At the grand finale of the Ethical Living Project, sponsored by the African Capital Alliance (ACA) Foundation (ACAF), which took place at the Civic Centre, Lagos on August 7, 2024, OtelaJa Ayanfeoluwa, a CMS Grammar School Bariga student emerged as the Overall Winner of the ‘Ethical Living’ Essay Competition, which is a part of the pilot of its Ethical Living Project 2023/04.
Oseni Aaqibah Akorede of Akande Dahunsi Memorial High School, Osborne, Lagos, and Ogunlowo Ayomide of Boys’ Senior Academy, Lagos clinched the first and second runner-up positions respectively. The winners were among the finalists after a thorough and staged review process involving certified experts drawn from various educational institutions. They were not only publicly celebrated but were given cash awards and ICT devices from the organizers.
The Ethical Living Project is an initiative of the ACA Foundation, which is focused on supporting the development of entrepreneurship, governance and ethical leadership in the various communities in which ACA operates. As part of the process, the Ethical Living initiative developed and delivered ethical training to over 500 students across ten secondary schools across Lagos and culminated in an essay writing competition.
Three Hundred and Fifty-Three (353) students from ten (10) selected schools approved by the Lagos State Ministry of Education participated in the essay writing competition titled “My Role as a Youth and the Strategies I Will Deploy in Creating a More Ethical, Just, and Equitable Society”.
At the event, the Chairman of African Capital Alliance (ACA) Group, Dr. Okey Enelamah, in his remarks, said that it is essential for a society to instill and invest in ethical values especially as the world faces various challenges.According to him, tomake a lasting impact in society, ethical values should be integrated into our daily lives. He stated, “We can only harness transformative power when we adopt ethical living as a mantra”.
He further explained that our daily decisions play a vital role in shaping a prosperous society, and the positive impact we create today will benefit us in the future. He also stressed that the younger generation holds the potential to transform society. He stressed that Nigeria must cultivate an environment that champions ethical principles and that ACA, through its Foundation,was implementing its community-focused initiative of building a good society where people take responsible daily actions.
Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, an educationist and former Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, in her keynote address titled ‘The Transformative Power of Ethical Living’ said that a nation must make conscious decisions to do the right thing at the right time in all circumstances. She admonished that the present generation has no choice but to be better if we are to have a better tomorrow, stating that “the youth have the power to take us out of the situation we are in now. Ethical living affects the world and our society will benefit from you as you try to do your best always. Live above corrupt tendenciesand you will build a society where all will be happy”.
Prof. Juan Elegido, former Vice Chancellor of Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, said that he admired the students’ incredible preference to be trained in ethics assuring them they will have great lives if they apply what they were taught.He advised them to cultivate the habit of seeking knowledge and improving their vocabulary by reading books regularly and to always strive for excellence. He emphasised that‘Commitment to ethics and truthfulness will help you in the future and help yousucceed in your life adventures”.
Micheal Ajayi, the Country Director of Enactus, the implementing partner of the Ethical Living Project, said that the programme’s focus is all about inculcating the values of ethical decision making in the Nigerian youth.He explained that social vices such as corruption, bribery, selfishness, and cybercrimes are prevalent in society today because of lack of ethics, values, and morals, advising the participants in the project to apply daily what they have learned.
According to him, the Foundation’s vision is to raise a new generation of Nigerians who will champion ideals that make a great nation. Ajayi noted that the project ‘is deliberate and built out of necessity to transform Nigerian youth and make them become change agents to transform the nation by embracing the highest standards in all they do’.
Nigerian industry leaders, top government functionaries, education stakeholders, social impact institutions, and development agencies attended the event described as very impactful and capable of redirecting the energy of Nigerian youths to the promotion of excellence in all spheres of life.
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