By Mark Mayah
Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has urged Nigerian youths, particularly fresh graduates, to embrace hard work, personal discipline, and integrity as they prepare to face the realities of the world beyond school.
Fashola gave the advice on Wednesday while delivering the 40th Convocation Lecture of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, titled “The Gen-Z Playbook: Navigating Work and the Real World.
Addressing the excited graduating students, the former Lagos State governor congratulated them for achieving a major milestone in their lives and commended their parents and lecturers for contributing to their success.
He said while convocation ceremonies are moments of joy, the real challenge begins after graduation, as the graduates step into a world filled with competition, distractions, and difficult choices.
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“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 reminded the graduates that courage and character are essential virtues to succeed, especially in an era where social media and artificial intelligence increasingly shape human behaviour.
“The real world is different from the world of gloss and perception you see on social media,” he cautioned. “Not everything you see online is true. There are people seeking to manipulate your thoughts and control your actions each time you click a button.”
He advised the graduates to use social media positively to promote their work, causes, and achievements, but warned against posting indecent content or engaging in hate speech and online brawls.
“Social media can be a useful tool to showcase the positive parts of you, but not your body parts,” he quipped. “If the language or conversation gets nasty, you don’t belong there, leave and never go back.”
On financial management, Fashola urged the graduates to cultivate a savings culture, invest wisely, and avoid betting and gambling, which he described as unsustainable paths to prosperity.
“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.”
He also advised them to invest in land rather than fleeting possessions like cars and fashion items that lose value quickly.
The former governor further encouraged the young graduates to build meaningful relationships, seek mentorship, and be open to diverse cultural experiences, especially during their National Youth Service Corps year.
“Work hard, respect your host communities, and make friends. Some of the people I met during Youth Corps have remained my lifelong friends,” he shared.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s cultural evolution, Fashola expressed optimism about the nation’s growing global influence through its music, fashion, and films, urging the youths to leverage their talents for global recognition.
“The world is now your oyster. Find opportunities in difficulty, work hard, and project yourselves,” he charged. “The world has been waiting for the expression and explosion of the Nigerian dream.”
Fashola concluded his lecture by encouraging the graduates to live by courage, character, and diligence.
“To dare is to do,” he said. “Please dare and do, with hard work, integrity, and character.”
The University of Ilorin is graduating a total of 13,868 during its 40th Convocation Ceremonies, with 316 students bagging First Class honours.
The convocation coincides with the institution’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary, marking 50 years of academic excellence, innovation, and service to humanity.
