Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, has harped the need for every Nigerian youth to embrace “high sense of responsibility, strong values and character”.
Prof. Ogunsola also cautioned against what she called “toxic generosity and entitlement mentality”, which sabotages the other important virtues needed to function effectively in contemporary society.
This formed the core of the wisdom nuggets provided by the Vice Chancellor recently at a dinner hosted for outgoing UNILAG student-leaders, at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Lagos .
The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the good character of the outgoing student-leaders as well as their cooperation with the University Management in sustaining peace and tranquillity on campus.
She also applauded them for providing quality leadership all through their tenure, a feat which, according to Prof Ogunsola, lends credence to the University Management’s believe in the capacity of students to excel if and when given the chance.
She described leadership at every level as a challenging task, especially when viewed against the backdrop of fast declining moral values and scarce nature of resources, issues which have continued to hinder the pace of attainable growths and quality of followership.
The UNILAG helmswoman particularly expressed deep concern over the rate of dependency, entitlement mentality and moral bankruptcy among the teeming youths, nothing that these vices must be quickly nipped in the bud to avert a disastrous future.
While reminiscing on her years as a student of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife), Prof. Ogunsola recalled with nostalgia, the assurances, opportunities and privileges which comes with being a university student as well as the responsibility, values and strength of character which the society confers on every individual as against the now prevalent culture of corruption, outright irresponsibility and over-reliance on government for survival.
She lauded the paradigm shift in thinking and ongoing campaign for moral re-orientation across different strata. Prof Ogunsola challenged the outgoing student-leaders to see their sojourn in UNILAG as a preparatory class for the real world.
She also implored them to approach the next phase of their lives with utmost sense of responsibility, diligence and good courage, re-examine their self-worth, shun vices and avoid short cuts which could spell doom for them in future”.
The Vice-Chancellor reiterated the University Management’s commitment towards fostering stronger interaction with students while grooming them into “fit-for-purpose workforce” to drive national and global development.
