The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has called on young graduates to focus on building character, discipline, and purpose as they transition from campus life to career development. He made this call while delivering the Goodwill Message at this year’s edition of the Life After School (LAS) Summit hosted by the Noella Foundation in Lagos.
Addressing over 500 young graduates, the Minister said the true journey of life begins after school when “certificates give way to character, and grades make room for grit.” He noted that while the path from campus to career is rarely easy, it becomes a launchpad for greatness when combined with the right skills, values, and mindset.
“I reminded the over 500 young graduates in attendance that life will test their patience but never their purpose,” Olawande said. He encouraged the youth to keep learning, volunteer freely, start small but start strong, and build meaningful relationships that will help shape their future. According to him, “What they do in the first five years after graduation will shape the next fifty years of their lives.”
Sharing from his personal experience, the Minister warned against shortcuts that promise quick wealth but take away valuable wisdom. He also advised young people not to compare their stories with others, emphasizing that “every destiny has its own clock.”
Olawande reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians through initiatives like NiYA, YouthCred, and Yo! Health under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. These programs, he said, are designed to ensure that education leads to employment, enterprise, and empowerment for the nation’s youth.
He expressed special appreciation to Mrs. Layal Tinubu and the Noella Foundation for their dedication to nurturing a generation of “doers, dreamers, and nation builders.”
The event highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts toward youth empowerment, innovation, and skill development in Nigeria.