CAREER AND FINANCIAL SUMMIT INSPIRES OAU STUDENTS TO PURSUE SELF- AWARENESS, FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE

CAREER AND FINANCIAL SUMMIT INSPIRES OAU STUDENTS TO PURSUE SELF- AWARENESS, FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE 

By Rereloluwa Dinyo

The summit, themed "Becoming the Best Version of Yourself," was organized by the Office of the Financial Secretary of the Great Ife Student Union and held on Saturday, June 2, 2026, at the Moot Court.

Students were challenged to embrace self-awareness, personal development, discipline, and financial responsibility at the event, which brought together professionals from different fields who shared practical strategies for achieving personal excellence, career success, and financial independence.

The summit opened with an engaging session by Temitope Oshuntiyi, who delivered a keynote lecture on "Becoming the Best Version of Yourself." He emphasized that self-improvement begins with understanding oneself and developing a higher level of awareness.

According to him, every individual possesses the ability to achieve greatness through what he described as "Infinite Intelligence." He explained that human beings can unlock their full potential by aligning themselves with universal principles that govern life.

Oshuntiyi highlighted several universal laws, including the Law of Mentalism, which teaches that the human mind is connected to infinite intelligence; the Law of Correspondence, summarized as "As within, so without," explaining that the external world reflects one's internal state; the Law of Vibration, which states that everything constantly moves at its own frequency; the Law of Rhythm, which describes life's natural cycles; the Law of Cause and Effect, emphasizing that every action and thought produces corresponding results; and the Law of Gender, which explains that creation requires the balance of masculine and feminine energies.

He also encouraged participants to understand their purpose in life, distinguish between facts and universal truths, avoid seeking revenge, and focus on personal growth. According to him, becoming the best version of oneself requires developing a higher level of awareness, embracing continuous growth, believing in possibilities, and consistently taking action.

"You really want to get ahead in life," he concluded, "execute your ideas."

The second speaker, Professor Mrs. Salao, approached the summit's theme by explaining the meaning of the word SUMMIT as an acronym representing the qualities needed for success.

She described S as Self-awareness, emphasizing the importance of knowing oneself; U as Understanding who you are while continuously upgrading one's skills; M as Mindset, encouraging participants to cultivate discipline; the second M as Money Management, urging students to learn how to earn, save, invest, and make wise financial decisions; I as Integrity, stressing that strong character remains the foundation of lasting success; and T as Transition, reminding participants to prepare for life's changing phases.

Another highlight of the summit was the presentation by Dr. Akinkunle A. Akiode, who spoke on "Becoming a Better Version of Yourself: A Guide to Personal Growth and Self-Improvement Strategies." He reminded participants that personal development is a continuous journey, stating that "The best version of you can still be improved upon."

His presentation focused on understanding oneself, setting clear goals, building positive habits, overcoming challenges, practicing mindfulness, pursuing continuous learning, and seeking support when necessary. He also introduced the concept of Total Quality Management (TQM) as a mindset for achieving consistent personal excellence.

Dr. Akiode encouraged participants to define their vision, set SMART goals, identify their core values, understand their emotions, and break large goals into achievable steps. He emphasized that sustainable success is built through consistency rather than occasional motivation.

Speaking on financial management, Charles Fakrogha, Managing Director of EVL Asset Management at White Crest, emphasized the importance of financial discipline and responsible money management.

He encouraged participants to develop strong saving habits while stressing that integrity remains the foundation of success.

"The strongest foundation for success is integrity," he said.

Fakrogha further advised participants to build discipline rather than rely solely on motivation, take care of their physical and mental health, develop a positive mindset, surround themselves with positive influences, and focus on continuous self-improvement instead of unhealthy comparisons with others.

He concluded with a reminder that personal growth is measured by progress rather than perfection, encouraging participants to strive to become better than they were the previous day.

The summit ended with an award presentation recognizing the guest speakers for their contributions. Corporate partners, including D Brown and White Crest, were also acknowledged for their support of the programme.

The event served as a platform for inspiring participants to pursue continuous personal growth, develop financial responsibility, and cultivate the discipline required to become the best versions of themselves.