…holds colloquium on education

By Adesina Wahab

St Mary’s Private School, Ajele/Broad Street, Lagos Island has started a series of activities to mark the 100 years of the establishment of the school founded in 1926 by some Catholic missionaries under the aegis of Our Ladies of Apostle, OLA.

The mission school, which has former Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State and Lagos State First Lady, Dr Mrs Sanwo-Olu among former pupils, also held an education colloquium as part of the activities to mark the event that would culminate in February next year.

The education colloquium had as keynote speaker, Mrs Chinwe Iloghalu, the Acting Managing Director of Nova Bank. She spoke on the topic, “Role of education in fostering holistic development and addressing global issues amidst 21st Century challenges.”

Speaking on the type of education the world needs now, Iloghalu noted that academic brilliance only would be useless without critical soft skills such as empathy, creative thinking, courage among others.

“What kind of education can truly change the world we are now? The world that is fast paced, complex and ambiguous. True education changes how we think, serve, act and live. The most valuable asset is the people. Part of the realities of the 21st Century is that it is full of negativity, it is volatile and complex.

“Therefore, we need education that will fulfil the divine purpose of education which is to bring light to the individual and the world generally. We must emphasise adaptability, creativity, courage, empathy, service, communication skills and other necessary soft skills. Education of today goes beyond memorizing texts,” she said.

She listed areas where the person being educated must be helped to grow to include emotional and social well being, ethical and spiritual awareness, intellectual growth, physical health among others

After her address, a panel discussion involving her, Rev. Fr. Vincent Bankole, and Mr Boboye Olaitan Michael held.

They answered questions on various issues relating to education in a developing country like Nigeria and how it can be used to bridge development gap between the country and developed ones.

Earlier, the Supervisor of the school, Rev. Sis. Fransisca, said the school has provided affordable and quality education for about 100 years.

She solicited support for the school as the journey of another centenary would soon begin.

She said the school doesn’t discriminate on the basis of religion or whatever background intending pupils have.