The highly anticipated annual Listen '21 event commenced 10:00am on the 19th of May 2021 at the Makanjuola lecture theatre, LASU ojo campus. It started with an introduction of what the event was based on, a speech event organised by The Lagos State University Debate society, where students listen to inspiring stories from people all around the country, expected guests like Daniel Awe, Rotimi Salami, Joyce Daniels, Shaffy Bello, Julius osimen, Samuel Ajibola(spiff), Ruby Akubueze, Fred oyetayo, Dr Ganiu Bamgbose and pst.kelvin umakhihe.
Miss Folu Agoyi Abisola the president of the chair planning committee Listen'21 took the stage and welcomed everyone to Listen themed I have a story, she expressed gratitude to everyone who made it a reality and recognised the presence of respected personalities such as Acting Vice Chancellor represented by Dean Faculty Of Arts Prof Tayo Ajayi, staff advisers,Dean of Students affairs Dr. Olumoko, Mrs Agosu HOD department of English, Prof Ayotunde Ayodele Dean school of transport, Prof S.G Odewunmi, coordinator of CIPPR Ademola Adekoya, Mr Jerry Sam, Prof. Atolade, Dr. Oni from English department, Dr Bashau from African Traditional Religion, herself and many more she also commended the planning committee together with the members and trainees of debate society.
The first guest speaker, Mr Daniel Awe, the C.E.O of Fintech foundary, an Access Bank initiative that nurtures, funds and accelerate the growth of FinTech startups in Africa, started his speech by expressing gratitude to the LASU debate society, admitted in 2002, 19 years ago at age 15 he expected to be the youngest, but met another who was 12. He added that the best in the class might not be the most successful, citing the example of the second best in his class who now worked in the same organization as him but works with people that reports to two people before him. Shape who you want to be consciously and unconsciously." He expressed how he wasn't able to attend a program like listen, so he supports the debate society with 100,000. "Never get yourself an option B , Nigeria suffers because our value system is missing?" Set up a value where his words. The first p.o.s terminal in Nigeria was deployed by Daniel Awe, the first ever mobile app in Nigeria Diamond mobile app also by Daniel Awe. He ended his speech with the journey of life is not determined by first class, Have what you love and passionately love it.
The second guest speaker, a lecturer from the English Department of Lagos State University popularly known as Dr. Gab a social commentator with a PhD in English language started with the quote "when you don't know the purpose of your life you jump on it" a lecturer at 33, was once a student of LASU as at 2011 but had a PhD in 2019. He shared his story of how his mother never wanted him to be a teacher but he made a promise" do me a favor let me be a teacher and I will be everything lawyers and teachers become and more" and now he became a doctor at 31, who held tutorials for 400 level students when he was in 300 level ." You cannot feature in a future whose picture you've not properly captured", said he. Because teaching was a calling he decided to stand by it . Don't think of where the market sells think of your market. The columnist of business day newspaper rounded up with one of the problems with people who are poor is that they think money is significant, the only thing you have and serves as your companion is your sense of fulfillment were his words of departure.
The next speaker Fred Oyetayo CEO of Fresible, named as one of Forbes 30 Under 30, SME100 Africa’s 25 Under 25, a nominee of the Future Awards Africa Prize for Distruption (STEM), also finalist at the Aso Villa Demo Day organized by the office of the Nigerian President, Avance Media 100 Most Influential Young Nigerians, graduated with a law degree from the Lagos State University in 2014 shared his story of how his dad showed him a computer in 2001, he was fascinated by the device and two years later his dad got him one. In 2005 he thought why can't I design and develop the same thing the people are designing, though he chose art department he assisted science students with their assignments, studied law in the Lagos State University and worked in a law firm in ibadan(NYSC), during his NYSC, He was one of the top three person's recruited as a result of his extra skills in computer programming. He left the audience with words of inspiration saying no matter your course you can gain other skills, gain an additional skill.
Next a spoken word poet who thrilled everyone with incredible skills, Ashaka Victory a student of the Lagos State University with his spoken word The Eagle, the audience responded to incredible lines such as "to be out of vision is to run out of motion, action and manifestation" by snapping their fingers in unison.
Mrs. Shaffy Bello an actor with 23 years experience who started as a singer, Tv host, O.A.P in the US and returned to Nigeria to embrace her love for acting, made a grand entrance dancing to naira Marley koleyewon. She began her speech by apologizing for not being a Lasuite but will take the title Mama Lasu, she spoke on the theme of the show vision defining it as the act or power of seeing, what do you see when you think of yourself, your future what you see will determine what you become. She acknowledged the presence of her children Ashley and Ashton. She stated that social media was not going to do it , use it for the positive. Her intriguing story being the last of 7 children, after her WAEC she went to the states and worked as a nursing assistant which later became useful when her mom fell ill, she was a church worker for 14 years and later collaborated in the song love me jeje. 'Things are tough every seed you sow you will reap,sow consistent seeds prepare yourself because one day you will need the knowledge you are getting now," she said when existing the stage " you are this nation's future do great be great and I will see you at the top".
Next on stage was Samuel Ajibola, actor filmaker and model, the first Nigerian child actor to win award for child actor 3 years in a row he explained the ability to listen to be giving full undivided attention to something, honoured to come from a Christian background the actor discovered his abilities at a very young age. He won awards and became popular but upon getting to SS1 he picked science and that was where I lost it were his words because he had to resit SS, he added that failing doesn't make a failure, let your vision drive you, double your hustle and do not derail. The actor won 2017 AMVCA
Rotimi Salami 2017 AMVCA winner shared his story of how he spent 3 years going to audition from ajangbadi to surulere but got no roles and begged for money on different occasions, he saluted his dad, a welder whom he cherished. He is now a director, producer, does costume and makeup and can as well handle camera, he stated that the suffering and passion kept him going,"Everybody dey try nah who Godanswer in prayer dey become motivational speaker" he stated.
A short break of entertainment from the comedian Alos Jay took place and the next guest speaker, she compared her story to that of Dare Alade's pray for me song, after attending a creative youth boot camp, she decided to leave Abia for Lagos. Although her father was not in support, she left for Lagos and slept at the terminal until she met a 300 level student of Theatre arts in the University of Lagos. Her role in MTV SHuga has inspired people all around the world to speak up about their rape experiences. She left with a word of encouragement "Do what you love to do, do not let anyone talk you out of a timeline of success and impact."
A representative of UMSCOPE team spoke with our ACJ correspondent that wants to place every wonder on campuses on a virtual marketplace for a whoopingly low price of a HUNDRED NAIRA, that also grants entrepreneurs the opportunity to sell free on the platform.
Impact Maker Awards were present to all guest speakers.
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