Ambode charges pupils on creativity, entrepreneurial skills

 

 

LAGOS State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has observed that the quickest way by which the country can solve the lingering unemployment crisis in the country and promote economic growth is for students of all ages especially from the elementary level of education to develop their entrepreneurial skills and innate natural talents that will help them to be self-sustained and be a major player in the economic growth.

The Governor, who made the observation at the Year 2017Science, Arts and Craft exhibition, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Education as part of the activities commemorating the ongoing Lagos@50 celebrations, urged pupils and students from both public and private schools in the state to develop their skills and natural talents so as to positively affect the course of human existence and improve the living condition of the people through innovations and development of their natural skills

Ambode, represented by his Deputy, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, stated that the era of white collar job is gone, noting that the present-day economic reality is that academic qualifications must go along with requisite entrepreneurial skills that will enhance job creation, home-grown innovation and creativity rather than depending on foreign products.

The Governor, who expressed delight at various projects developed and exhibited by pupils and students at the competition, added that nothing immortalizes a man than his own invention which impacts on the lives of the people positively.

He maintained that the economic solution to the country’s problem can only be found among Nigerians.

“We must begin to gainfully and positively exploit our natural resources; introduce technology into agriculture to maximize production and process raw materials into finished products for consumption with minimal wastage; we must as a matter of urgency emphasis on home-grown innovation and creativity instead of adopting anything foreign”, Ambode state.

While urging the students to have confidence in themselves, he disclosed that the exhibition was deliberately included into the Lagos@50 celebrations so as to further demonstrate his administration’s efforts at developing and producing rounded students in their primary responsibilities and extra-curricular activities so as to fully prepare them to face life challenges after their education without any difficulty.

He said, “Beyond celebrating the golden anniversary of our state, this exhibition is intended to open your minds to the immense economic opportunities in the arts and crafts. The market is huge for those who can inject creativity in the design and production of these items including other areas of our culture especially in the creative arts category”.

Governor Ambode, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to develop and grow Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the state, noted that the economies of giant countries of the world today like Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore among others were built on the vibrancy of SMEs, adding that most of the materials we imported to our country today are produced in small apartments by young men and women in those countries who are not in any way better than our own citizens

In his remarks, Mr Adesina Odeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education said that the exhibition and talent hunt was aimed at redirecting young peoples’ exploitative thoughts to help discover and harness their innate talents.

“The huge investment and commitment of the government to quality education, especially the provision of craft and science equipment in schools is yielding positive results. I commend the students whose exhibitions made it to the grand finale from the different districts. We hope that the inventions by our students will be developed to solve the problems affecting humanity”, he said.

It would be recalled that the six education districts in the state held their Science, Arts and Craft Exhibitions preliminaries on April 10 and 12 this year.

Primary schools under the State Universal Basic Education Board, District I in Agege emerged winner in the talent hunt show; State Junior School, District IV in Surulere came first in the Arts and crafts exhibition while Technical College of Lagos in District VI, Oshodi emerged winner in the science exhibition