University Degree Not An End, No Excuse Justifies Indulgence, Experts Urge Students

L-R: A Lawyer and US Pilot, Mrs Dan Faparusi Ogugua Enitan, Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Lanre Fagbohun, wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, a renowned Thespian, Mrs Joke Sylvia and movie Actor and Director, Segun Arinze at the Lagos State University 2nd Distinguish Lecture held on Tuesday at the University’s Auditorium.

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos

The Wife of Lagos state Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, has admonished youths not to measure their success based on getting a university degree alone but to focus on how to utilize knowledge acquired as the true determinant of their level of success.

She further urged youths to say no to illicit drugs, cultism, alcoholism, rape prostitution to mention but a few saying that there are no excuses to justify ones indulgence in these vices since it pose health disorders including cancer and other negative effects such as acute panic reactions, anxiety attacks, fear and loss of self control.

Mrs Ambode spoke while addressing youths on the theme “Life Skills Education and Entrepreneurship Learning in the 21st Century” as a special guest at the Lagos State University 2nd Distinguished Lecture, held on Tuesday.

She said that the University degree is just a means to an end and not an end in itself.

The theme of the Event got Mrs Ambode reminiscing on the Ready Set Work (RSW) initiative and the establishment of career Development Centre recently put in place in the institution.

She reminded the students that the idea was to pathways and make them employable and marketable graduates for national and global relevance

“The Onus now lies with each of you to make the best use of these opportunities. Many of our youths have cut short their dreams by getting involved in social vices such as cultism, alcoholism, rape, prostitution, consumption of illegal substances, hooliganism, thuggery and others” she said.

Also speaking, Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Lanre Fagbohun who played host of the event, raised the student’s optimism by sharing some exploits of the University’s world class students.

He noted that the Career Development Center was established in line with the University mission to produce acclaimed scholars, expansion of the frontiers of knowledge, building life-long capacity for creating jobs and adding values to global development.

Speaking on the theme, A Lawyer and US Pilot, Mrs Dan Faparusi Ogugua Enitan, a renowned Thespian, Mrs Joke Sylvia and movie actor and Director, Segun Arinze who were speakers at the event, encouraged youths not to compromise their values, adding that if they must be successful in life these five “Ds” must be in place: Desire, Determine, Diligent, Dedicate and Disciplined.

Ogugua who started out from studying Law in LASU to becoming a US Certified Pilot, an Aviationist and an Educationist, delving into completely different fields of study, called out some students to verify her certificates.

She encouraged the youths saying, “If I can do it, you too can. Against all odds, there are no impossibilities. Work hard, be resilient”, she said.

On enterprenuership, Joke Sylvia said: “To be successful and independent, you must have several sources of income. However, you must be a specialist in one.” “Stay in your lane. Whatever you are good at, pursue it. Don’t join the crowd. ”

“The certificate alone doesn’t determine who you are, there’s more to that. The skills you acquired in getting the certificate is apt to your success “, she said.