Toyyibat Qasim
The Proprietor of Trinity College, Ijaye, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mr Oluseyi Adeyemi Sobande, has urged students to combine the resilience, discipline and resourcefulness of past generations with the vast opportunities offered by modern technology.
Sobande made the call on Friday at a seminar organised as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the institution.
The seminar, titled “Yesterday’s Students vs Today’s Students: Which is Better?”, brought together students, teachers, parents and alumni to examine the changing nature of education, discipline, technology and opportunities available to young people.
Speaking on the three-decade journey of the school, Sobande described the anniversary as a “heartwarming” milestone, attributing the institution’s growth to passion, commitment and the grace of God.
He recalled growing up within the school premises and witnessing the efforts of his mother, who founded Trinity Nursery and Primary School, to provide education and positively influence young lives.
Sobande explained that although he had initially contemplated following his father’s career in law, while his mother wanted him to study medicine, circumstances eventually drew him into the education sector.
He said the decision had enabled him to contribute to society through education, adding that the institution had remained committed to its mission despite the challenges confronting society.
According to him, passion and commitment were essential ingredients for overcoming obstacles.
“Difficult things become easy if you have the passion for it,” he said.
The proprietor also expressed appreciation to members of staff, parents, alumni and other stakeholders who had contributed to the growth and sustainability of the institution over the years.
Reflecting on the debate over whether students of previous generations were better than those of today, Sobande noted that pupils of earlier generations were often exposed to values such as resilience, discipline, resourcefulness and the ability to manage limited resources.
However, an alumnus of the school, Mr Femi Martins, said present-day students had access to opportunities that were largely unavailable to previous generations, particularly through the internet and digital technology.
Martins said the challenge was not to deprive young people of technology but to ensure that they acquired the values and guidance needed to use it responsibly.
He urged parents, teachers and other stakeholders to play a stronger role in guiding students in their use of mobile phones, the internet and other digital platforms.
He noted that technology had become an integral part of the lives of today’s students and could not simply be removed from their environment.
Rather, he advocated responsible and supervised use.
Martins suggested that schools could establish designated call centres where students could access phones when necessary while allowing parents and school authorities to monitor their use.
He also called for stronger collaboration between parents and teachers, urging Parent-Teacher Associations to become more proactive in supporting students’ academic, moral and personal development.
The alumnus further appealed to former students of Trinity College to return to the institution and contribute to its development through infrastructure projects, mentorship and other forms of support.
He also advocated the inclusion of modern skills such as robotics and other technology-based programmes in the school’s curriculum to equip students for a rapidly changing world.
In an interview, another alumnus, Dr Engr Tolulope Erinoso, described the 30-year journey of Trinity College as evidence of God’s faithfulness.
Erinoso said the institution, which began as a “mustard seed”, had grown into a significant educational institution through sustained commitment and sacrifice.
She commended the teaching and non-teaching staff for their dedication to the development of the school, while also praising the students for their discipline, cooperation and active participation in the anniversary activities.
Describing Sobande as a visionary educationist, Erinoso said he had remained committed to academic excellence and moral discipline throughout the school’s three decades of existence.
She said the anniversary was not merely an occasion for celebration but also an opportunity for reflection, learning and renewed commitment to impacting society.
The 30th anniversary programme continues on Saturday with a valedictory service, lecture and award ceremonies, while a thanksgiving service is scheduled for Sunday.
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