He said the value of hard work, honesty, integrity, determines the fate of the nation
Nigeria can produce the highest quality individuals to run the most efficient government and private institutions if we teach the right values not only in our institutions of learning, but also imbibe the national ethics of hard work, honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, among others.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated this, yesterday, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while presenting the centenary lecture of the Baptist Boys High School (BBHS).
Osinbajo, who spoke on the topic “Values: The difference between success and failure,” said that ethical revolution is necessary to accelerate the development of the country to become a great nation.
According to him, there is a need for a national consensus, especially among political, religious and business elites, to accept and implement minimum ethical standards.
He noted: “What is taught and learned forms the character of individuals and nations. But not only teaching, the government must lead this ethical revolution by rewarding ethical behavior and ensuring swift punishment for wrongdoing.
“Religious elites must strengthen their ethical direction by showing that wealth and influence are built through hard work, perseverance and delayed gratification and not only through miracles. Religious elites must also reject and expel public officials and people whose wealth cannot be explained or clearly derived from unknown sources. gloomy or suspicious.
Osinbajo also highlighted the ‘extraordinary legacy’ of BBHS in producing alumni who have achieved national and international renown in academia, profession, business, politics and civil society.
He narrated the stories of the four alumni, who included the first Prime Minister of the Western Region, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo (GCFR, SAN); former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, was also the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola (SAN).
He said that the success of these four BBHS boys who achieved excellence and greatness was not based on talent or opportunity.
“They all worked hard, but showed courage and integrity. They fought for what they believed in and three out of four cases were unjustly imprisoned because of their beliefs or because their opinions or positions were considered a threat to the authorities of the day,” said the VP.
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