Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has challenged Nigerian youths to explore and utilise their creative ability to develop the society.
Fayemi gave the challenge while delivering the 2016 convocation lecture of at the University of Lagos.
He said that one of the failings of the society was its inability to give young people enough room to explore their creative abilities.
The theme of the lecture is: “Building a Successor-Generation: Reflections on Values and Knowledge in Nation Building.’’
According to him, there is need for young people to be given chance for self expression and make mistakes to avoid repeating same later in life.
He further said that young people did not optimally take advantage of opportunities where they existed.
The minister said that a university, being a “macrocosm and microcosms’’ of the larger society ought to be the ground for students to explore and make mistakes in a protected environment.
‘’Macrocosm and microcosm refers to a vision of cosmos where the part (microcosm) reflects the whole (macrocosm) and vice versa.
“The earlier we realise that no one owes us anything, the better for us and the more prepared we will be to face challenges of life.
“Do not think you are entitled to a job just because of your parents’ influence or what they have.
“Do not think things will be all rosy because you graduated from UNILAG with good grades.
“Be prepared for surprises and disappointments, because life is bound to hand you a couple of them.
“The only guarantee you have in this life is what you do for your selves with the grace God has bestowed on us all,’’ he said.
Fayemi urged youths to be prepared to bend backwards and do those things they might consider to be beneath them.
“What you need to know, however, is that as a UNILAG graduate and a postgraduate student in the United Kingdom, I have driven taxis and worked as a guard amongst other several menial jobs to survive.’’
Earlier in a remark, a retired Maj.-Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, said there was the need for leaders of today to give the younger generation opportunity to lead and serve the country.
Nwachukwu, who is also a former Senator, however, said that for such opportunity to be effective, the younger generation, too, must be prepared to be mentored.
The lecture was part of activities lined up for the institution’s 2016 convocation.
The convocation proper begins on Jan. 24, with the award of degrees, certificates and prizes to students found ‘’worthy in character and learning.’’
Source: NAN
The taxi and the guard jobs was with a good money. We are taking about pounds, good money.