Engr. Adigun Ibrahim, coordinator of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local branch, has given an insight into how students can balance their academic pursuits with social life and advocacy.
Adigun who was one of the speakers at the maiden legislative conference put together by the Business Administration And Management Students Association, Lagos State University (LASU), on Tuesday, identified purposefulness and determination as two major forces that could help students achieve academic excellence and harmonise social life with advocacy.
At the conference, themed “Harmonizing Horizons”, Adigun, a one-time Speaker of the varsity’s Students Parliamentary Council defined academics as a pursuit of knowledge adding that it is arguably an all-important activity for achieving ones potential in life.
On the other hand, he described Social life as a crucial set of personal activities that aid one’s psychological growth while advocacy is a way of leaving an indelible footprint towards fostering the advancement of humanity.
According to him, while the trio can be engrossing, it is quite possible for students to be successful on all three fronts.
The former union leader hailed the sustained interest the students have shown in unionism and other social activities but sounded a reminder that their priority in school is to achieve academic excellence adding that advocacy and other are secondary.
” As students, you need not be reminded that your purpose of being in school is to achieve academic excellence and make yourself proud. As a matter or fact, you are in a school that takes academic excellence seriously. Everything else is secondary but who says you can not achieve academic excellence with your social life and involvement in advocacy? This is where purpose and determination come in. If your purpose of coming to school constantly resonates in your mind, you will know how to balance your academic pursuit with other activities one will not disturb the other.”
Speaking further, he reminded the teeming students that there is no excuse for failure as he urged them to take a cue from past union leaders of the school who graduated with flying colours and admirable comradeship legacies revealing that their success stories are deep-rooted in determination and focus.
“To the glory of God, my success as a students of the great citadel of knowledge and my ability to harmonise my social life with advocacy are what made me what I am today and I believe that my current position is not my destination. When you’re determined, purpose-driven and have a clear vision of where you going and what you want to achieve, success will fall in place on all fronts,” Adigun added.
Adigun was at the event to represent the keynote speaker; Vice Chairman of Agege LGA, Hon. Oluwagbemiga Abiola better known as Agbelegbu. He shared the stage with other speakers invitedbto the event such as Ambassador Shodunke Qudus and Ambassador Akanishelle Funmilayo.
He commended the host, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Kuti and other student leaders for putting the event together.
