By Dawud Ahmed in Lokoja.
The guest lecturer.
A lecturer at the Kogi State University, Anyigba, Rev.Dr. David Ajagbe, has advised parents in Nigeria not to allow challenges outside the world of secondary school destroy the destiny of their children, especially at the tertiary institutions.
He gave the advice on Thursday at the annual lecture by Parents Teachers Association,PTA and the meeting of Senior Secondary III students of Baptist High School ,Lokoja and their parents.
The don,who was the guest lecturer at the meeting and spoke on a lecture,entitled,”Preparing for the glorious future,”described life at the university and other high institution as bedeviled with a lot of social vices capable of destroying their destiny.
He identified such vices as cultism, examination malpractice , prostitution among others, adding that parents needed to inculcate in their children attending such high institutions, the imperative of operating within the confine of sound moral character to achieve the best in their educational pursuit.
According to him,it is proper for parents to accompany their children who secured admission to university to monitor them; know their hostel, friends and keep keen eye on their registration processes and have effective conversation with the advisor of the university.
“Appoint a watch for you children. When they secure admission to university, endeavor to follow them to the university, know their hostel,room mates,relate with advisor, do occasional or unannounced visit to them,to be conscious of their moral tone and educational status,” he further advised parents.
Dr.Ajagbe assured that such parental guidance would go along way to ensure effective monitoring of their children’s social behavior and educational progress.
The religious leader noted that there were many universities and other high institution where students with sound moral character from secondary school had been lured into social vices through the influence of bad company.
He also called on parents to investigate thoroughly before accepting to meet financial demands of their students to guard against short change.
Dr.Ajagbe, one time vice principal of Baptist High School, Lokoja,called on the students of the school to have confidence in the ability of their to pass examination with flying without resorting to malpractices.
He reminded the students that examination malpractice and other vices usually put their name, family and the school in the mud, adding that history and posterity frown at such negative behavior.
He,however, warned parents not to hide under the canopy of the current biting effects of the nation’s economic harship to neglect their parental responsibilities for the upbringing of their children.
According to the lecturer, jettison such responsibility will be inimical to the destiny of such children and their career in future.
Dr.Ajagbe alluded to the popular saying that “though time does not last forever but though people.
The Principal of the school,Mrs.Victoria Olaleye, said the meeting was aimed at giving the final year students of the school, their parents and the executive of PTA the opportunity to rub minds on how to ensure that the students come out with flying colours in the forthcoming WAEC and NECO examinations.
The Principal expressed confidence in the ability of the teachers of the school to impact knowledge that would boost students’educational ambition to higher level.
Olaleye,who stressed that Baptist High School had zero tolerance for examination malpractice,assured the students of the school,who she said were committed to their studies that they would pass their examination in flying colours.
The chairman of the PTA, Mr. Gabriel Bamidele, commended the school for quality teaching with a call on the students to face their studies squarely to achieve their educational aspiration in the school and progress to higher institution.
He also commended the parents for discharging their responsibilities for the educational needs and success of their children.
Our correspondent reports that highlight at the occasion was the special prayer offered for the students and their parents by the guest lecturer.
