BY MOSES IKEBELI

Graduating students were  challenged to be prepared to face the reality of life, as  there must be things to contend with in the course of fulfilling their desired dreams.

“Very soon, you will begin to face the reality of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), hoping that JAMB will not frustrate you, but you will scale through”

This was the reality of life that Mr Emmanuel Ekpo, chairman of the graduation ceremony told the  graduating students, citing an example of his son who sat for JAMB examination three times before he secured  admission into the university.

He reiterated that students have to prepare for their future as they are living for a place where nobody will monitor them but leave them  to the freedom that exist at the institutions of higher learning.

“Freedom is the major challenge you will confront within the university, as no lecturer will look for you to attend classes, if you are not there during test, it is on record,” he said.

According to him, if you are a first class product but end up with third class, it is because you could not manage your freedom on campus, adding that your entire future depends on how you manage your freedom. “Spend your life doing the best and success will chase you,” he added.

Speaking in the same vein, the principal, Early Life Secondary School,Festac, Lagos, Mr Onyema Onyenankeaya who charged the graduands to go and conquer, noted that in life, there must be obstacles that will contend with ones goals. He said, “There may be betrayals, failures, hardships and frustrations, however, in the midst of all these, students should remain focused and be yourself.”

His words: “Do not cease in acquiring knowledge and to positively impact the lives of others. Be very careful in making your choice because it is true that “the choice we make, make us or mar us”.

Because of the solid foundation we have given you, we are confident that in a few years time, like your predecessors, some of you will be graduating with first class honours, some of you will be captains of industries, notable professionals, distinguished ladies and reliable parents.

In the course of their education here, we have seen their good, their best and their worst. We have also seen students from other schools and can unequivocally state that the worst of the students we are sending out today can be the best of the students from some schools. This is an eloquent testimony of the caliber of the graduates – a testimony that is exemplified in the lives of their predecessors.”

On his part, Chairman, Managing Director, Early Life Schools, Chief Innocent Nwokeji,  said his vision is to help less privileged students who live around him have quality education and  also to help teachers get job in his school.