Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Patrick Akinwuntan on Thursday, urged young Nigerian graduates to embrace the new digital world order, imbibe uncommon integrity, deep insights, accountability and excellence to compete in the new world order.
delivering a commencement speech during the first virtual graduation ceremony for the 2019/2020 Lynx set of Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State, Akinwuntan noted that in this fast-paced and covid-19 impacted world, only those responsive to change and able to learn, unlearn and relearn, will survive.
According to him, “our world faces many opportunities and challenges, ranging from spiritual, economic, political, social to technological. Concepts, identities, institutions and their definitions are being challenged daily.
“You must therefore bring into our unfolding world, uncommon integrity, deep insights, accountability, excellence, servant leadership, creativity and a never-give-up spirit that truly creates a new, better world. Also you must be digitally savvy to compete effectively notwithstanding what you studied here,” he stressed.
Akinwuntan tasked those planning to establishing business in today’s environment to be digitally savvy and focused on industries that offer services and products with massive day-to-day use. He listed them as: agriculture, telecoms, food and beverages, technology, banking and finance, urging them to also pay attention to businesses that will enable them scale or grow without much additional capital just like Uber, Netflix, Tiktok.
“The basic values of punctuality, respect, humility, diligence, integrity have become rare in the business environment. Do not take these for granted. Keep them and you will be better for it,” he stressed.
The Ecobank Nigeria CEO urged those who would be seeking employment to nonetheless, ensure they have the DNA of an employer, because “it may come across as a paradox, but an employer DNA seeks to add value, while an employee DNA seeks to collect salaries. Note the huge difference.”
He told the graduands to imbibe integrity and play by the right rules always, if they are to make positive difference in any sphere, adding that “God has granted you a moral compass and a conscience that speaks loudly when you are doing the wrong thing. In other words, remember the child of whom you are. You must therefore always act with integrity if you are to be the positive difference.
“You must draw from your formation, inner-self and live by your values, vision and passion. Your attitude and perspective to changing realities is critical to achieving excellence, success and enduring impact,” he stressed.
Photo caption: Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan (third right) and Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Professor Tayo Ademola and other university dons, during the graduation ceremony of the 2019/2020 set on Thursday, August 20, 2020.
