LASU holds 3rd distinguished lecture series

The students of Lagos State University(LASU), Ojo, have been exposed to Knowledge and skills they would need to acquire- outside classroom teaching- to attain true greatness in their chosen fields and in life generally.

They were exposed to these skills by the three guest speakers at the LASU’s 3rd distinguished lecture series held at the main auditorium of the university on Tuesday and with Justice Amina Augie of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as chairman.

The trio are Mr Adetokunbo Abiru, former Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State and Group Managing Director, Polaris Bank; Mrs Funke Adekoya, former Vice President, Nigerian Bar Association and Mrs Bountiful Adelanwa, a community development expert.

They spoke separately on “Market imperatives: Re-thinking soft skills in a highly competitive world.”

According to them, the world is increasingly competitive by the day and not only at workplaces but across strata of life and it, therefore, required that the youth, especially in the universities, need to adequately prepare, equip and sustain themselves with soft skills that would help them to become most preferred in the crowd.

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Describing soft skills as personal attributes for effective interactions with others at all levels, they listed honesty, integrity, work ethics, good character, dependability, team spirit, responsibility, diligence and so forth as major soft skills they need to acquire and make as a way of life in order to remain relevant at workplaces either as employees or self- employed and in other legitimate endeavours.

They said, though, obtaining excellent grades in school- in form of certificates- is good and rewarding, it lacks the capability to solely take the owners- even if helps to get the job-far in life if soft skills are lacking.

“That is why for me, honesty remains the best policy for man’s greatness in life,” Mrs Adekoya stressed. “Because honesty will not only make people identify with you, your products and service but will also help you to easily exhibit other good attitudinal traits.”

In her remarks to students of LASU, the chairman of the occasion and justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Amina Augie, urged the students to make good use of the knowledge gained at the event starting from now when they are still in schools and grow with it.

She reaffirmed that good success in careers and life generally- without compromising acceptable behaviours-is good and desirable but always comes with big price in the form of commitment and sacrifice.

She further advised the students to be known for integrity in any path they take in life as they would not be physically present when their fate on any issue of relevance like an appointment to positions would be decided by others.

Giving an example of herself, she said eight out of nine senators who screened her for her current office had come across her and many as their former teacher.

“I couldn’t recognise them and so imagine what would have happened if my integrity was questionable or I had done badly to them or did not do my work the way I should back then.

“So, lay a solid foundation for yourself and that will help you to survive the test of time as the world is global and increasingly competitive.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the vice-chancellor of LASU, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said the aim of the distinguished lecture series is for students to learn from experience sharing of the high profile individuals, who have against all odds and without cutting corners, distinguished themselves in their chosen fields and life generally.

“We want our students to see the distinguished lecturers as role models as they share their personal experiences especially from nobody to celebrities and the efforts are yielding great results,” he noted.

Fagbohun, a Professor of Environmental Law, in LASU reaffirmed the university’s determination to continue producing graduates for global and not only for the Nigerian market.