The event which has its theme "From Lecture Room to Boardroom", was held
at the Tayo Aderinokun Hall on the Akoka Campus,
The event organised by the Office of Advancement, drew a large and enthusiastic audience of students across all levels, particularly final-year students from departments within the Faculty of Management Sciences.
The forum according to the university's official journal, was designed as a practical bridge between academic learning and professional life, exposed students to vast professional and entrepreneurial possibilities embedded in their courses of study, while grounding them in the values, orientation and mindset required for success beyond the university walls.
The interactive session also underscored UNILAG’s growing emphasis on alumni engagement as a strategic tool for mentoring, inspiration and institutional development.
Two distinguished alumni of the Faculty of Management Sciences: Dr. Samuel Ogbodu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sunu Assurances Limited, and Mr. Segun Odusanya, Managing Director of First Securities Discount House (FSDH) served as keynote speakers, delivering what participants described as candid, practical and deeply inspiring masterclasses on career building.
The first speaker, Mr. Odusanya reflected on his personal journey at the University of Lagos, recalling his arrival as a 17-year-old freshman and his early struggles as a “distracted JAMBITE.” He shared how a subpar first-year performance became the turning point that propelled him to refocus, recover academically, and eventually graduate as a University Scholar with multiple awards.
Drawing from decades of experience in the African financial services sector, including his rapid rise to Director level at Standard Chartered Bank and his deployment to manage operations across five East African countries, Odusanya outlined five core values students must deliberately cultivate alongside technical competence.
He listed the core values to include Discipline, Focus, Integrity, Teamwork and consideration for others, and Multicultural awareness.
“Whatever you have to do, you must set your mind to it"
“Have a clear goal for your studentship at the University of Lagos and pursue it with devotion and commitment,"he charged the students.
He stressed that these values, rather than brilliance alone, were the traits that enabled him to leave every organisation he served better than he met it.
In a moment that drew loud applause, Odusanya announced his decision to give back to his alma mater by endowing a prize for the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Business Administration.
According to him, the prize would be backed with a financial reward substantial enough to support the recipient’s chosen career path, whether corporate advancement or entrepreneurship.
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