An english learning dictionary define signature as "a sign, stamp, or mark impressed as by a seal".
Signature represent a lot because of its uniqueness to an individual. The uniqueness brings about the memory of the said signatory. As a tradition in Nigeria's higher institutions, especially universities, final year students sign out after their exam final year paper.
As the said tradition goes, students put on white top and one approach another to create his/her own memory in him/her.
As unique as those signatures are, seeing it 5/10 years brings back the memory of those individuals & their characters. Some choose to pen their signatures using their surname, while some uses their school nickname, just for the purpose of easy remembrance of their crazy characters.
Apart from the fun attached to it, it provides a platform for all students to bid themselves farewell and make their best of luck wishes.
It's an anticipating moment and also serves as an opportunity to share life experiences even with a "distanced" course mates. Everybody want to catch fun and have good memory experience.
As an influential member of the class, who has had contact with about 90% of all students of the class and on so many occasions has been called upon at critical time for real issues of reasoning, I can say that putting my signature on my fellows was indeed a great sign out moment. It provides me an opportunity of saying 'my best wishes to you...always remember me with this'. A joyous moment, a day like never before. A time to show different dance steps in appreciation to God for bringing one to the successful end of a chapter in life. Time not to bother about ASSU/NASU donkey of months strike has finally come to an end. Indeed,it's a great moment that worth enjoying.
And after that comes the beginning of a new chapter in the life of young & aspiring ladies & gentle guys. Time not to wait for mum & dad's transaction alerts. Time to bring those class statistical assumptions into real life issues. The long awaited new chapter of life has finally been open.
The second part of the theme "The Future Speaks" actually gave me a sober moment & a reason to think deep & asked myself two sincere & pertinent questions, which are;
1) Is the society ready for us, and
2) Are we ready for the challenges our unprepared society is presenting before us.
Those are the two questions that troubled my mind for hours until I was able to find a way out of it, and so I concluded that;
Yeah, to be sincere, our generation were just unlucky to have this crop of present leaders who aren't bother about our present and future. The society as it is now, not ready for us.
It's clear that their is no master plan to curb the ongoing increase in unemployment rate, not to talk of providing jobs for fresh graduates. All we hear is the government sponsored entrepreneurship program, which has made no impact on Nigerians as a whole.
So, in such a society, how do you manage or handle the challenges been presented to you, considering how unfavourable such challenges are expected to be. Such challenges includes, but not limited to secret recruitment, cash for jobs,becoming a jobberman addict, intimidation by foreign certificate holders, discrimination by employers of labour, traffic palava, house rent, etc.
But in the face of all these, one just need to remain hard-working, dedicated and be prayerful. Having it in mind that tough time don't last, but tough people do. Those unnecessary pressure we experienced from our lecturers during our academic days were meant to prepare us for such tough times.
So I encourage all my fellow graduates in the country to be proactive & innovative in thinking. Having it in mind that the responsibility of making our society great is our collective duty, just as the fruit of it is for us all. Steve Jobs, Ben Carson, Walt Disney, Oprah Winfrey, Micheal Jordan never quite at different frustrating stage of their lives, so say NO to excuses of not making Nigeria a better society.
The experiences I had from my relationship with my course mates gives me joy & confidence that we will make Nigeria great again, especially in the field of ICT & entrepreneur. Even though the committee of friends of our self organized celebration disagreed with me in honouring those that deserve honour most, those that learn theory in class, jump to NIIT, New Arising, IBM, etc to acquire the indebt practical teaching of our course of study. Already offering solutions to society's problem, even as an undergraduates. Ogunmoroti Gbenga Stephen, Anselm Mba, Ebenezer Dare, Ali Folorunsho Olawore Niyi, Abayomi Muyiwa and Yomi Sonaike are the winners of my Personality Awards of Excellence.
And to all my fantastically amazing colleagues; Eniola Alamutu-Lawal, Olawale Olayinka, Adebayo Olayinka, Owoola Seun, Adeyemo Ayobami, Olowoyeye Oyebola, to mention few. I just want to say a big thank you for your tolerance of my crazy, but amazing character. With you guys, the future of Nigeria is now brighter than earlier postulated. I have no doubt in my mind that in no distance time, we will run and rule Nigeria and Africa at large through our great innovations, creative thinking and ideas. Even if the society is presenting us with unemployment, bad infrastructures, poor electricity, fraudulent process in business establishment, etc.
Before I drop my pen, permit me to on behalf of my humble self, wish all my fellow fresh graduates all the best in our new adventure of life.
- Citz. Temitope Oluwafemi Oguntosin (@Femsin_)