Osinbajo: Talent, Rich Family with Degree Certificate Not Measure of Success

Ademola Babalola in Ibadan
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, said talent, well-to-do parent and degree certificate do not bring success or greatness to individual in life.

Instead, good character and God’s mercy are the ingredients for a successful life, Osinbajo said at the 10th convocation ceremony of the Lead City University (LCU), Ibadan where 590 students were awarded first degree certificates. Among them, 39 students graduated in the first class category.
Miss. Mary Olukorede was adjudged the best graduating female while Amedu Anthony was announced as the best graduating male.

At the event, Chairman of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Victor Osibodu, and Chairman of Musoro Booksellers, Kolade Musoro, were also honoured with doctorate degrees.
To this end, Osinbajo advised Nigerian youths to utilise the productive period of their lives, noting that while time waited for no one, obtaining a degree certificate did not always translate to success in life.

Osinbajo, who was the special guest at the ceremony, said, “I was 60 years old in March this year, and I must confess that one of the greatest surprises I ever experienced was that I just suddenly became 60. I can clearly remember when I graduated from the university. I was 21 years old at the time. How time flies.

“One of the important lessons that you will learn is that time flies whether you are wasting it or you are using it well. It simply flies back. At the age of 60 years, I am entitled to give some advice.
“By talent, a good degree and coming from a very wealty family does not bring success and certainly it does not bring greatness. The most talented people, those who get the best degrees do not necessarily become the most successful in life.

“The difference between success and failure, mediocrity or excellence is character. Along with character is opportunity, perhaps the most crucial is the place of God. Character is a set of values that shapes the conduct of an individual. It is a set of principles spoken and unspoken that a person observes and lives on.”
In his address, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who accompanied the Vice President, said he was optimistic that LCU could one day be ranked among the top 10 universities in Nigeria.