By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Emmanuel Udom has enjoined students of Mountain Top University (MTU), other institutions and youths in the country to be intentional, develop competence and build a culture of excellence as they journey to greatness.
L-R: Prof. Tolu Odugbemi, Dr. Folashade Olukoya, Dr Daniel Olukoya Chancellor MTU and Emmanuel Udom
Udom said this while delivering the fifth convocation lecture of MTU with the theme: ‘Optimizing your potential in a challenging future.’
He said: “Life is filled with uncertainties but there are opportunities, don’t loose them. Fulfillment of destiny depends on time. Fight for your time, it is more valuable than money. Opportunities come in human form; make up your mind to treat people well irrespective of their status.
“The many challenges plaguing our nation present a world of opportunities to the one who can recognize it. Find your place and be determined to make the world a better place starting where you are.”
He appealed to them not to be discouraged by the current situation of the country but they should
embrace the challenges, adversity and pain to focus on their vision, the mental image of their future.
He said: “What you need is principles that would guide you. It includes divine connectors, divine influencers and burden bearers.
“As youths, don’t rely on government to provide your needs from cradle to grave. You should emulate people in developed nation where government rely on the people for national development. You must re-invent the spirit of creativity. It would deepen your values sets and make your education count.”
He explained that it was high time they set goals using the power of vision. Narrating his success story, Udom said success does not start with money but one’s mindset.
“Money can be created by individuals but cash is printed by the central Bank. You need to understand the difference. As a youth, I had vision and became a visionary governor, who build a culture of excellence and developed competence,” he further said.
Encouraging the graduating students to create the changes they want to see and build strategic relationships, he said: “No one can make progress beyond his mindset. Your imaginative power is your creative power. You must have a mental picture of what future you want to create with the eyes of your mind.”
He charged them to shun mediocrity and managed syndrome that can initiate low quality and put people in the barest minimum on the job that cannot excel.
Stressing the power of leadership and creative thinking, he said: “The world we are living today is characterized by very high pace and scale of volatility, complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity.
“It is important to note that no nation is immune from challenges of this present day, from hostilities in Gaza, the war in Ukraine to unprecedented levels of inflation across major economies of the world to the numerous challenges plaguing our nation. There is really no nation that is not facing some form of hardship. But we have a critical pillar today and it is hope. Be hopeful.”
On his part, the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries and
Chancellor of the institution, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun and Eng.Michael Bayo Akinola as they were conferred with honorary degrees based on their immense contribution to the development of the institution.
Olukoya urged the graduating students to adhere to the lecture and take note of this three things: Building strategic relationships, fight for time and challenge the opportunities. These, he said, would enable them navigate their life’s journey and have great impact in their endeavours utilizing the three unique skills they have to face the world.
The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Elijah Ayolabi, charged the graduating students to live by the ideals of MTU, be resilient and nothing would go wrong for them. He encouraged them to pay attention to the entrepreneurship skills they have acquired, think outside the box and trust in God.
Also, wife of the institution’s chancellor, Dr. Folashade Olukoya, awarded the best graduating students N500, 000 and N250,000, to 24 First Class graduating students, a total of N6.5M.
However, the governor of Ogun State gave the best graduating student, Judith Ele-ojo Iyanga, N2 million.