Entrepreneur Jamal Edwards told pupils to follow their dreams and be “persistent” during a school visit yesterday.

%image(14935067, type="article-full", alt="Jamal Edwards at The Ian Mikardo High School in Bromley By Bow with his new book, "Self Belief The Vision"")

The 23-year-old founder of online youth broadcasting channel SB.TV, who has worked with the likes of Jessie J and Nicki Minaj, left pupils at Ian Mikardo High School in Bromley-by-Bow inspired.

He recollected his teenage years in west London, telling pupils: “Seven years ago, sitting in my bedroom, I didn’t think I could do all these things. The main thing is believe in yourself. Just keep on being persistent. Lots of people will say no, but I was inspired by being told ‘no’ all the time. I kept going.

“There are people who look at things and ask why. I say, dream of things that never were and ask why not.”

Jamal signed copies of his best-selling book Self Belief, The Vision, for pupils during Tuesday’s visit to the school in William Guy Gardens.

Headteacher Claire Lillis said afterwards: “It was wonderful to see the boys so engaged with a young male role model who understands what it’s like to make your own way in life.”