A justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hon. Amina Adamu Augie, has advised students to be accountable and responsible in their educational pursuits and future endeavors.
Addressing the 2023 set of graduating students of Noble Hall Leadership Academy in Abuja yesterday, Augie expressed gratitude to God for the opportunities bestowed upon them and encouraged them to follow the right path, embodying character, integrity, excellence, and a commitment to doing the right thing.
She shared a thought-provoking case about a student from Anambra State, Mmesoma Ejikeme, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidate who confessed to manipulating her JAMB result, highlighting the consequences of dishonesty and the importance of trustworthiness.
Justice Augie reminded the students that life is unpredictable, and they should be prepared to face the challenges it presents.
Drawing from her own experiences, she stressed the significance of finding one’s gifts, skills and abilities and using them to their fullest potential.
She urged the students not to rush their journey to success but to focus on personal growth, perseverance and maintaining good character.
“There is the likelihood that success will come to you if you follow the right path. If you inculcate character integrity, excellence, and the spirit to do the right thing,” she said.
Speaking before her retirement which is two months away, Justice Augie shared her wisdom and experiences gained from 45 years of dedicated service to Nigeria, stressing the need to embrace obstacles as stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks.
Justice Augie urged the students to be resilient and withstand the pressures they will encounter. She cautioned against succumbing to societal expectations or pursuing careers solely for financial gain, emphasising the importance of finding one’s true passion and purpose.
Founder of the Academy, Maryam Mutallab Duba, encouraged the students to understand the value of patience and perseverance, emphasising that success often takes time and requires mental fortitude.
Duba offered prayers for the students’ future successes and hoped that they would remember her words of guidance and make responsible choices throughout their lives.
She also urged the students to embrace accountability and responsibility as they navigate their future paths.
She noted that the pursuit of success requires integrity, perseverance and an unwavering commitment to personal growth.
The principal, Noble Hall Leadership Academy for Girls, Ashish Gill, said false results or certification may open doors but attitude and character would reveal the truth.
He said such efforts cannot be sustained.
“It is unfortunate for her, but I am sure she has learnt her lesson for life and she will be a better person,” he said.
He urged the graduating students to, “be yourself, have the courage, persevere, face the challenges life presents, give back to the society, and make the world a better place.”
