Emmanuel lkpeama
The Career Guidance and Counseling Committee of Rotary District 9111 on Tuesday 4,November 2025,hosted a transformative one-day mentorship workshop, bringing young minds face-to-face with seasoned professionals and thought leaders.
The event themed “From Dreams to Directions: Building a Career that Matters.” brought together young participants and esteemed speakers to explore the importance of career guidance and mentorship, which is aimed to empower individuals, especially youths,discover and pursue careers that contribute meaningfully to society.
The event featured a lineup of distinguished speakers, leaders, and professionals who shared their experiences and insights,including PDG Bola Oyebade, Rtn. Mercy George-Igbafe, Muyiwa Obiyomi, MNIPR, PP Bukonla Alamu, and Rotaractor Ruhamah Ifere.
Their stories and experiences lit sparks of confidence, courage, and ambition in every participant present.
Addressing the participants,The Chairperson of the Career Guidance and Counseling Committee, PP Titilope Okubadejo-Oladipo, emphasized the importance of guiding the next generation to discover their passions and use them to make a positive impact.
She noted that the seminar provides a platform for participants to learn from experienced professionals and gain insights that will help shape their career paths.
As Rotarians, we are guided by the timeless ideal of “Service Above Self”.And one of the most impactful forms of service is guiding the next generation to discover not just what they love to do, but how to use it to make a difference in the world.
“This program reflects that mission; empowering individuals, especially our youth, to discover, refine, and pursue careers that not only fulfill personal ambitions but alsocontribute meaningfully to society.”she said
Yeye went further to state that the seminar is aimed to empower individuals, especially youths, to discover and pursue careers that contribute meaningfully to society.
“Many dream big, but few receive the guidance and mentorship needed to transform those dreams into practical, impactful directions.”
“That is why gatherings like this are so important. They remind us that a successful career is not merely about titles or financial reward, but about purpose, passion, and positive impact in the lives of others.”
Today, we are privileged to have with us a distinguished lineup of speakers, leaders,professionals, and visionaries – who will share their insights and experiences. I encourage everyone to listen with intent, reflect deeply, and take away lessons that will help shape your own journey toward a career that truly matters.”she submitted
The Chairperson expressed gratitude to the District Governor Prince Henry Akinyele, resource persons, partners, and Rotarians who have worked tirelessly to make the event a success.
She welcomed participants to what promises to be an inspiring and transformative session, hoping that the discussions will guide them from dreams to clear directions and purpose-driven lives.
Investigator news reports that the seminar which is aimed to empower individuals, especially youths, to discover and pursue careers that contribute meaningfully to society provided a platform for participants to learn and grow, with the goal of guiding them from dreams to clear directions and purpose-driven lives.
Participants were encouraged to listen, reflect, and take away valuable lessons to help them build a career that truly matters as they were divided into 5 groups were they were given the opportunity to reflect, digest what the speakers had enlightened them on. This gives the children to select a leader who summarized what each speaker has ponder upon.
Speaking with newsmen, Past District Governor,Bola Oyebade appealed to parents not to choose career for their children so that they can have passion in whatever they want to become in future.
“It is unfortunate that most parents choose career for their children,it still happen but I tell you,it is old school, they just might not get to where they are going. It does not mean that the children might not get something good in the future but if it is not something they are passionate about,they just might not achieve what they want to become in future.
“Life is all about fulfilment not only making money, you can get fulfilment then you make good money. Get fulfiled first,do something that you love,be interested in it, something passionate and you will excel in all your endeavors.
“Therefore parents should allow their children to choose their choice of career so that they can always get the best from them.
PDG Oyebade went further to urge the participants to focus on their focus so that they can become the focus in life,read and concentrate on their studies, avoid distractions so that they can be a better person in the future.
Also,the Chairperson,PP Yeye Titilope Oladipo stated that the essence of the seminar was to guide the children from their dreams to clear directions,and from directions to purpose-driven lives.
She noted that the topic”From Dreams to Directions: Building a Career that Matters.”is groined towards inspiring and lifting the youths to be a better person in the future
” This program is designed for the children to have a specific plan, vision,dreams of what they want to become in future,it is not jumping into any profession ,we want them to imbibe it from the onset, from their early stage in life.
“We want them to have the ability to determine their dream and have a vision of what they would like to be in future. I want to encouraged the participants to reflect deeply, and take away valuable lessons that will help them build a career that truly matters.”she stated.
Lending her voice,the Secretary of the Career Guidance and Counseling District 9111 Committee, Rotarian Sandra Umokoro opined that the essence of the event is for youths to have their dreams into a reality,stating that for them to achieve their goal in life,they must be ready to be hardworking, remain focus and have a clear clue of what they want to become in life.
She advice parents to always allow their children to harness their God giving dream by allowing them to choose their choice of career, noting that if they(parents) choose the career for them,it will cause a lot of damages, urging them to always check the ability of their children and be observant.
Investigator news gathered that the participants numbering over 100 from different schools and youth organization learnt from experienced professionals and gain insights that will help shape their career paths.
The participants also went home with a copy of the book “Success secrets of the rich and famous by Azuh Arinze and Moral Instructions and Counselling for Young People “written by Leah Carr Hill and other gift items.
Highlight of the event was presentation of award to the phenomenon speakers towards their contribution in engaging youths in various fora.
The workshop was a huge success, thanks to the efforts of the Career Guidance & Counseling Committee, led by PP Titilope Okubadajo-Oladipo.
The event demonstrated Rotary’s commitment to investing in young people and shaping the future,as PAG Busola Satuyi,Chief of Staff to the DG, and other district Rotarians witnessed the workshop
