Follow Us on Google
A proprietress, Mrs. Olubukola Adetoun Aribisala, has urged graduating students of the school to preserve Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and remain guided by integrity and good character as they pursue their future ambitions.
Aribisala, who is the proprietor of Femfield Nursery & Primary School, Isolo, Lagos gave the charge while delivering the keynote address at the Cultural Programme of the Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos 2025/2026 Valedictory and Graduation Ceremony, where she spoke on the theme, “Our Culture, Our Identity.”
Addressing the graduating students, she described identity as the invisible foundation upon which every successful life is built, stressing that true identity is not defined by academic achievements or public recognition but by the values and character a person upholds. She challenged the graduates to reflect on how they would be remembered beyond their certificates and accomplishments.
She said Nigerian culture is far more than traditional attire, food and dance, noting that it embodies respect, integrity, resilience, compassion, hard work and honesty. While acknowledging the opportunities presented by globalisation, Aribisala warned that many young people were becoming disconnected from their roots in the quest to embrace foreign cultures.
She added that the danger is not learning from other cultures but forgetting your own because a tree without roots cannot survive the storm, urging the graduates to speak their indigenous languages with pride, honour their parents and teachers, and remain connected to the values that shaped them.
The educationist reminded the students that as graduates of Queen’s College, they carry the legacy and reputation of one of Nigeria’s foremost institutions, adding that society would expect them to demonstrate excellence, leadership, confidence and integrity wherever they find themselves.
She also cautioned them against yielding to social media pressure and the temptation to compromise their values, maintaining that while technology and careers would continue to evolve, character remains humanity’s greatest competitive advantage.
Encouraging the graduates to dream globally without losing sight of their heritage, Aribisala urged them to become leaders who would positively impact society through integrity, excellence and compassion. According to her, the world does not need copies but authentic individuals whose values distinguish them.
She concluded by reminding the graduating class that while certificates may age and technology may become obsolete, their character and identity would continue to define their legacy, urging them to preserve their culture and write a future that generations after them would be proud to inherit.
