiced, without hypocrisy, making possible complete confidence and trust. God’s expectation for the family is to share a bond that cannot be easily broken and this comes primarily through genuine openness, honesty, trust and love for one another.

    If family success is your aim as a Christian, then you must ensure that you co-operate with God to make the home a mini-paradise on the earth, as it is supposed to be. The truth is: the success of your home is solely dependent on you. When you do your part as laid down in Scriptures, then God is committed to releasing His help towards the perfection of your home.

    Help from God will come faster for you when you are born again. If you are already born again, rejoice because your case is settled. If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Over 2000 youths to converge at 2018 RECALP summit

    … RECALP to intellectually spur attendees to action on various fields of life

     

    The Young Adults and Youth Affairs of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 19 has announced date for fourth edition of the Relationship, Entrepreneur, Career, Leadership, Politics (RECALP) Summit.

    The Summit, which is scheduled to hold on May 29, 2018 at the Redeemed Christian Church of God Lagos Province 19 Auditorium in Ogudu, will serve as platform to equip the new generation of leaders and stimulate attendees, mostly young people to align with plausible steps to attain their life goals.

    The Chief Host, Pastor Bisi Olowoyo, who is Pastor-in-charge of Lagos Province 19, said that over 2,000 young people are expected to be in attendance, while a lot of viewers are expected to join the Summit online.

    Olowoyo described RECALP as a carefully designed platform to stir-up the creativity, talents and skills in the young people.

    Speaking on the Summit, the Convener and Provincial Youth Pastor of Lagos Province 19, Femi Aminu said that RECALP has evolved over the past couple of years from merely a youth summit where young people network to a brand that sows and nurtures ideas of true leadership in the minds of young leaders.

    “The initiative is to provide a forum where young people can be intellectually stimulated and challenged to take charge in the focus areas of the Summit,” Aminu further said.

    RECALP holds every May 29 to coincide with Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration.

    Also commenting on the Summit, Pastor Akin Akinboboye, Pastor of the Berean Youth Church, disclosed that Rev. (Mrs.) Funke Felix-Adejumo, President of Agape Christian Ministries, Dr. Charles Apoki, Founder of Petra Ministries and international conference speaker in several denominations and Mr. Adebola Williams, the co-founder of Red Media and StateCraft Inc as well as the co-author of the book “How to win elections in Africa”; are among other speakers at the Summit.

    Pastor Akinboboye added: “The RECALP Summit provides practical anecdotes for five very important aspects of human life namely: relationship, entrepreneurship, career, leadership, and politics. Our faculty has been carefully drawn from a select pool of distinguished and reputable individuals who actually walk their talk.

    Pastor Segun Odewunmi, the chairman of RECALP and pastor in charge of Restoration worship center also disclosed that “The Summit has so far enjoyed a relatively wide coverage with a total cumulative attendance of circa 2,000 and a growing online audience from all over the world.

    “Our young leaders – both as part of the live audience as well as those that would be joining the summit from across the world via different online streaming platforms are therefore assured of value for their time.

    “This is because our faculty this year are true success stories from the lens of the youth. We have a harmonious blend of time-tested practical wisdom in relationship and entrepreneurship on the one hand, and the youthful success story in career and leadership on the other.”

    Meanwhile, the Conveners said that attendance at the five-hour summit is free and interested youths can register online at http://www.recalp.org/

  • PwC: women don’t trust employers on career

    Anew report commissioned by PwC has shown that many women don’t trust what their employers are telling them about career development and promotion; or what helps or hurts their career. It however stated that they are confident, ambitious and ready for what’s next.

    The report titled: Time to Talk: What has to Change for Women at Work was released to mark the International Women’s Day (IWD) slated for tady.  PwC surveyed over 3,600 professional women (aged 28-40) to find out about their career development experiences and aspirations. The survey included respondents from employers across 27 industry sectors and from over 60 countries worldwide.

    Although CEOs recognise the importance of being transparent about their diversity and inclusion programmes to build trust, the message isn’t universal and strong enough. 45 per cent of women believe an employee’s diversity status (gender, ethnicity, age, sexual preference) can be a barrier to career progression in their organisation, and only 51 per cent of women agree that employers are doing enough to progress gender diversity.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Find Yourself First, Before You Find a Job

    Find Yourself First, Before You Find a Job

    The economy only gets better on paper. The list of bills to pay is growing longer and the influx of income—relatively thinner. We can’t deny the fact that a nine-to-five job, can come in quite handy now than ever.

    However, aside from the customary routine of trying to stay alive, finding employment, making money, starting a family and raising cool kids, everybody wants a ‘little extra something’ out of life. Not everyone necessarily wants to be great or “change the world” like the crazy egocentric maniacs do, but every person craves to be more useful with their hidden genius or natural creative gifts.

    The unemployment rate increases almost as often as we turn on the news. Hence, people are literally cut out for just about anything that brings income, in order to stay “gainfully” employed. But while we settle for less on momentary jobs, a lot of us don’t seem to find the required satisfaction that motivates us to be more productive. The privilege of changing our jobs still doesn’t do the trick, as we eventually grow tired of the new job the same way we did with the previous one. If you feel this way about your work, then you’re certainly on the right track because you deserve a lot more. So, why settle for less?

    You can’t be fulfilled in your job, if you’re slowly drowning in the wrong profession! If you aren’t passionate about your line of work, or can’t see yourself clinging to it on a long term, then you might have chosen the wrong career path. How much of your ‘hidden genius’ have you discovered? How much of your natural creative abilities are directly connected to your current job? None? Very well, then; finding a new job to tolerate, should be the least of your concerns right now.

    Often times, the extra fulfillment we seek in life are tied to our passions—and how well we pursue them—with the help of our natural gifts. It’s our passion for something that keeps us going, even when the pay isn’t exactly right, or when we encounter toxic discouraging moments. When we fail to crack open our minds to discover what our true identity and passions really are, we continue to be the unhappy employees who help our bosses achieve their dreams, while we remain miserable from continual complains—even though we could be employers of labor ourselves. Why bury your life’s worth just to be enslaved by a regular job that’s driving you insane, when such valuable time can be invested in a craft you’re gifted in and passionate about?

    Find something you’re good at, and work twice as hard developing yourself on it—even if you have to intern for free! Market your skills, give every opportunity a shot, and take up a job that’s wired into your newfound passion. “If you wanna make money, stick with what you know and love,” Donald Trump once tweeted. Well, Mr. Trump did stick with his love for business—and a rare gift of attracting hatred from women, look where it got him…

  • Group hosts career guidance workshop for students

    A student-focused group, Global Interns Nigeria, is to host its maiden career guidance workshop tagged: The career connect series.

    Tertiary institution and high school students are expected to attend the event holding on August 22, at Eko Hotels and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The event, aimed at guiding students towards the right career path and prospects associated with them, will feature facilitators from various professions to address critical issues students encounter when making career choices.

    The group’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Modupe, said the initiative was informed by the need to properly guide the youth on their career paths. She said the workshop would help young people to understand the meaning of career choices and networking.

    “We promise the event would be practical and interactive between students and facilitators,” she said.

    Mrs Modupe noted that students were still being forced to make career decisions in line with the desire of their parents, without looking at the prospects and satisfaction in their choices.

    She said: “The workshop will provide a platform for students to enable them understand and take good decision in choices of career.”

    According to her, many young people had their aspirations dashed, because it was too late to reverse the choice they wrongly made. “This is why proper career guidance becomes relevant to fill the gap and help our young people. This is what the workshop aims to achieve,” she said.

    Global Interns Nigeria is an organisation that connects college and high school interns to lifelong rewarding internship jobs and volunteering programmes in Nigeria and Ghana.

  • Pupils get career tips

    Primary Six pupils of Mushin Local Government Area were given some career tips by experts from various fields at their sendoff.

    The maiden event tagged ‘Professional Leadership Summit’ held at the Local Government Education  Authority’s (LGEA’s) secretariat.

    Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), The Nation‘s chapter Chairman, Comrade Musa Odoshimokhe,  who spoke on Journalism, advised the pupils to be fearless and  purpose-driven.  As far as journalism is concerned, information dissemination is key, Odoshimokhe added.

    He explained that journalism sets agenda for the government, and holds governments and institutions accountable to the public.

    Odoshimokhe, who advised the pupils to have a flair for journalism,  warned them on information management, adding that any piece of information released to the media could either bring delight or trigger tensions.

    He urged them to read wide to gain  knowledge of every aspect of the human life.

    Another speaker Dr Adedayo Faduyile of Lagos State Teaching Hospital urged the pupils to have passion for lives as that is the thrust of the profession.

    Science subjects are also key as they serve as the bedrock of the profession, Faduyile advised.

    Other professions in which pupils were mentored included: teaching, military, engineering, business, fashion designing, and Law, among others.

    The LGEA Education Secretary, Mrs Olufemi Akinlude, said it was necessary for participants to have a foretaste of their career so that they could achieve aspirations.

    She noted that the summit, the first of its kind in the state, was borne out of the need to mentor the pupils to enable them imprint in them the zeal to succeed and not be deterred by their backgrounds.

    “I was looking for a way to inculcate in them career tips because as future leaders, there is hope for them. Since they will soon pass out I decided to have a gathering like this to enlighten them on their various career paths and to celebrate their passing out soon.

    “If we do not start to encourage them that tomorrow is better, we might be producing miscreants in the society. I brought up my children in Mushin. It bothers me when I hear, see and feel the stigmatisation of Mushin people, both young and old, concerning unruly behaviour. My resilience in total abrogation or reduction of this menace to the barest minimum was the genesis of what we paraphrased ‘Professional Leadership Summit, ” she said.

    She urged the parents to assist in guiding their wards’ paths to exhibit good conduct and values in the society.

    She asked parents to keep photographs of uniforms of their various career choices in which they were dressed in at the event, and have them hung at a conspicuous places to serve as a reminder and to redirect their mindset when their wards derail.

  • Group plans career workshop

    Global Interns Nigeria, a student-centered organisation, has concluded plans to hold career guidance workshops tagged “The Career Connect Series” for students in secondary schools and universities.

    The first of the series will hold August 22 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Modupe, said the need to groom and guide young people to choose the right career paths informed the workshops.

    “This workshop provides a platform for students to enable them understand the meaning of career choices.  There should be an understanding of what course to choose and whether capabilities match interests. This is what Global Interns career guidance workshop intends to achieve,” she said.

  • Mosun Filani boasts of treasure outside acting career

    Two years after her last movie, Eri-Ife, actress Mosun Filani-Oduoye, has proven to her fans that she can survive outside acting.

    Recall that the actress abandoned her acting career after settling down with her hubby in Osogbo, Osun State, delving into hair and skin care business. Apparently satisfied with her choice, Mosun recently made available, evidences of orders coming from home and aboard, while also showcasing her busy schedule at making people beautiful.

    Posting pictures and videos of Ghana-weaving braids, and some beauty products, the former movie producer has also managed to keep her fan base. Although Eri-Ife was released in 2015, fans have been asking her on social media, for the concluding part of the movie, which is yet to be uploaded on YouTube.

    Mosun Filani-Oduoye’s works include Alaamu (2006), Iran Kefa (2007), Iku Ewa (2009), Oko Obirin (2010), and Eri-Ife (2015).

    Iku Ewa for example, was said to have fetched her four awards the same year it was released; and several nominations.

  • Pupils advised on career choices

    PUPILs have been urged to choose their career based on passion.

    Proprietor of Kiddies’ Acres Nursery and Primary School, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos, Mrs Titilade Olajumoke, said this during the school’s ‘Career Day’.

    The event saw participating pupils clothed in various attires emblematic of their professionals such as medical doctor, lawyer, nurse, pilot, teacher, banker and engineer.

    Olajumoke said the talk was geared towards enlightening the pupil for their future career.

    As part of activities on their calendar year, Olajumoke said last year, the pupils visited the Republic of Benin airport in Cotonou for their excursion. She said the pupils were aslo unable to travel outside the country for the past last two year because of the economic situation of the country.

    An ex-banker Mrs Deborah Fabiyi spoke about the responsibilities, benefits and challenges of a banker.

    “We have to be at work before 8am to meet the requests of customers and we close late at night.” she said.

    A banker also needs to dress appropriately, must be welcoming and not be overwhelmed with pressure.

    She urged pupils to ensure they pass their entrance examinations, identifying key subjects in studying Accountancy such as Mathematics, English, and Accounting.

    An air traffic controller at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos Mrs Balogun Olubunmi, admonished the pupils to be the best in whatever they do.

    “As a pilot, you cannot afford to make a mistake on your job because any mistake may lead to loss of lives.   I am always in the Control Room to monitor aeroplanes. If there is need to visit a rest room or any other thing, the control reader must be properly handed over to another staff member.”

    Mrs Ngi Senewo, an instructor and a dancer, said dance enhances health.