Former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has sounded a strong warning to graduating students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) to resist the temptation of chasing quick and unearned riches, cautioning that such pursuits often lead to grave repercussions.
Fashola gave the warning while delivering the 40th Convocation Lecture of the institution titled “The Gen Z Playbook: Navigating Work and the Real World.”
Addressing the 11,886 graduating students, the former Minister of Works and Housing, emphasized that discipline, hard work, and integrity remain the only sure routes to enduring success.
He cautioned the younger generation against bowing to mounting social pressure to accumulate wealth through dishonest or dubious means. Fashola also admonished them to steer clear of associations and ventures that display sudden, unexplained affluence, stressing that “no shortcut to wealth comes without a cost.”
“There is no easy and fast money anywhere in the world that does not have consequences,” he warned.
The former Lagos Governor urged the graduating students to confront life’s challenges with patience, cultivate diligence, and uphold prudence in their daily affairs.
He said, “Work very hard because your life depends on it. Respect the spaces of your hosts, do not abuse their hospitality, and make friends with your colleagues during your NYSC exercise.”
Fashola further encouraged the graduands to embrace their postings during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), describing the experience as a unique opportunity to appreciate Nigeria’s rich cultural and social diversity.
“You will meet different foods, cultures, and traditions. Embrace them. I still maintain friendships I made during my youth service 38 years ago,” he said.
He cautioned them to remain humble after completing their service year and to brace up for life without the NYSC allowance.
“After service, there will be no more stipends. Stay close to your family because they will help you rise when you are down,” he counseled.
Fashola also underscored the importance of cultivating a saving culture and practicing financial restraint, describing financial discipline as a vital foundation for stability. He urged the new graduates to identify opportunities in adversity and avoid any conduct that could bring them shame in the future.
In his goodwill remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Abiodun Aluko, lauded President Bola Tinubu for establishing the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to assist financially disadvantaged students. He also commended the President for authorizing the payment of the ₦50 billion Academic Earned Allowance, describing it as a long-awaited resolution to a lingering dispute since 2022.
Presenting his annual report, the Vice-Chancellor of UNILORIN, Prof Wahab Egbewole (SAN), disclosed that 10 of the university’s academic staff were recently recognized among the most cited Nigerian scholars on Google Scholar.
He further revealed that 36 out of 37 academic programmes of the university have secured full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC), while one received interim status.
According to Egbewole, a total of 11,868 students graduated this year — 316 with First Class, 4,120 with Second Class (Upper Division), 5,939 with Second Class (Lower Division), 1,078 with Third Class, and 11 with Pass.
Additionally, the convocation featured 175 MBBS graduates, 94 in Nursing, 40 in Optometry, 36 in Veterinary Medicine, 64 in Physiotherapy, and 13 with Diplomas.
The Vice-Chancellor added that 1,520 postgraduate degrees would also be conferred, including 182 Postgraduate Diplomas, 916 Master’s degrees, 188 Professional Master’s, and 234 Doctorates (PhDs).
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