Babatunde Raji Fashola, former minister of Works and Housing, has advised Nigerian graduates to invest wisely, avoid betting and gambling, and uphold discipline and integrity as they transition into the real world.
Fashola gave the advice recently while delivering the 40th Convocation Lecture of the University of Ilorin, titled ‘The Gen-Z Playbook: Navigating Work and the Real World.’
He urged the graduands to cultivate the habit of saving and investing as a path to financial stability, warning that gambling and betting offer no sustainable prosperity.
“Developing the habit of saving and investing is a good step towards financial discipline. “Avoid gambling and betting; they are not the way to sustainable prosperity, unless you are the operator,” he said.
The former minister also called on Nigerian youths to embrace hard work, discipline, and integrity, describing them as essential virtues for long-term success.
Congratulating the graduating students, he commended their parents and lecturers for their support, noting that convocation marks the beginning of a more challenging phase of life.
“You are stepping into a defining phase of your lives where many will be chasing jobs that are not enough. Your values, instincts, and what your parents taught you about right and wrong should guide you,” he advised.
Fashola reminded the graduates that courage and character are vital in a world increasingly shaped by social media and artificial intelligence.
“The real world is different from the world of gloss and perception you see on social media. 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 cautioned.
He urged the graduates to use social media positively to promote their work, causes, and achievements, while avoiding indecent content, hate speech, and online conflicts.
“Social media can be a useful tool to showcase the positive parts of you, but not your body parts. If the language or conversation gets nasty, you don’t belong there leave and never go back,” he added.
Fashola further advised the graduates to prioritise investment in land over fleeting possessions such as cars and fashion items that depreciate quickly.
The former Lagos State Governor encouraged them to build meaningful relationships, seek mentorship, and embrace cultural diversity during their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year.
“Work hard, respect your host communities, and make friends. Some of the people I met during my Youth Corps have remained my lifelong friends,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s cultural evolution, Fashola expressed optimism about the nation’s growing global influence through its music, fashion, and film industries, urging youths to harness their talents for global recognition.
“The world is now your oyster. Find opportunities in difficulty, work hard, and project yourselves. The world has been waiting for the expression and explosion of the Nigerian dream. To dare is to do. Please dare and do with hard work, integrity, and character,” he stated.
