A PROFESSOR of education, Aloy Ejiogu, has urged 52 students who graduated from Grace High School, Lagos recently to manage their future well so as to emerge as great leaders to take the nation to higher heights.

Ejiogu, of the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, gave the advice while addressing the 17th graduation ceremony of the school in Lagos.
The educationist, who was guest speaker at the event said though some people may wonder how possible it is for someone to manage a future which he does not know, those who neglect to manage the future end up disastrously in their life journey. He told the outgoing students that “the future begins today because it is what we do today that would determine our future.”

He noted that the future cannot be confined to the vagaries of the time and the environment of the present. “The future has to be defined, understood and planned for, or simply put, managed. The future should be the major concern of the graduating students more than the past. The past is a waste paper, the present is a newspaper while the future is a question paper. That question paper has to be carefully read before one begins to answer. In other words, one has to prepare and handle it carefully,” Ejiogu said.

Listing steps to be taken by the graduates if they really want to manage their future, Ejiogu said they should know themselves thoroughly; know their natural abilities, interest and talents. They should not try to do what they are not cut out for, just as they need to articulate a dream or vision of their lives. “This is also because it is absolutely important to have a focus if one wants to be great in life”.

According to the university teacher, it is also important for the outgoing students to be convinced about what they want to do in life. “That is why we advise parents to allow the children choose a profession based on the children’s conviction, especially because the children would be the one to practice the profession.” He noted that forcing young person to choose a profession often leads to a situation where such profession is abandoned and the child finds his way into something entirely different from what the parents forced him to do.

Professor Ejiogu said one of the very best ways to manage one’s future is to develop worthy character. “Life is not only about career choice or employment. To be sincere, character is everything. You will discover that you need decent behavior, healthy character before you can stand out in a society where violence, perverted sexual gratification, ingestion of drugs and all sorts of immorality are the order of the day,” the don noted.

The occasion afforded the school an opportunity to give award to eminent Nigerians who have served the nation meritoriously. Brilliant graduating students also got award.

The ceremony also featured music and dance presentations by the students.