Chief executive officer of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Dr Demola Sogunle has called on young people to seek knowledge and personal development.
Sogunle revealed during the Stanbic IBTC Youth Leadership Series (YLS) 2024 themed “Unlocking the Secret and Strategies to Personal and Professional Success” in Lagos that he did not collect his university certificate until after 19 years.
He listed diligence, character, knowledge and values, among others, as key factors to unlocking personal and professional success.
“Continuous learning, continuous improvement will get you to a higher level of continuous growth. Knowledge and application of knowledge is very important,” he said.
“I collected my certificate after 19 years of graduation from the university; certificate is not the issue, but the knowledge and the application. The important thing is that it is not about the paper, it is the knowledge and values you have been able to extract.
“You have to work out your imagination into a reality; you have to work out diligence, values, character, and others to be able to move on. You can achieve your dream and vision if you follow these.
“Integrity is key, there are eight values that can make you work with us at Stanbic IBTC, we do not tolerate lies. I work in an organisation where we have very powerful values; within those values are your personal values. We act with integrity; I do not struggle with that.
“It is important to flock with the right set of peers, don’t hang around mediocre people, do not tolerate mediocrity, if you tolerate mediocrity, you are already accepting failure and excuses.”
QED