The General Manager, Daniel and Fola Olukoya Biotechnology Foundation, Dr Ahmed Otunba, has urged parents not to impose career choices on their children.
Otunba gave the advice in Lagos at the maiden edition of the Career Counselling on Sciences initiative of the foundation, owned by the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Pastors Daniel Olukoya, and his wife, Fola.
He noted that children should not be used as “tools of competition” but rather be allowed to choose career paths that they would be proud of.
“It is important for children to have the right mindset in making career choices and the foundation plans to extend the counselling initiative to the six education districts in Lagos State to support this,” he noted.
According to him, the counselling programme is to complement the Lagos State Ministry of Education’s efforts and ensure that Nigerian scientists are not left behind in the global biotechnological revolution.
Otunba said the event was organised in partnership with Lagos State Education Board District 1 which created an enabling environment for the participation of 168 students and 42 teachers.
He added, “We are looking forward to having more financial partnerships with the government to enable us to capture all education districts, even across the state, where seasoned stakeholders can come and impart knowledge to students.
“The idea is to ensure that Nigerian students have the right mindset towards choosing a career in science and other fields in line with the revolution.
“They have been educated that scientists are meant to be problem solvers by identifying problems or challenges predominant in his/her environment and finding a solution, thereby developing a career.”
Also speaking at the event, the Coordinator of the Centre for Entrepreneur Development and Innovation, Lagos State, Mr Bamidele Salami, said there was a need to give back to society.
Salami, who is also a lecturer at Mountain Top University, enjoined the students to seek to stand out.
“Be it pure science, social science, art or commercial; note that no one is superior or less than the other.
“Every discipline has its strength, something to offer and has its usefulness to the society,” he said.
