Sen. Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East) has called on youths to emulate those who have made success through bonding, team spirit and dedication to hard work.
He made the call on Saturday in Lagos in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He spoke on the sidelines of the 35th anniversary of the Alumni Pioneer Class of 1988, Lagos State University (LASU) with the theme, ‘’A New Phase – Managing Life After Retirement’’.
The senator urged young people to embrace togetherness and sportsmanship, which encourage evolution of a better society.
According to him, there is a lot to learn from the class of ’88 because of the members’ spirit of bonding.
‘’We graduated 35 years ago, went our separate ways, but there is still a bond that is bringing us together.
“So, the younger generation coming behind should learn from such arrangement because that is how a society evolves in a proper way.
“The fact that we can lean on one another, reach out to one another, I think, is part of how a society evolves in a very decent manner, “ he said.
Also, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Abiodun Denloye, urged young people to keep learning and relearning to remain relevant in their chosen careers.
“I advise people that what you studied yesterday has become irrelevant today; therefore, you have to have a continuity by learning and learning more.
“When I was in school, I studied zoology, but today, I am an expert in bio security; by implication, the zoology we learnt back then, which was theory, we have become practical in it, in applications and that has been a major difference.
“It is good to always want to learn and learn more. We should also embrace team spirit,” he said.
In his remarks, the President, LASU Pioneer Class ’88, Mr Olabode Garbadeen, said the essence of the gathering was first, to show gratitude to God and an opportunity to interact, exchange benefits, and to plot a way forward, especially in terms of giving back to our alma mater.
“We are 35 years today that we graduated from LASU; that makes it 39 years we entered LASU. This calls for celebration a lot of waters have passed under the bridge.
“If we are alive today and we have lots of our members doing well in different industries, social circle, government, military, in all spheres of life, we cannot, but on a landmark like this come together and celebrate.
“So, that is the core reason why we are gathered here today to showcase ourselves to tell the world what God has done for us and the journey ahead of us.
“Also, how we want to ply it and of course to give a ground for us to interact, socially, business wise, morally and all manners of reasons why coming together is good, “ Garbadeen said.
Earlier in her speech, the Vice-Chancellor, LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, described the anniversary as an auspicious one that held great significance, both for the class and university at large.
Olatunji-Bello said that the class of 1988, being the pioneer set, had made history.
‘’So, celebrating 35 years of your graduation is befitting and I am indeed proud to share in this moment with each member of class 1988 present here today.
‘This event should call for reflection in the realization of how far you have gone in your journeys of life, ‘’ she said.
The Vice Chancellor, however, urged the members to begin to live less for self and live more for others, saying, ‘’Engage the life of service to humanity, and especially into your alma mater.
‘’LASU is currently in a state of rapid development, metamorphosing into the best university in West Africa by the grace of God.
‘’LASU is the foundation of the success of what you have made today; Now it is time to give back so that the university can be in a place to also give life to the dreams of other young ones, ‘’ Olatunji-Bello said.
