NUJ Chair Urges Graduands To Embrace Character, Integrity

NUJ Chair Urges Graduands To Embrace Character, Integrity

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has urged graduating students of Beautiful Beginning Academy to prioritise character, integrity and service over academic certificates as they prepare for the next phase of their lives.

Ike gave the charge in Abuja while delivering the keynote address as Guest Speaker at the Academy’s 2026 graduation ceremony, where she described graduation as the beginning of a new journey rather than the end of learning.

She told the graduands that while formal examinations may have ended, life would continue to test their honesty, courage, discipline, resilience, compassion and integrity, stressing that success is built more on character than academic achievement.

“The examinations that truly matter are not set by teachers but by life itself. They test honesty, courage, discipline, resilience, compassion and integrity,” she said.

The NUJ FCT Chairman said knowledge without strong moral values was incomplete, noting that while certificates may open doors, integrity sustains success and earns lasting respect.

She also encouraged the graduates to remain resilient in the face of setbacks, saying failure should not be seen as the opposite of success but as part of the journey towards achieving their goals.

Ike further advised the students to cultivate a reading culture, remain curious, choose their friends wisely, respect others and strive to become solution providers who build bridges, serve humanity and positively impact their communities.

Earlier, Chairman of Beautiful Beginning Academy, Sir Chinasaokwu Innocent Okolie, urged the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of the institution, expressing confidence that they would distinguish themselves as future leaders.

Oduyemi Odumade