By Adedapo Adesanya
The chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr Demola Sogunle, has harped on Nigerian youths to prioritise every opportunity present to them.
Mr Sogunle stated this in his keynote address at the Stanbic IBTC Youth Leadership Series 2024 held on Wednesday at the University of Lagos Multipurpose Hall.
Themed The Growth Code: Unlocking the Secrets and Strategies to Personal and Professional Success, Mr Sogunle, while sharing his nuggets with the participants, advised them not to put anything above learning.
“Do not stop learning, continuous learning can only get you to continuous growth. Whatever it costs, knowledge and application of knowledge will get you to where you are,” the financial expert stated.
He also challenged the youths to prioritise core values like punctuality and credibility, tasking them to exhibit model behaviour which he likened to the values of the financial institution.
“You start a journey with an end in mind. A school certificate is not the issue, but the knowledge you have been able to extract and also subscribe to string values.
“Our bank has 20 per cent of retired people’s savings at our bank. Our core values in the company are crucial to the extent that if a staff member of the bank disobeys the traffic regulations, he will be sanctioned.
“You cannot make a change with fundamental behaviour. Punctuality is crucial to the success of a business. You need to know when and how to balance your life to achieve professional success. Also, learn to prioritise your mental health because it aids a great balance in your career,” he explained.
Speaking during a panel session, a Nollywood actress, Ms Bisola Ayoola, shared that several challenges she faced in her career became a stepping stone for her career trajectory.
“One mistake I have learnt from was that I was very entitled. I knew I could sing and I was waiting for record labels to sign me but I realised that the entitlement mentality would not work. Shyness will hinder you from greatness. You have to constantly prove yourself. Try to put your mind to what you want to do,” she advised.
Also speaking on how to monetise social media, a freelance content creator, Mr Salem King, urged young content creators to prioritise their audience and ensure it enhances their lives.
“You also need to keep in mind that content creation is not charity work. So, always put your audience in mind and create things that add value to their lives,” he remarked.
This was backed up by Ms Omoh Anenih, the founder of the Dew Centre, who harped on the need to prioritise mental health, especially in pursuit of personal and professional success.
Modupe Gbadeyanka