IBB Tasks Youths On Hardwork, Dialogue

Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda, has urged youths to imbibe the spirit of hard work, self-belief and dialogue to contribute their quota to national development.

Babaginda gave the advice on Thursday at the Special Convocation Ceremony of Madonna University, Okija, Anambra, where he was conferred with an honorary Doctorate Degree in Law by the institution.

He called on youths to aspire to achieve great things in life and to provide ingenious solutions to challenges facing their age to place the country in a vintage position in the global economy.  The former military ruler said: “You should aspire high since its on record that most young people in history invented most things that changed the world of today.”

Babangida cited the example of Isaac Newton and Albert Heisting, who, at the ages of 24 and 26, respectively made inventions that changed the world.

“As youths you need to re-dedicate yourself by re-examining your value system to embrace the culture of self-belief, honesty, integrity, discipline and hard work to become achievers”.

You should also cultivate true leadership virtues and tolerate one another through dialogue and compromise,” he said.

According to Babaginda, the Madonna University holds the flagship of private universities in the country and stands out as an instiution with the sole aim of producing moral, academic and professional young people for the Nigerian society.

He said: “It is on record that this institution is the only university in the country where there is no cultism and student hooliganism”.

Prof. Fr Emmanuel Ede, Chancellor and Founder of the institution, said that the award conferred on Babaginda was to show appreciation for his great contributions to the country while in office, especially the way he liberated the education sector.

 Ede said: “Our gathering today has nothing to do with politics, but to honour our illustrious son, who had fore-sight of instituting private universities in the country and had continuous support for its growth and development in the country.”

Archbishop Felix Alaba Job, President, Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, called on the Federal Government to encourage the building of private universities to enhance human development.

The Archbishop said: “the 41 private universities are not enough to support the ones owned by various levels of governments. This is why lots of our young ones enter for matriculation examinations but few chances are available.”

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra, enumerated the strides of great people of the state, urging the students to emulate the quality of the great men who had been first in various spheres of human endeavour in the country.

Obi, however, called on those who had benefited from academics to support the growth of higher institutions, adding: “If we allow the opportunity to helping these young one to slip out of our hands, they would not forgive us.”