Campus News

Beware of consequences, Fashola warns UNILORIN graduands

By Abubakar Imam

A former Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fasola, SAN, CON, has warned youths, particularly new graduates of the University of Ilorin, to always be mindful of consequences of their actions, saying that appropriate reactions always follow actions.

Mr Fashola sounded this warning last Wednesday (October 22, 2025) while delivering the 40th Convocation Lecture of the University of Ilorin, titled, “The Gen-Z Playbook: Navigating Work And The Real World”, at the University Auditorium.

The former Minister said that youths must be very careful with their choices as they progress enjoining them to avoid the get-rich-quick syndrome.

He urged them to run away from those who flaunt flamboyant and exotic lifestyle from money they can neither disclose nor explain its sources.

Mr Fashola, who also served as Governor of Lagos State between 2007 and 2015, said that the road to prosperity is often long, predictable and requires someone to prove himself not only by hardwork but also by character.

While declaring that there is no easy and fast money anywhere without consequences, Mr Fashola warned that consequences always lead to misery, regret and sometimes irredeemable damage.

The Convocation Lecturer also urged the graduands to discover and develop their innate and unique talents so that they can quickly transform to their best version.

He added that once they discovered their talents navigating present and future challenges would be easy.

Mr Fashola also urged them to deploy social media appropriately, saying that social media should be used to reach people for causes, work and business or showcase whatever positive things they undertake. 

While encouraging them to use social media to advertise the positive part of their personalities and concerns, he warned them not to advertise their body parts. He encouraged them not to use foul, abusive or hate language on social media as he warned that the internet will forever credit them with whatever they write or say.

In his address, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Surv. Abiodun Jacob Aluko, said that the University has improved tremendously in service delivery.

Surv. Aluko commended the Federal Government for its investment on the University over the years as he also urged the graduands to join the team of alumni who are making the University proud in all areas of human endeavour.

The Governing Council Chairman, who is also a former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, advised the graduands to ensure that the nation’s investment on them is not wasted, saying that much is expected from them by their families, alma mater, the nation and the world at large.

In his address, titled ‘The Man is the Style and the Style is the Man’, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole,SAN, charged the graduands to become the embodiment of the University style. 

Prof. Egbewole urged them to allow the University’s mantra of Better By Far to become part of their identities wherever they find themselves as they go into the real world.

The Vice Chancellor, who expressed pride that the University graduated fully prepared young men and women, urged the graduands to ensure that their lives and careers are marked by intelligence and integrity, coordination and success, humility and resourcefulness, smart goals, ethical conduct, and professional wisdom.

Among the highlights of the event was the presentation of First Class graduands to the Chancellor of the University, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, CFR, who was represented by the Vice Chancellor, and presentation of gift to the Convocation Lecturer as well as the admittance of the graduands to the University of Ilorin Alumni Association by its National President, Prof. AbdulRasaq Olubusiyi Kilani after the oath-taking.

The ceremony was witnessed by the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, who was represented by the Commissioner of Youth Development, Ambassador Ndanusa Shehu; the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), who is also the eighth Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, CON; the Commissioner of Police, Kwara Command, Mr Adekunmi Ojo; Members of the University Governing Council, serving and former Principal Officers of the University; a Kadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice AbdulRaheem Sayi, parents,guardians and graduands, among several others from far and near.