Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerian youths to embrace discipline, integrity, perseverance and hard work, stressing that meaningful success lies not only in personal achievements but also in the positive contributions individuals make to society.
Obasanjo gave the charge at the second edition of Storytelling with the Legends, organised by the Department of School Library and Media Technology, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, where he shared life experiences and lessons on resilience, mentorship, faith and service with students from more than 20 schools in Ibadan metropolis.
The former president, who recounted his experiences in military service, imprisonment and agriculture, encouraged the students to remain steadfast in the face of adversity, noting that determination and faith could help them navigate difficult circumstances.
Using the traditional folklore of Ijapa and his father-in-law, Obasanjo illustrated the changing nature of human circumstances and the need to balance justice with mercy.
He advised the youths to stand by what was right while demonstrating compassion and understanding towards others, adding that although circumstances might change, God remained constant.
Obasanjo also recounted his imprisonment under the administration of the late General Sani Abacha, explaining that the experience taught him that human beings had limited control over certain situations.
He urged the students to maintain their faith during challenging periods, noting that adversity should not prevent them from pursuing their goals.
Discussing his book, Sermons from the Prison, the former president narrated how he led a fellow inmate to Christ and subsequently facilitated the man’s theological training after his release.
According to him, the man later became a pastor and helped lead others to Christ, demonstrating the importance of mentorship and the positive influence individuals could have on others.
Obasanjo attributed his resilience partly to the values instilled in him during childhood, recalling that his father taught him the importance of hard work, while his educational and financial challenges strengthened his determination to succeed.
He also recalled his military service in the Congo in 1960, when he was captured by Congolese soldiers during a period of unrest.
He said the relationships he had established with the soldiers helped save his life, illustrating the importance of building meaningful relationships, even in difficult circumstances.
The former president further explained that his transition from military service to agriculture was facilitated by a loan he obtained to establish his farming business.
He said careful planning, determination and hard work enabled him to make progress in the agricultural sector.
Defining success, Obasanjo said it meant reaching a place and leaving it better than one found it, stressing that wealth, position and personal accomplishments alone did not determine a person’s success.
He encouraged the students to develop a sense of responsibility towards society, adding that the ability to improve the lives of others and leave a positive legacy remained an important measure of achievement.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, described storytelling as a powerful means of transmitting knowledge, values and experiences across generations.
Adebowale recalled that the inaugural edition of the programme featured the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, noting that the initiative was designed to preserve history and cultural heritage while connecting younger generations with distinguished personalities.
He said the second edition sustained the tradition by providing students with an opportunity to learn from Obasanjo’s experiences and his contributions to Nigeria’s history.
The vice-chancellor added that storytelling could promote moral instruction, literacy development and character building, urging the students to learn from the former president’s experiences in courage, integrity, perseverance and service.
The Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Kehinde O. Kester, commended the Department of School Library and Media Technology for sustaining the initiative, describing storytelling as an important means of reconnecting children with their cultural heritage.
Kester said school libraries should serve not only as repositories of books but also as spaces for developing imagination, identity and positive values.
He described Obasanjo as a valuable source of historical knowledge and encouraged the students to listen attentively, ask questions and share the lessons they learnt with others.
In her remarks, the Acting Head of the Department of School Library and Media Technology, Dr Alice A. Bamigbola, said the programme reflected the department’s commitment to promoting reading, strengthening school librarianship and inspiring young people through the experiences of distinguished Nigerians.
She called on federal and state governments to provide functional, well-equipped and technology-enabled school libraries, supported by adequate funding and trained professionals.
Bamigbola also advocated the inclusion of Media and Information Literacy in school curricula to equip children with the skills to evaluate information critically and use digital media responsibly.
She appealed to government agencies, corporate organisations and individuals to support the department’s literacy initiatives, including its Reading Remediation Programme, Reading on the Air Programme and capacity-building workshops for teacher-librarians.
Goodwill messages were delivered by Olori Bukola Ladoja on behalf of the Olubadan of Ibadanland and Mr Niyi Akinyanju on behalf of the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.
Members of the university community also attended the event, which featured an interactive question-and-answer session with the former president.
