Self Development, Core Of Academic Excellence- YABATECH Rector
The Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Dr. (Engr.) Ibraheem Abdul has hinged self-development as a core of academic excellence, being a pursuit that knows no bound.
He made this disclosure at the maiden Yaba College of Technology Colloquium of PhD holders on Friday, at the college Yusuf Grillo Auditorium, themed: Impacting the College Community through Self-Development and Effective Mentoring.
According to him, “ in our roles as educators and mentors, we must continuously strive to expand our horizons both in terms of knowledge and personal growth, adding that through our own journeys of self-discovery and academic achievement, we have the power to inspire and guide our students and colleagues towards their own paths of growth and success”.
Dr. Abdul opined that effective mentoring is the key that unlocks the potentials of the college community and a bridge that connects the wisdom of experience with enthusiasm of the youths.
PhD holders, he said, have the privilege of being both beneficiaries and architects of effective mentoring which must be harnessed to foster an environment where innovation, creativity and collaboration thrive.
The chairman, College Colloquium Committee, Dr. (Mrs) Lauretta Ofodile, in her welcome address, said that the aim of the programme is to uncover the myriad ways in which individual’s growth, journeys and the guidance provided by mentors create a positive ripple effect that resonates far beyond the boundaries of the college campus.
Mentorship, she said, plays a pivotal role as a catalyst for transformation where a mentor empowers, encourages and imparts wisdom garnered from their own experience and a lighthouse for those navigating the tumultuous seas of academia and personal growth.
In the first lead paper titled “Building a Culture of Continuous Learning” presented by Dr. Ifeoma Akeredolu of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Yabatech, the importance of building a culture of continuous learning in the College was established.
Continuous learning, she said, is a voluntary and self-motivated process of perpetually acquiring new knowledge and skills during lifetime and is referred to as lifelong learning.
Dr. Akeredolu stressed that continuous learning in the work place is creating a culture where staff are motivated and committed to learning new things, upgrading their skills, sharing knowledge and challenging themselves to develop on both professional and personal levels.
The second lead paper was delivered by Dr. Sikiru Momodu, the immediate past Registrar, Yaba College of Technology, and titled “Developing Potential: Overcoming Barriers to Staff Engagement for Self-Development”, gave an insight to developing potentials which would help in overcoming barriers in self-development.
He said that staff engagement in self-development programmes is essential for unlocking employees’ potentials, compelling all staff, especially, PhD holders and the coming generation to engage in relevant self- development activities.
To empower excellence through mentorship, Dr. Moruf Adebakin charged participants to understand the significance of mentoring, explore different mentoring techniques that are beneficial for self-improvements and the College at large.
The former Deputy Rector of the college in the presentation of the third lead paper titled: “Effective Mentoring Strategies for Growth: Empowering Excellence in Yabatech”, gave the admonishment.
He stated that participants should mentor their mentees with integrity as “it will foster an environment where staff members excel in their positions and contribute to the College’s overall success”.
