The University of Ibadan (UI) transcends the definition of a standard higher education institution; it functions as a launching platform that meticulously prepares individuals for success, according to Mrs. Bola Olajomi-Otubu, an alumna and the Chief Executive Officer of Beige Spaces Limited, a design and construction enterprise.
Delivering an address during the Class of 2025 convocation ceremony, Olajomi-Otubu characterized UI as an essential “training ground” and a “refining fire” that has profoundly influenced every major achievement in her life. She asserted that the university has played a foundational role in both her personal and professional development.
She stated, “The University of Ibadan is not merely another university. It is where my foundation for success was constructed. It is a training ground and, in many aspects, the refining fire that positioned me for success.”
Olajomi-Otubu highlighted her status as a proud second-generation alumna. Her father, HRH Prof. Amusat Titilayo Hassan, the Elesugbon of Esugbon, Obaruwa I, a retired Professor of Zoology, is also an alumnus who dedicated over four decades to the institution. Furthermore, two of her sisters are UI graduates.
She drew a parallel between the university’s influence and the critical strength of a structure’s foundation. “When I contemplate UI, I consider foundations that are robust, stable, and enduring. As the CEO of a construction and design firm, I understand that any building intended to stand tall must rest on the correct foundation. The same principle applies to life. Our foundations are vital.”
Addressing the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, faculty members, and the graduating students, she extended congratulations to the Class of 2025 for their persistence in overcoming academic difficulties and interruptions caused by strikes. She mentioned that returning to UI invoked a feeling of homecoming, recalling her formative years spent at the university staff school, Abadina College, and the Department of Psychology, where she established enduring connections.
Olajomi-Otubu reflected upon the necessary sacrifices, late-night study sessions, and the friendships forged during their academic journey, stating that these experiences constitute the “foundation stones” upon which the graduates must now construct their lives. She encouraged them to draw strength from the resilience nurtured during their tenure at UI.
Sharing her career trajectory, which spanned from a psychology graduate to a human resources professional and subsequently to a construction entrepreneur, she recounted an instance of job loss before ultimately leading a company that employs nearly 60 professionals. “This demonstrates the strength of the foundation this university provided me. I possess the ability to rebuild, pivot, or completely alter my professional path because I carry the lessons acquired within these distinguished walls,” she explained.
She elaborated that the construction of anything meaningful in life demands more than mere resources, emphasizing that “faith” is an essential element for progress. “Life subsequent to UI will test your determination. There will be moments when your carefully laid plans collapse like an inadequately reinforced structure. In those instances, you must recall your foundation and the wisdom gained here.”
Transitioning to spiritual guidance, she noted that faith in God has consistently served as her moral compass, adding that she has learned to consistently choose bravery over apprehension. She advised the graduates to embrace patience, discipline, and values that facilitate sustainable success.
“Opt for the challenging but correct path over the facile and quick one. Genuine success is not instantaneous. It is slowly achieved, much like smoky jollof rice. Quality endeavors require time,” she counseled.
She cautioned the graduates against believing the illusions propagated by social media and recommended careful consideration of the digital footprints they create. “The world is noisy, particularly online. Audibility does not always equate to correctness. The internet retains memory. Stillness embodies power.”
Olajomi-Otubu advised the graduating class to prioritize the cultivation of character, relationships, and legacy over the pursuit of transient trends. “Any individual can engage in hurried effort, but few possess the ability to build. Construct something that will outlast your own existence.”
She stressed the importance of community, intellectual diversity, and resilience, acknowledging that life in Nigeria frequently presents severe challenges. “In Nigeria, life does not merely present difficulties; it presents extreme difficulties. Learn to turn challenging circumstances into opportunities for growth on your journey to eminence.”
Citing distinguished UI alumni such as Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, and Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, she described them as “giants” whose legacies continue to inspire successive generations.
“We possess greater clarity of vision today because they stood tall yesterday. You, the Class of 2025, now join this extraordinary lineage. You represent the next set of shoulders for others to rely upon.”
She concluded by urging the graduates to proceed into the world as “builders of the future,” confident in their designated purpose, faith, and moral integrity. “Believe that your personal narrative holds significance. Believe that you possess the capacity to transform adversity into purpose. Your purpose will function as your guiding principle.”
She issued a final charge to the class: “Go forth. May your foundations remain secure, your faith shine brightly, and your future stand majestically tall.”
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