Calmness, collective leadership, pro-activeness and urgency of times and seasons are some of the adaptive mechanisms necessary to optimize social impact in a post-COVID19 world, according to an economist, Miss Aramide Kayode.
She made this assertion as a Guest Speaker at a recent Town and Gown Seminar of the Department of Economics and Development Studies, Covenant University, where she spoke on the topic "Economists as Edupreneurs in a Post-COVID-19 World: Optimizing Social Impacts and Overcoming the Constraints".
Miss Kayode, a First Class graduate of Economics from Covenant and founder, Talent Mine Academy, a non-profit that provides access to quality education and better opportunities for kids in low-income communities, emphasized the need to be innovative as a tool for social impact.
According to her, it's either one goes big or goes home, as the post-COVID19 era could not condone mediocrity. She said, "sometimes, less is more, so it is important to be clear on who you are". She also pointed out the need for adaptability and flexibility as a means to maximizing social impact.
The Guest Speaker advised the students to show up no matter what was happening around them as it took availability to be impactful and consistent to maximize impact. She explained that "When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, children who lived in the underserved communities of Nigeria could not learn due to the digital divide, and this created a learning loss for the children".
While sharing her story about how she leveraged her knowledge as an economist to bring about change in the Nigerian education sector, Miss Kayode stated that the obstacles she faced as a young person navigating this sector and how she could create impact irrespective of the challenges on her journey. She said it was a testament to the resilience that made a lasting impact.
The Guest Speaker noted that the human capital aspect of Economics was integral to reviving the Nigerian economy, especially through access to quality education for every child irrespective of their socio-economic background.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Head of Department, Economics and Development Studies, Professor Evans Osabuohien, commended members of the Department for their efforts in making sure the Seminar was successful.
He appreciated the Guest Speaker, who he addressed as a brilliant alumnus of the University and a great example for the students to emulate. He advised the participants to learn from someone who had the experience and had also passed through the same educational environment.
Professor Osabuohien appreciated the Management of Covenant for the excellent platform of the Town and Gown series, which helped shape the students' minds in preparation for the world of work.
Also at the event were other senior members of the Department.