Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has stated that integrity, talent, hard work, innovation and being trustworthy citizens are vital for success.
Osinbajo, who gave this advice on Saturday, in his convocation lecture at the 6th Convocation Ceremony of Baze University, Abuja, added that integrity is the most valuable collateral.
The Vice President’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement, said the vice president told the graduands that they would be engaging the realities of life and the business of living by making a living thereafter, adding that trust or trustworthiness is fundamental to the success of practically everything they will do in life.
Osinbajo was quoted to said: “I have come to realize that trust or trustworthiness is fundamental to the success of practically everything you will do in life. In other words, if you can build your reputation in such a manner that you can win the trust of others, your bosses, co-workers, clients, business partners, you will be tremendously successful.
“If you cannot be trusted or people can’t make up their minds whether to trust you or not, you are already on the back foot and you are unlikely to succeed. Trust is the currency of successful business and social interaction. It is more valuable than money because it actually attracts money.
“Permit me to share one with you, the principle of Trustworthiness or integrity. In my relatively modest experience in business, professional practice and, lately, politics, I have come to realize that trust or trustworthiness is fundamental to the success of practically everything you will do in life.”
Osinbajo noted that the story of the phenomenal growth of the university in just about a decade was worth repeating, adding that the institution began with 14 programmes in three Faculties, to 40 programmes in six Faculties, including Basic Medical Sciences, and a Teaching hospital, which was in view.
The Vice President further noted that from structures covering a modest 3,000 square meters to 49,000 square meters, from 60 staff members to about 620 and from 17 Students to 1,500, Baze University had indeed recorded remarkable progress.
He said: “While physical and numerical growth have been in leaps and bounds, so has been academic achievement, prolific research and the students of BAZE excelling in the market place and scholarships all over the world.
“But BAZE’s story is also the story of the tenacity, innovativeness, and commitment to education of its founder, visioner and Pro-Chancellor, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, who in 2011, at the tender age of 41 years, established this university.
“His hard work and innovation continue to push this place of inquiry and learning to greater heights. I am, of course, especially partial to the University because your Vice Chancellor is a lawyer and as we all know lawyers make the best administrators.
“So, I pray for you that you will succeed beyond your best dreams and that the honors you receive today will be your least achievement.”
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