Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has emphasised the importance of hard work and resilience in the attainment of one’s life goal.
Elumelu, who spoke at the 20th anniversary lecture and prize-giving ceremony of Bridge House College (BHC), Ikoyi, enjoined the 116 graduating students to work hard, be disciplined and ready to make sacrifices for a better tomorrow, stressing the importance of being intentional and resilient in their efforts.
The lecture, titled: “Artificial intelligence and education: Opportunities and challenges,” was held at Muson Centre, Lagos. Elumelu said: “We live in a world where people don’t believe in hard work again. Be very intentional about being hardworking, when you approach whatever you are doing with seriousness, you will definitely achieve your aim.” He also enjoined the graduating students to be disciplined and be ready to make sacrifices for a better tomorrow.
“The world we live in today, there is no discipline, but always look up to your parents as role models. Try not to consume all, make sacrifices for a better tomorrow. Tenacity is key; learn to be tenacious. Don’t give up easily. These days, with little difficulty, people are depressed. Be tenacious and the world is at your feet,” Elumelu stated.
On her part, wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs Funso Abiodun, expressed concern that more than 10 million children are out-of-school, while half of those in school do not receive qualitative education.
She also lamented increased cases of cultism and drug abuse among students, saying schools and parents have a responsibility to tackle the menace.
While congratulating the school for maintaining the standard over the years, advised the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the college.
On the theme of the lecture, Abiodun noted that artificial intelligence when deployed in schools, could bridge the gap between urban and rural learning, saying she looked forward to a day when students in Sagamu could be taught in China through AI.
The Chief Executive Officer, Shoreline Energy International, Kola Karim, said the college has engaged in 20 years of building future leaders of the country.
He charged the students to be of good character, be ready to stand tall and work harder to compete favourably with their peers. Executive Director of the college, Dr Foluke AbdulRazak, said in its 20 years of existence, over 4,000 BHC students have become graduates of some of the best institutions in the world, and currently pursuing brilliant careers.
“At Bridge House College, our ethos revolves around providing young minds with a solid foundation to achieve life’s goals in two main respects; first, we ensure that our students are fully equipped to enable them embark on serious academic pursuits, and having scaled the high moral bar set for them here, they are prepared to face and conquer the vicissitudes of life and successfully ride on the wave of the new world Al order, with its anticipated exciting and exceptional disruptions.
She urged the graduating students to approach every problem not as a hindrance, but as a beckoning to find solutions and forge a pathway to success, fulfilment, health and wealth.
“In our current world dominated by AI and climate change, consider innovative solutions such as green technologies, carbon capture, improved payment systems, environmentally healthy clean-up methods and advanced electricity storage concepts.
While Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-based careers will always be in vogue, it’s crucial to re-invent and be flexible, regardless of your core path, explore and enhance your natural talents.”
Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, wife of the Lagos State deputy governor, emphasised that the use of AI in today’s world is key.
“AI has the potential to transform the education sector, the curriculum should be reviewed to inculcate AI. We must ensure we provide opportunities for our children to acquire knowledge using AI so that they can compete in the global space,” she said. Among the graduands, Oluwafolajimi Osibo emerged the overall best graduating student.
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