By Dare Ojelade, Lagos
It was an atmosphere of joy and friendship exchanges of educationists and entrepreneurs as the Association of Commercial Subject Teachers of Nigeria {ACSTON} organised its 2nd Annual Conference and Seminer in style in Lagos.
The event which took place at the Ikeja Grammar School Hall, Bolade, Oshodi was a sequel to the 1st Annual Conference held in 2019 at Adeyemi-Bero Hall in Alausa.
The president of the association, Dr. Rafiu Ibrahim in his welcome speech, eulogised and commended the support of the state Commissioner of Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo.
He appreciated the Tutors- General/Permanent Secretaries of various Education Districts, the various school principals for their support and words of encouragement. He also commended the efforts of the association coordinators, both the state members and district executives.
Dr Rafiu stated that the association has recorded series of achievements since its establishment while efforts are in place to do more.
Part of the achievements of the association, according to Dr Rafiu are: the association has been fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as a corporate body; the association now has registered bank accounts; the association is now fully recognized by the Lagos State Ministry of Education with an annual grants payment; the association initiated a state academic Quiz for all commercial subjects students in the state with cash prizes ranging from N30,000 to N10,000 for winners at various categories; and the involvement of members of the association in the curriculum review panel of the state among others.
While lamenting the issue of little number of authors, writers and publishers among members, Dr Rafiu commended two members of the association: Longe Femi and Ibrahim Rasaq whose books were on the list of the state approved textbooks.
“I charge others to wake-up and write good books for us, the more we have the merrier it becomes,” he said.
Lecturers from different institutions delivered lectures on the theme of the programme: Educating the Child in an Unsecured Economy.
Oludare O. Olufowobi, Phd. Associate Professor of Philosophy of Education, Faculty of Education, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos spoke on the main theme while Mr. Olaleye F.B, spoke on the topic: Learning Strategies In the 21st Century. Mr Adeleke of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) enlightened the audience on the need to have addition industrial skills as another source of income which they can fall back on when they retired from the service.
