The University of Lagos Muslim Alumni has honoured the 32 Muslim Students who graduated with First-Class honours and the Muslim scholar with the best PhD thesis in the 2020/2021 convocation ceremony of the university.
This was even as the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, his predecessor, Professor Rahaman Bello, Professor of Economics and Director, Institute of Nigeria / China Development Studies,Professor Muibi Olufemi Saibu and the Country Human Resources Director of Nestle Pic, Mr Shakiru Lawal, tasked students and graduates to match academic success with career success.
Speaking at the 32 Annual General Meeting of the UMA, held at the University Mosque, Akoka, the UMA’s President, Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, said the honour for the outstanding graduates was meant to inspire others and encourage them to remain the best in their future endeavors.
He said the outstanding students and their colleagues who also graduated from the university would be inducted as UMA members.
Salisu said that beyond the ceremonies, the UMA recognises the need to prepare and equip the new graduates for the opportunities and challenges ahead. He added that with the token of the appreciation,the graduates were also challenged for even greater accomplishments.
Also speaking, Director, Institute of Nigeria / China Development Studies, Professor Muibi Olufemi Saibu, said that a lot of opportunities abound in academics for those who might want to take up a lecturing career. He said that through publication of their researches, they would be sought after by public and private organisations, once they have been able to distinguish themselves in their areas of specialisation.
Former Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof Rahaman Bello urged the young members, who wanted to go into academics to look for a mentor, saying no matter how good they are without a mentor, they could get stuck in their academic pursuits.He said that there is no law that says that as an academic,one can’t make money, adding that academics have several means of making legitimate money.
Speaking on networking for career success, Country Human Resources Manager, Lawal urged the participants to explore the opportunity of networking inorder to succeed in any chosen career.
He said: “Your network is your net worth. Don’t limit your networking to your field,” he said.
According to the Nestle Human Resources Manager, to be a successful man must have emotional intelligence, saying that there is a need for everyone to understand that things may not turn out the way one plans. He said that is the reason everyone must build resilience, the ability to bounce back.
In his remarks, University of Lagos VC, Prof. Ogundipe , who commended UMA for being a responsible Alumni association, also harped on the gains of networking, saying that is the way to go irrespective of academic success. He added that lectures such as networking must be extended to undergraduate students, whom he described as more technology savvy than the old students.
Meanwhile, the former AMCON Chairman and Legal Adviser of the All Progressive Congress, Dr Muiz Banire, charged UMA to intensify their donation drive in order to garner enough funds to execute the association’s projects.
At the 32nd Annual General Meeting which also featured the unveiling of the new logo of the association, free health checks were also carried out on members while the new members were inducted into the UMA.
