NUJ Chair Grace Ike challenges graduands to be solution‑providers, choose character over certificates, hope over despair
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike at the weekend delivered an uplifting charge at the 2026 graduation ceremony of Beautiful Beginning Academy, calling on graduands to treat today not as an end but as the start of lives filled with purpose and possibility.
Comrade Ike was speaking as the Guest Speaker at the Occassion held at Nile University Abuja
Delivering the keynote address Ike urged the graduating students to understand that success in life depends more on character than academic achievement.
She reminded the graduands that while classroom examinations may have come to an end, life itself would continue to test their values.
“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.
According to her, knowledge alone is insufficient without strong moral values.
She noted that while gowns and certificates are cause for celebration, life beyond the hall will test character more than exam papers.
“The questions life asks are not answered with pencils; they are answered with character,” she said, urging young people to cultivate honesty, courage, discipline, resilience, compassion and integrity.
“Knowledge may make you intelligent, but character will make you unforgettable. Long after people forget your grades, they will remember your integrity. Long after certificates gather dust, your reputation will continue to speak for you.”
Addressing the graduating class, the NUJ Chairman encouraged them to embrace resilience in the face of setbacks, stressing that failure is often part of the journey to success.
“There will be days when life will not go according to your plans. You may fail an examination, lose an opportunity, face disappointment or experience rejection. When those moments come, remember this: failure is not the opposite of success; it is often the road that leads to it.”
She further advised the graduands to remain curious, cultivate the habit of reading, respect others, choose their friends wisely and maintain confidence in themselves.
Grace Ike also paid tribute to parents for their sacrifices and commended teachers and the management of Beautiful Beginning Academy for shaping future leaders through quality education and mentorship.
She challenged the graduating students to become solution providers who would build bridges instead of walls and choose excellence, integrity, service and compassion throughout their lives.
“Success is not measured by how much money you make but by how many lives become better because you lived. Success may fill your pocket, but significance fills your purpose. Service earns respect. Character earns trust. Legacy earns remembrance,” she said.
The ceremony ended on an uplifting note, with Adaeze’s scholarship standing out as the defining moment of the event, a powerful demonstration of how inclusive education, compassion and corporate philanthropy can transform lives and open doors of opportunity for children with special needs.
Earlier the Chairman of BBA Sir Chinasaokwu Innocent Okolie charged the students to be good ambassadors as the world is waiting for their exploits as future leaders.
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