DECISION ON A MISSION :Interview with Propietor of Lagooz College

Engr Abayomi Otubela

Who are you?

 My name is Abayomi Otubela Folorunsho-The Proprietor of Lagooz College.

Why Education

It is a natural instinct .I studied education in school and I have always love teaching as a young boy and during the cause of my career I have found the reason to remain as a teacher. During the cause I see a reason to contribute to the society I fell like Making impact in the life of young people feel like relating my experience as a growing up  child within the vicinity of Agege. I want young ones to believe that with God , determination ,courage ,they can achieve what they want to achieve. I have always seen myself as a motivator, counselor, and a role model. I fell happy when issues like truancy ,thuggery ,misbehavior among young people are reported to me .I fell I can be the answer to this and this is what I have been doing for  two decades .I have no cause to regret it. I love it. It’s a national call  and it’s an inborn thing.

Educational Background

My primary school was irepodun Pry Sch in Agege, I went to St Joseph secondary school in Mangoro, and proceeded to ogun state college of education now Tai Solarin and to Lagos State University to study political science. I also study technical education –system maintenance.  I studied  early child education which I bagged a diploma and presently looking forward to a certification in Java Script.

Challenges

It is terrible. Better imagined than narrating, paying my school sat fee was like building a mansion. I have lost my father when I am in primary school .Single handedly my mum has been training us and it get to a time to pay my WAEC Fees and it was a friend, a church member that paid the money. Nobody in the family is ready to help. To get to the final class I remember hawking Vox soap, bongo tea along pen-cinema with my younger brother. I also learnt shoe making and I it called shoe for people .We later joined an industry where we scavenge used plastic on the street and you are paid according to weight .We did that in the area called Akerele compound, Atobaje close to post office in Agege. It was very odd that we often beg to eat but I think by now the lord be the glory.

Advice to the youths

Believe in your cause, focus and be courageous. They should stop the habit of quick materialism every young people wants quick success. The spirit of acquiring materials before acquiring skills and knowledge should be discouraged .It shouldn’t be in the mentality again. It should be discouraged. No matter how tough the road is there is a silver lining at the end. They should also believe that God has prepared plan and conclude the plan on how every individual what he will eat and wear. They should concentrate on acquiring skill and should imbibe the spirit of assisting people .In my own case; I have come to realize that all I have achieved is based on the number of people I have helped. There are challenges I came by when I was building the school but I always have the solution not that I am intelligent but because I have solved the challenge for someone. When you are interested in the progress of people you will become successful. When you help people to be successful indirectly you are helping yourself. They should have clean though and meditate on things that are positive.

Vision For Educational Sector

I am part of the local Organizing committee of the first ever private Educational Summit organised by Nation al Association of Proprietors of Private Schools(NAPPS).We shall be dealing with issues affecting the educational sector.I am the chairperson of the NAPPS Agege Chapter .I have attended conferences in education in Ukraine , united states .it is my view that as we gather information we hope to present it t the appropriate bodies and we know in future we will be part of the policy making in private educational sector

The Name –LAGOOZ COLLEGE

When the vision came I was looking for a name that will capture a large society and also to distinct the school from naming it among individual or family name. We want a broader ,larger, acceptance .We consider Africa, then Nigeria and we arrive at Lagos academy. In the cause of registration with the corporate affairs corporation we had to change it to LAGOOZ College.

Final Words to parents

They should be patient. They give their children effective education. The idea of I want my children to finish school in time without getting to a reasonable age, the idea of encouraging children to study competitive course should be discourage. They should allow them to choose what they want to do for themselves. They should create time to attend to children at home. it research by lagooz college that a number of parents doesn’t have time for their children .They put more time to the children academy. The word academics should be encouraged at home.

Final Word to the youths

 There is a prerequisite for everything in life .There is time for everything. You cannot do the first thing last. The issue of acquiring dreaming of acquiring Porsche cars getting things meant for the future now doesn’t lead anywhere. True success I s what can last. A foolish man will build his house on a soil while a wise man will build his house on the rock. When the challenges of life come it won’t shake because the house is built on a rock. The foundation is strong. Our youths should know that acquiring material things doesn’t mean you are successful –it goes beyond materialism and has to do with the skills you posses, how impactful are you to the world. How many people you have helped .We have seen wealthy people that have gone but they were never remembered for anything and has seen people in the past that there wealth were never spoken off but there impact on humanity is tremendous. Having material thing is not a definition of success. It goes beyond that. It is changing people lives, leaving a great legacy.