In a renewed endeavour to inspire Nigerians to embrace their potential and rightful positions in society, Elife Academy, a Nigerian motivational organisation known for publishing Elife magazine and presenting Mentoring Masterclass talk-show online, has emphasised the critical distinction between mentorship and parenting, noting that a nation that overlooks mentorship is risking standing still or regressing in a world where others are on the run.
The academy underscores that failing to differentiate between mentorship and parenting will inevitably lead to a future generation lacking in knowledge, wisdom, and insight. Given this confusion, the prevailing perception of Nigeria’s younger generation as lacking in seriousness and depth is unsurprising.
Elife Academy argues that the remedy does not lie in seeking opportunities abroad; a lizard in Nigeria cannot become a crocodile in America. One cannot transform into something entirely different by changing surroundings.
Dr. Bola Adewara, provost of Elife Academy, delivered this message during the recent Mentoring Masterclass Seminar held at Epic International Church in Ketu, Lagos.
Adewara contends that Nigerians have long overlooked the importance of mentorship. Although mentorship and parenting might appear similar, they serve distinct purposes.
Valuable life skills such as personal growth, professional advancement, effective leadership, job satisfaction, and practical life wisdom are not typically acquired through formal education.
Adewara, also the editor-in-chief of Elife magazine and author of various books, including “Discover the Secrets of Mentorship,” highlights that qualities like patriotism and love for one’s nation, even amid challenges, are not taught in schools or homes.
Contrasting this with advanced nations where younger generations are guided through mentorship, he explains that such countries experience growth due to mentorship instilling a sense of responsibility to confront challenges within their borders.
Until Nigerians positively embrace the concept of mentorship, they risk standing still in a world where others are on the run.
Elife Academy’s response to this dilemma is the creation of the Mentoring Masterclass, designed to equip participants with tools, strategies, and support to define their purpose, recognise strengths and weaknesses, and formulate plans for personal growth and success across various life domains.
Covering an array of topics including personal values, goal setting, time management, decision-making, relationships, parenting, resilience, self-care, career fulfilment, family life, internet evangelism, and mentoring, Mentoring Masterclass, which currently runs on Youtube, aims to facilitate self-reflection and learning from others’ experiences.
The recent seminar witnessed three lectures: How to Prepare for a Regret-free old-age, handled by Dr. Bola Adewara, Married and Unhappy: where has love gone, taken by author and Love Coach Diji Isaac, and Avoiding mistakes most parents make with firs-borns, which was handled by Mrs. Veno Marioghae, an inimitable musician of Nigeria go survive fame.
Speaking on the Mentoring experience, one of the organisers, Mr. Isaac Daniel, said the Masterclass serves as a platform for men to reflect on past missteps while harnessing the wisdom of mentors to accelerate their learning journey. Attendees received Certificates of Excellence after the event.
Speaking to journalists after the event, the Love Coach, Diji Isaac, expressed that Mentoring Masterclass sessions will become a recurring initiative by Elife Academy.
The organisation intends to extend its outreach across Nigeria, engaging secondary and tertiary institution students, parents, professionals, and leaders, urging them to recognize the importance of mentorship.
For a nation to realise its future potential and for its youth to compete effectively on the global stage, mentorship must be given its rightful place in our scheme of things.
