Tunji Olowolafe, the chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), says he changed careers after studying medicine because he needed to “course-correct” to reach his full potential.
The chancellor addressed the 28th convocation ceremony of the state-owned university in Ado-Ekiti, conducted on April 3 and 4.
Olowolafe advised the graduating students to view failure as an opportunity to improve and change.
Drawing on his personal experiences, the chancellor stated that he needed to pursue more than four additional careers following medicine.
“I’m an entrepreneur. I’m into healthcare technology, financial services, real estate, and construction to mention a few,” he said.
“In university, however, I studied medicine. And I am a medical doctor by profession and academic qualification. What may surprise you is that I practised medicine for only 4 years. What I studied did not make me who I am. But it helped me discover who I will be.
“In medicine, we are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat. This means we keep an open mind and always listen. So, I never close my mind to any opportunity. My academic qualifications will remain with me for life. However, it did not dictate how I live or earn.
“Your generation must learn to distinguish between academic qualifications and the realities of living. Many people are lucky enough to earn a living from what they study. But for most of us, we may have to course-correct at some point to achieve our potential.”
Olowolafe said universities must begin to pride themselves as “life experience” centres, not just academic institutions.
“It is beyond obtaining a qualification. You ought to leave university with experience on how to live and be independent,” he said.
“Many Universities are seen as centres of academic learning. But they should also course-correct to be life experience centres.
“As you graduate and move into the real world, many of you may worry that you are not prepared for its realities. This concern is normal. I didn’t dye my hair grey so I could look smart, experienced, or mature. My journey through life turned the colour of my hair.
“The history of my grey reflects the many failures and course corrections that led to my eventual successes.”
