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By Vivian Onyebukwa
The importance of skills acquisition was once again placed on the front burner at the 2025 valedictory service of Laureates College, Lagos. Speaking at the event, the Principal of the College, Mr Olugbemiga Ayuba, stated that the 35 graduating students of the school have shown some exceptional skills.
He said: “This is a school that develops skills. Once we notice a child’s skill, we work along to develop it, whether arts or science. We believe that a child must be well rounded. It’s not only academics that makes the world of today.”
Ayuba added that the school makes use of electronic gadgets such as projectors in order to meet up with the trends, thereby carrying along the children in modern technology. “A child that was thought with projector, the brain will fly higher than the projector. We develop talents and we encourage them. People should not wait until they will be using ordinary certificate to be running about looking for a job. That is the problem we have in this country.
“Everybody is carrying certificate looking for job, and there are no jobs. People should think out of the box. Our school is in line with he government policy of establishing skills. We have gone past that stage.
“We started since last year. As they are graduating, they have skills that they can fall back on. In academics, they are also there”.
Ayuba also commented on another issues in the education system which is exam malpractices. In curbing the menace Aruba commended the use of Computer Based Test (CBT) which was introduce by the federal government. He said: “It will reduce exam malpractices because you are being tested in some ways. There is what is called power test and speed test in education. All of them are combined into CBT because it is the computer that is timing you.
“It has reduced malpractice a lot. They have succeeded to reduce it in Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). With this they have made exam malpractices almost impossible”.
Explaining how it was achieved, he noted that the questions are different permutations. He commended it as a good system, adding that the only shortcut to success is that the students should practice and re-practice. “They should be conscious of computer time. Their brains should be fast. You may be academically sound but slow. The future of examination is CBT. It helps in the fast release of examination results too.”
He encourage teachers to teach well to enhance performance of a child, instead of helping them in malpractice.
He also advised students to stay away from social media, including AI which has caused more harm than good. He, however, noted that AI has become part of the society and nothing can be done about it. He advised teachers and parents to be aware of these social media to be able to track and monitor their children.
“Up your game as parents so that it doesn’t go beyond what they do with their talents. As you are also trying to reduce the effect, you still have to be online with your children. It has both positive and negative uses. Just be online with your children, Aruba advised.
In his word of exhortation titled, “Soaring Beyond Limits,” Pastor Yomi Laju admonished the graduating students not allow people to define who they are. He said: “If there is anything someone said you can’t achieve, you must achieve it. Develop and improve your mindset.
Think beyond the university. Think of where you will be in the next 20 years. Set goals that will push you beyond limit. God will cause your dream to come to pass. Make sure your goals are intimidating by setting yourself the goals that will make you soar.”
Pastor Laju however told them that to achieve their set goals they must commit themselves to handwork. “A time will come when names will open doors. Put in hard work. As you go out there, don’t believe that there is shortcut. What kind of name would you want to make for yourself. Surround yourself with positive influences.
“This means that you should begin to examine yourselves right now. Try not to fail. Keep trying. Don’t give up. Believe that God is always by your side. When you begin to pray, God will cause every circumstances to be in your favour. When you rise in life, there is place of favour where God would raise someone to favour you.”
Awards were given to “Overall Best Graduating Student” 2025, Oluwajomiloju Lawrence while Boquibat Shodunke was honoured for scoring 320 marks in Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). There were other academic and non-academic awards won by various graduating students.
