Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has advised Nigerian youths, especially recent graduates to embrace hard work, personal discipline, and integrity as they prepare to face life beyond the walls of the university.
Fashola gave this charge on Wednesday while delivering the 40th Convocation Lecture of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, themed “The Gen-Z Playbook: Navigating Work and the Real World.”
Congratulating the graduating students, Fashola described the convocation as a moment of joy and reflection. He commended the students, their parents, and lecturers for their resilience and commitment to excellence.
However, he reminded them that the real journey begins after graduation.
“You are stepping into a defining phase of your lives where many will be chasing jobs that are not enough,” he said. “Your values, instincts, and what your parents taught you about right and wrong should guide you.”
Fashola stressed that courage and character are critical for success, especially in an age dominated by social media and artificial intelligence, which he said are shaping human behaviour in unpredictable ways.
“The real world is different from the world of gloss and perception you see on social media,” he warned. “Not everything you see online is true. There are people trying to manipulate your thoughts and control your actions each time you click a button.”
He encouraged the graduates to use social media positively to promote their work, talents, and causes, rather than engaging in indecent posts, hate speech, or online fights.
“Social media can be a useful tool to showcase the positive parts of you, but not your body parts,” he said humorously. “If the language or conversation gets nasty, you don’t belong there, leave and don’t return.”
On financial discipline, the former Lagos governor advised the graduates to cultivate a habit of saving and investing wisely, rather than relying on gambling or betting for quick wealth.
“Developing the habit of saving and investing is a good step towards financial discipline,” he said. “Avoid gambling and betting; they are not the way to sustainable prosperity unless you are the operator.”
Fashola also encouraged them to invest in land and valuable assets instead of fleeting possessions such as cars or expensive fashion items that depreciate quickly.
He further urged them to build meaningful relationships, seek mentorship, and embrace diverse cultural experiences, especially during their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year.
“Work hard, respect your host communities, and make friends. Some of the people I met during my Youth Service have remained my lifelong friends,” he shared.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s growing global influence in music, fashion, and film, Fashola expressed optimism about the country’s future, urging young Nigerians to use their creativity to gain global recognition.
“The world is now your oyster. Find opportunities in difficulty, work hard, and project yourselves. The world has been waiting for the expression and explosion of the Nigerian dream,” he said.
He ended his lecture with an inspiring call to action: “To dare is to do. Please dare and do, with hard work, integrity, and character.”
Insightlinks earlier reported that University of Ilorin is graduating 13,868 students during its 40th Convocation Ceremony, with 316 students earning First Class honours. The event also marks the institution’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary, celebrating 50 years of academic excellence, innovation, and service to humanity.
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