THE JOURNEY OF LIFE

Congratulations I say to you all for the completion of the first phase of your academic career today.

But far beyond congratulating and celebrating you today, I have these few words for you as you go...

Life is a journey and every journey has a destination. You've all started a journey called the journey of destiny and until you reach your destination, relaxation might be dangerous. So my first advice to you all is this...don't relax yet, don't settle down, don't coast, don't get complacent. Complacency is a robber of destiny.

It is very possible for many to stop and quit at the point of 0'level especially because of the nature of the society and community they are. But remember the result you have is called 0'level, don't settle down with the ''zero-level'', I challenge you all to rise to the ''hero-level''. No one is recognized at the zero level. The best you can be with the zero level is to be a local champion. And get this right, you are not created to be a local champion, you are a global champion... Tell yourself I am not a local champion, I am a global champion... Yes!!! Don't limit what you can become by settling down with what are. Don't limit where you can get to by relaxing where you are. Dare to move ahead. A wise man once said, either by flying or running, walking or crawling, just keep moving.

This is the right time to work hard and prepare a future for yourself through serious learning. Friends, learning starts now... If you refuse to start learning and be committed to reading now, you won't meet up with the competition outside. Don't permit wrong societal influence, don't allow negative peer pressure. Your background should not place your back on the ground. You can move ahead. You can be your best. Keep moving, keep learning and get ready for the next level.

The university is wide open for you all, but there are certain requirements. This is the time to prepare yourself for it. Remember, if you fail to prepare you are only prepared to fail. So the difference between you and your friends in the next 2, 3 years from now is how you prepare today.

 Secondly, a quote by  Martin Luther king Jr. says "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character."

One of the greatest determinants of your journey into destiny is your character. Your character will either create you a future or crash your future. Nothing can stop you when character is properly worked on. So build a winning character today. The difference between a winner and a loser is their character. Some people have gone ahead of your and can contribute to your success in life, you need a positive character to relate with and benefit from them.

Lastly, I would like you to learn from the principles of an Eagle...which I believe will help you a lot...

1. Eagles fly alone at high altitude and not with sparrows or other small birds. No other bird can get to the height of the eagle. So stay away from sparrows and ravens. Eagles fly with Eagles. Your life will remain the same for the next 5 years apart from for the books you read and the quality of friends you keep.

2. Eagles have strong vision. They have the ability to focus on something up to five kilometers away. When an eagle sights his prey, he narrows his focus on it and set out to get it. No matter the obstacles, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.

Until you can see far you cannot go far. You need to see ahead another to move ahead.

3. Eagles do not eat dead things. They feed only on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals, but eagles will not.

Be careful with what you feed your eyes and ears with, especially in movies and on TV.

4. When an eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out.

We occasionally need to shed off old habits and items that burden us without adding to our lives.