The Guest Speaker at the 2021 Graduation Day ceremony of Immaculate Conception College (ICC) Benin city, Edo State, Mrs Mary Efekhoba Nwaeke, has admonished the graduating students not to be discouraged with what the society holds for them after school but be determined to make the difference despite all odds.
Mrs Nwaeke, the wife of Delta born Ace Reporter, Nkem Nwaeke, told the graduating students that the power to create their own path lies ahead of them just as she inspired them with her experiences after leaving college about three decades ago.
The renowned public servant at the event held at the school premises in Benin city, the Edo State capital charged the graduates to remain good ambassadors of their alma mater while reflecting on what they have acquired over the years in the four walls of the college.
“Junior and Senior Secondary Schools’ curricula are to equip students in advancing to higher institutions of learning or to join the workforce as some of us did after our Secondary School examinations. Whichever you choose, know that what lies on the road ahead will be exciting, new, challenging and achievable”.
Mrs Nwaeke reminded them that how prepared they are to face life’s challenges matters, stressing that there was nothing wrong with them being anxious, uncertain and scared as they proceed with life, but they should progress in line with the sound foundation from their upbringing and lessons acquired from their teachers.
“Let me tell you that I too felt anxious when I got the invitation to be the Guest Speaker of this event. My first thought was, why me? And then I asked myself, am I worthy of this responsibility? What can I say to inspire these highly intelligent and impressionable graduates? These young men from one of the most reputable, respectable, distinguished and character-building Secondary Schools in South-South Nigeria, whose alumni are amongst the finest breed of professionals in all spheres of human endeavours within and outside this country”.
“As these questions and doubts ran through my mind, an answer came to me in a quote from the Book of 1 Timothy 4:12 which my father, late John Domen Omoaregba, persistently instilled in and reiterated to my siblings and me while we were growing up – “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers (even to unbelievers), in what you say, how you live, in your love, your faith and your purity”.
“These words which sounded as if my father was saying them anew, opened up a flood in me, a flood filled with many lessons and experiences that have sharpened my life, culminating in the right to the privilege to stand before you all today in my full capacity as a wife, a mother, a mentor, an administrator, an intriguing voice worthy of speaking, affirming and inspiring others”, she emphasized.
Mrs Nwaeke in her motivational speech, further boosted the morale of the graduating students as she challenged them to avoid living other people’s dreams but to find their passion and follow it.
“And so, to be the very best both for yourself and for the world at large is a decision for you to make and persistently work at in order to achieve your goals. I encourage you to believe in yourselves and your dreams while navigating the ways through success not undermining the challenges that life after now provides”.
“Avoid living other people’s dreams: Find your passion and act on it today. Your passion must be something that is exacting and satisfying to you as it is important to the world. Your passion should be something that matters: it should be what adds value, alleviates suffering, restores hope, solves a problem or proffers answers to a fundamental question. Your passion should inspire people to say, ‘Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created”.
Continuing she stated, “There will be ups and downs, highs and lows. There will be times when you will struggle with the rightness of action when you will try to justify a particular cause in the face of its obviously being wrong. There will be times when you will almost believe those who make statements like, “who school epp?, “Last last, school na scam”, “the end justifies the means”. There still will be times when you will doubt what you have been told by everyone who mattered to you in your life’s journey and experiences. When you get to such points in your life, let the Book of Mark 11:23-24 guide you. It says, ‘But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart, you can pray for anything and if you believe that you have received it, it will be yours”.
Mrs Nwaeke commended the management of ICC Benin for equipping the students with the fundamentals, basic knowledge, skills and attitude to boost their confidence and to help them achieve their dreams, even as she challenged the young graduates to remain the pride of their parents and alma mater.
“Today, I sum up all of these experiences as my punch-line…YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE YOUR OWN PATH!. My dear graduates, the world needs your will, it needs your imagination, your courage, your appetite for adventure and healthy competitiveness. The world needs your hands, minds and your hearts. More than ever before make your every action count”.
“I congratulate all of you for achieving this feat in your lives as graduates of ICC Benin City. I enjoin you all to remain good ambassadors of this worthy institution. Let it be a task for fulfilment,” she concluded.
The Principal of the School, Rev Fr. (Dr) Anthony Ekhaisomi and others in their remarks commended the topic for the lecture and the brilliant presentation of the guest speaker, saying that issues raised and explained were very impressive and impactful.
