First Class Diary: The Market is Changing! Don’t Just be Book-Smart, Be Skill-Smart- PO

Hello my amazing followers! Welcome to a new year. I appreciate your feedbacks, support and encouragement throughout last year. You all made 2019 amazing. Thank you!

To start this year, I am featuring my first Barrister on the series. She’s a scholar per excellence. Let me introduce you to Barrister Precious Okedele, a double first-class scholar.

Barrister Precious Okedele graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University with a first class. Interestingly, she has just been called to the Nigerian Bar after bagging another first class from the Nigerian Law School. Isn’t that just amazing?

I love it when my Female scholars show me that not only the Male scholars can wow me. So, what does this champ has to share with us today? Why don’t you find out quickly?

In her words,

It is no gainsaying that the market is changing. And what is obtainable before is no longer obtainable. As it is, graduates must be able to deliver what they claim they have.

Abigael Ibikunle of Edugist: Please share with Edugist, a little about your background.

Precious Okedele: I am Precious Okedele. I’m a lawyer and a writer. And was raised in Osun State, Nigeria. As a matter of fact, I had my basic education there. I graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University 2018 with a First-Class degree honors in Law. I’ve just got called recently to the Nigerian Bar after equally obtaining a First-Class degree from the Nigerian Law School.

AI: Was there any motivating factor(s) that influenced your choice of discipline and institution?

PO: Growing up, I was to a large extent outspoken and decisive. With a mind of my own, I chose Law. Let me say, I was motivated by my love for defending people right from my high school days. I was equally involved in debates and competitions. My sister who was then studying Law in UNILAG also encouraged me.

These were enough reasons to make me decide to be a Lawyer. I remembered the day I told my Dad I was going to read law. He nodded in affirmation and told me I made the right decision. As to the choice of institution, it was either OAU or UNILAG for me. There was no way I was going too far from home. Since my sister was then in UNILAG, I decided it was going to be OAU for me.

AI: There are two major skills that every student must possess: COMPETENCE and PERFORMANCE. While competence revolves around skill acquisition, performance is much more concerned about skills application. It is believed that most graduates are competent because their academic performance testifies to this. But they are performance-challenged. This poor performance ipso facto hinders them from getting lucrative jobs in the labour market. What can you say about this assertion?

Barrister Precious Okedele

PO: This assertion may be true to a reasonable extent.

It is no gainsaying that the market is changing. And what is obtainable before is no longer obtainable now. As it is, graduates must be able to deliver what they claim they have

Unfortunately, not all seemingly competent graduates have been able to meet this expectation.

Some are majorly just ‘book-smart’ and unable to apply the knowledge they’ve acquired.

This may not be their fault.

AI: What do you think is responsible for competence without performance? Please suggest ways of improving the performance level of university students and graduates.

PO: I think the current educational system in Nigeria does not proffer adequate measures to ensure performance of graduates.

The system places more emphasis on theoretical principles with little efforts in place to put them into application.

Most disciplines in Nigerian tertiary institutions only encourage reading, memorizing without basic understanding. This is where internship and field works come in.

I will advise students to get internships in the relevant areas of discipline. So as to know how reality works and to get the requisite experience.

Students should use the holidays and breaks to intern or volunteer for jobs and relevant events. This will help plug the hole bored by lack of performance and also enhance competence

Students should write articles on trending matters and publish them in both local and international journals. With that, they can expand their network and widen their horizon

AI: Achievement in life transcends one’s personal efforts. There were people who, during your programme, rendered some assistance that made your dreams a reality. Who are specific persons whose contributions you can’t forget in your first-class feat?

PO: My family has been a constant source of motivation and enormous support. The contributions are unquantifiable. In the course of my study, I have also made great friends, colleagues, roommates and mentors.

Special recognition to Mrs. Olusola Adegbonmire. I met her during my arbitration training and our relationship have been awesome.

Anita Omonuwa is a great mentor. Her advice and encouragement pulled me through law school, I cannot forget easily.

AI: As a first-class graduate, are you currently gainfully employed?

PO: Yes.

AI: Do you think your grades have or is giving you any major advantage over other graduates with lesser grades?

PO: Well, it does to a reasonable extent. But eventually, all that matters is not only the grades but what you can achieve with the knowledge you’ve acquired.

AI: For students who aspire to graduate with outstanding grade like yours, what would you advise them?

PO: Set your mind to whatever you want to achieve, work seriously towards it and you will have it.

Getting an outstanding grade is not impossible. I will advise my junior colleagues to always be deliberate in their actions.

Read hard, know the peculiarities of a particular course and the particular lecturer.

Know yourself and the method that works for you and stick to it. Be smart!

AI: What would you advise the government to do to improve the standard of our education system?

PO: As it stands, education is surely not on the priority list of the government. Education ranks the lowest on the national budget.

My advice is simple; government should endeavour to give more attention to education in terms of financing and proper planning.

The state governments are not exempted. They should build more schools, furnish them with the requisite educational materials. And employ qualified teachers to impart knowledge for posterity.

AI: Any other thing you would like to share?

PO: Dedication, commitment and determination are essential ingredients in the recipe for success. We also need a stroke of luck, a lot of friends and abundance of favour.

Thanks for joining us on this week’s series. If you’ve enjoyed the interview, please feel free to leave me a comment in the comment section.

Know any scholar you would loved to be featured? Kindly write to me at abigail@edugist.org or give me a call on +2347035835612. Always remember that