The Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, has organized a one-day career convention themed: ‘’Appropriate Career Choice, Pathway for Achieving success in life’’, for pupils and students of some selected primary and secondary schools in Ebonyi State.
The yearly career convention which was held on Thursday, 26th October, 2023 at the Folk Technical College, Ikwo, was geared towards helping students to make the right career choices and decisions, to enable them achieve future success in different areas of life.
Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sunday Elom, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Prof. Romanus Ejiaga, commended the Department of Guidance and Counselling for organizing the career convention, noting that the theme was apt, especially in this digital age that is characterized with extensive array of options and endless opportunities, which for the most part can be extremely difficult to navigate.
He noted that it will be difficult for a student to discover his/her passion and career purpose at a young age, adding that choosing a career is not easy, and resisting hindrances is also difficult to do.
The Vice-Chancellor reiterated that the convention will help to enlighten the minds of the students in making concrete decisions that would build a better future for them, while also urging them to embrace the opportunity presented by the programme to make a proper and informed choices as well as understand what they can do after they are done with basic education.
He advised the students to be serious with their studies and avoid any distraction, stressing that the convention will raise their level of awareness, help them to recognize their strengths as well as give them a broad idea of the kind of profession they could pursue in the future.
The chairman of the occasion, Dr. Robert Onyeneke, while making his opening remarks, noted that the convention is important as it could guide the pupils and students in choosing their career paths, adding that it is at this age that many of them could determine what they want to be in the future.
He commended the Department of Guidance and Counselling for bringing the convention to the University’s host community, stating that the essence of a university is teaching, research and community service, meant to help develop society.
Dr. Onyeneke urged the pupils and students to make use of this opportunity to learn and guide themselves appropriately.
Also while speaking at the event, the special guest of honor and the Director, Center for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, Dr. Chinyere Elom, encouraged the students to make use of what they have been taught in the convention to discover their innate abilities and maximize their potentials.
She further advised them to be prayerful and always look out for a counsellor whenever they are confused in the process of choosing their future careers.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Head, Department of Guidance and Counselling, Dr. Ifeoma Ubah, noted that career choice is a developmental process that starts from childhood to adolescence in the form of fantasy, adding that it is the most important event in an individual’s life. She stressed that satisfaction and happiness in life depend to a large extent on how individuals choose their careers.
She also stated that improper selection of careers or frequently changing a career is very harmful to psychological health.
She reiterated that the importance of the career convention was to help the students become aware of themselves and eventually determine their career choices.
Other speakers at the event were: Dr. Ruth Epochi-Olise who talked on career in Theater Arts and Dr. Christiana Igberi spoke on career in Agriculture. A professional counsellor, Prof. Florence Otta and the Dean, Students Affairs, Dr. Charles Okorie, encouraged the students to make the right choices while choosing their future careers.
Highlights of the event were; group counselling sessions by students of the Guidance and Counselling department and cultural dance displays.
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