Today's Skills For Tomorrow's Wealth

I join others to congratulate the entire members of the Non-Governmental Organisation, Sustainable Economic Development Initiatives for African Communities, ably led by the Program Director, Alaba Oluwakemi, on the maiden edition of the organization's Educational project tagged "Adewale – Students' Conference and Book Launch". I must say that the hosting of this Students' Conference and Book Launch will promote the book reading culture among our students in particular; and the generality of people.

It is indeed a thing of joy to celebrate with this group of NGO that use the power of positive thinking to transform lives of our future generations by empowering young people and preparing them for the future. One of the beautiful things attributed with this NGO is that they have continued to give their all, to turn hopeless situations into glorious ones. I want to believe that the Sustainable Economic Development Initiatives for African Communities Team will continue with this legacy of sacrificial contribution to the uplift of humanity.

The beneficiaries of benevolence would no doubt appreciate the love, concern and sacrifices made to give a promising future. I therefore salute the courage of the Team and appreciate the bond and spirit of love that have been keeping them together. It is acknowledgement of the humanitarian efforts of this NGO that I am part of this "Adewale – Students' Conference and Book Launch" today.

I understand that this Educational project is aimed to protect academic excellence outside the four walls of the classroom and encourage extra-curricular, yet academic exposure for secondary school students. My job here is to give speech on the topic: "The winning attitude beyond the walls". Let me recognise that the topic is very apt and instructive. Attitude means the way you think and feel about something or the way you behave towards something. It may be negative or positive. Today in Nigeria, our problem is attitudinal. Win means to be the most successful in a competition, race or battle. Examination in schools as a competition among students, whoever comes first is the winner. Winning is the adjective of "win" so winning attitude simply means feeling, thinking, and behavior characterised with mindset of being successful from onset.

Wall in this context means something that forms a barrier or stops one from making progress. So, our mandate this morning is to put a behaviour or a thinking cap that will break any barrier that wants to stop one from being successful in life. That is, developing a winning attitude to achieve great results irrespective of any situation. Possible walls a teenager/pupil are likely to come across in life to succeed are listed below among others.

PARENTAL WALLS: This has to do with bringing up a child in your language, cultural norms and value in order for such child to grow up recognising major body language exhibited by the parents. No wonder a Yoruba adage says that Omo Ti Abi Nile Ire Gbodo Tun Arare Bi

GUARDIAN'S WALL: This is a situation where we look up to someone as a role model, but in chosing your role model you must be very careful because each person will stand as your guardian and Chief adviser that will guard you through life experiences and such people could fall in the following categories

1. Your Pastor
2. Your Imam

TEACHER'S/CLASSROOM WALLS: which is the most important and where we learnt and strive to be someone in life. Now, who is a teacher? It is a person who through his/her teaching process, attends to people's needs, experiences, feelings and intervening in order to impact knowledge in a peculiar filed and go beyond the given. Invariably, there will be no walls without teachers, apparently teachers are believed to be the architect, builder and molder of future and the society, as well as equipping his or her pupils to face the challenges ahead of them.

CAREER WALLS: this is what one encounters in labour market before getting to the pinnacles of one's career. It is no gain-saying that many of us did not know the importance of cultivating winning attitudes. I want to tell you today that a winning attitude can attract friends, followers and even leaders. It makes one to stand out among equals. It is true that winning is not everything, but developing a winning attitude is very important.

Among its importance are:

1. A winning attitude builds self-confidence
2. It increases your ability to take initiative and be resourceful;
3. It creates healthy self-esteem while improving desired results.

Let me say that whether you win or not, you always gain new knowledge, skills, and awareness which are only available with a winning attitude. And these experiences are priceless.

Let me mention 5 tips amongst many to create a winning attitude:

1. Vision and Determination: Vision precedes provision. It is the power of champions. Determine to succeed through positive thinking and right attitude. Thinking out of the box is key.
2. Commitment and Dedication: You must be focused and committed. Do not allow any distractions in your journey.
3. Identifying goals and what you want to achieve: We are all created to do great things but we must first identify what we are meant for and what we want to do. In life, a goal without plan is only a wish. Have a well clear plan or strategies for your goals.
4. Taking Initiatives:For many reasons; people drem the dream, but fail to commit towards making it happen. They want to win but fear the time and efforts required.
5. Doing The Work rather than creating excuses: Some people are so lazy. They want to achieve success without striving for it. It doesn't happen like that. You must earn the success. And like wise man says, there is a price for every success. The only time success comes before work in dictionary. Hard work and perseverance are major keys to success. Stop talking the talk without doing the walk.
6. When Obstacles Occur, Do Not Give Up. Everyone hits a wall. Note that there is no testimony without a test. Sometimes, it is a really big one. But, giving up is not an option. Do not allow the moment to define you but define the moment by embracing challenges and surmounting the obstacles.

You must remember at all times that a winning attitude beyond the walls is required to achieve great results; a better career and new opportunities. For me, developing a winning attitude has supported me to achieve great results in my career.

As I mentioned earlier, it is important that we develop a winning mindset. Believe me, if your mindset is negative, the outcome will always be failure. But if you're positive and you put everything to achieve that goal, it will be a success. I also encourage us to cultivate the habit of reading. Read books that will inspire you, search for knowledge and it shall be yours. I enjoin parents to take the upbringing of our children very seriously.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the task of moving the State and the Nation forward is a task for everyone and we should play our parts to bequeath a worthy legacy to our children who are the future of tomorrow. As I round off, let me once again congratulate the entire members of the Sustainable Economic Development Initiatives for African Communities on the maiden edition of their Educational Project tagged "Adewale – Students' Conference and Book Launch". I also congratulate the Author and the Publisher of the book we are launching today. I thank the organisers of this conference for giving me this opportunity to set the tone for this event. It is my hope that the experience has been found worthwhile.

As I wish you and impacting Students' Conference, I thank you all for listening and God bless.

Evangelist Olalekan Ifede,
Chairman, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM)
Wednesday, 29th September, 2021