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By Madu Obi
The Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede has advised Nigerian graduates to prepare themselves for the future as they are leaving the university, reminding them that the university of life begins immediately.
Delivering the 17th convocation lecture of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Oloyede told the graduates to begin now to set a benchmark for hard work and excellence if they must succeed in life.
He said: "The overarching thesis is the need to prepare yourselves for the future that begins now. It is also to appreciate that while making effort is laudable, it is not always commensurate with result in real life.
"So, you should put in your best in all circumstances and accept whatever you cannot change in life for the purpose of inner peace and good mental health."
"While it is gratifying that you have completed your undergraduate studies, it is important to note that you are just about to be matriculated into the University of Life. This is because even when you return to the university for your higher degrees, the reality of life will give you some new insights the way it did not during your undergraduate days."
"The first implication of being matriculated into the University of Life is that the notion of completing one's education is misconceived."
Educationis a life-long phenomenon to which every student or living person must be fully committed. Education begins from the cot right to the coffin or from the cradle to the grave.
"All living persons are still students in the University of Life and one never graduates till one dies. It must be borne in mind that while one can complete schooling, one cannot complete learning or education while still alive". .
According to Oloyede, everyone deserves to a large extent what he desires and drives towards with determination but no desire can be attained without discipline powered by determination.
He observed that there are so many distractions in life that threaten the attainment of one's life goals just as there are several distractions in the university for unwary students.
He said further: "As you focus on your goals and keep your heads high, you should be disciplined enough to separate the wheat from the chaff and keep your eyes on the ball in the field of life.
"In essence, in this University of Life, be desirous, have a dream. Be driven, be determined, be disciplined and be dedicated to noble causes. Then, avoid distractions and focus on the keys just as you have in multiple choice questions."
"Proper preparations make good students identify and select the keys, while those who are ill-prepared get distracted by seemingly correct options that are wrong."
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