The University of Ibadan, UI, is more than a higher institution. It is a launchpad that prepares people for success, according to Mrs. Bola Olajomi-Otubu, alumna of the institution and Chief Executive Officer of Beige Spaces Limited, a design and construction firm.
Speaking at the Class of 2025 convocation ceremony, Olajomi-Otubu described UI as a foundational “training ground” and a “refining fire” that has shaped every significant milestone in her life. She said the university has played a pivotal role in her personal and professional journey.
“The University of Ibadan is not just another university. It is where my foundation for success was built. It is a training ground and, in many ways, the refining fire that set me up for success,” she said.
Olajomi-Otubu noted that she is a proud second-generation alumna. Her father, HRH Prof. Amusat Titilayo Hassan, the Elesugbon of Esugbon, Obaruwa I, and retired Professor of Zoology, is also an alumnus who spent more than four decades at the institution. Two of her sisters also graduated from UI.
She likened the university’s impact to the strength of a building’s foundation. “When I think about UI, I think of foundations that are strong, steady and enduring. As CEO of a construction and design firm, I know that any building that will stand tall must rest on the right foundation. The same applies to life. Our foundations are critical.”
Addressing the chancellor, vice chancellor, faculty members and graduating students, she congratulated the Class of 2025 for their perseverance through academic hurdles and strike disruptions. She said returning to UI felt like coming home, recalling her childhood years in the university staff school, Abadina College, and the Department of Psychology, where she formed lasting relationships.
Olajomi-Otubu reflected on the sacrifices, late-night reading sessions and the friendships built along the way, stating that these experiences serve as the “foundation stones” upon which graduates must build their lives. She urged them to draw strength from the resilience instilled by their time at UI.
Sharing her journey from psychology graduate to human resources professional and later to construction entrepreneur, she recounted losing a job before eventually leading a company that employs nearly 60 professionals. “That is how strong the foundation this university gave me is. I can rebuild, pivot or completely change my path because I carry the lessons I learned within these great walls,” she said.
She explained that building anything meaningful in life requires more than resources, stressing that “faith” is a critical component of progress. “Life after UI will test your resolve. There will be days when your plans collapse like an unreinforced structure. In those moments, remember your foundation and the lessons you learned here.”
Shifting to spiritual insight, she said faith in God has remained her compass, adding that she has learned to choose courage over fear. She encouraged graduates to embrace patience, discipline and values that produce lasting success.
“Choose the hard and the right over the easy and the quick. Real success is not instant. It is slow-cooked like smoky jollof rice. Good things take time,” she said.
She cautioned graduates against the illusions created by social media and advised them to be mindful of the digital footprints they leave behind. “The world is loud, especially online. Loud is not always right. The internet does not forget. Stillness is power.”
Olajomi-Otubu advised the graduating class to focus on building character, relationships and legacy rather than following fleeting trends. “Anyone can hustle, but few can build. Build something that lasts longer than you.”
She emphasised the value of community, diversity of thought, and resilience, noting that life in Nigeria often presents difficult challenges. “In Nigeria, life does not throw lemons. It throws pepper, pepper pro max. Learn to make pepper soup on your way to greatness.”
Referencing outstanding 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 new generations.
“We see farther today because they stood tall yesterday. You, the Class of 2025, now join this extraordinary lineage. You are the next set of shoulders for others to stand on.”
She urged the graduates to step into the world as “builders of the future,” confident in their purpose, faith and integrity. “Believe that your story matters. Believe that you can rise from pepper to purpose. Your purpose will be your compass.”
Concluding her address, she charged the class: “Go forth. May your foundations hold strong, your faith shine bright and your future stand tall.”
