Forestry Fresher's Charge.

A SHORT SPEECH DELIVERED BY COM. (HON) OGUNYEMI OLAKUNLE JOSHUA ON THE 21ST DAY OF JUNE, 2017 AT THE 2016/2017 ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR FRESH STUDENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, FUNAAB AT EXACTLY 3:30PM

The Dean College of Environmental Resources Management, FUNAAB,
The Head of Department, Forestry and Wildlife Management, FUNAAB.
The Director of Part-time Studies, FUNAAB.
Staff Advisers, Forestry and Wildlife Management Students Association,
Able lecturers in the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management,
The elegant Fresh Students of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management,
All other protocols due observed.

Good afternoon.

It is an honour and a great privilege to be given the opportunity to write from my abode here in Lagos on this very important day to challenge the fresh students who had just being admitted into this wonderful department.

I want you to know that it has always been on my mind to seek an avenue to encourage and prepare the mind of fresh students in the University of the challenges ahead and the possible way to overcoming these hydra-headed challenges. I am glad the opportunity is here now and i want to sincerely appreciate the executives of FOWISA ably led by Com. Abiodun the first female President of the department since its inception for this awesome privilege.

As it impossible for a young soldier to be enlisted into the army without a proper orientation of what lies ahead in the profession so it is for you as a fresh students in the department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, FUNAAB. This is a day and an occasion where you will be trained, lectured and given relevant piece of information needed for your survival in this department within your five(5) years sojourn in FUNAAB. Therefore, i urge you to pay rapt attention to every Speakers and take cognisance of everything you will learn, or hear today as it goes a long way to securing your success on a long run.

I believe great Speakers who had spoken before the rendition of this speech and those that are yet to speak will excellently educate you on the importance and opportunities that avails in this profession. So, i won't bother you much on that but from experience i can boldly tell you that you in a noble profession with different niche and many lucrative opportunities void of massive competition as it is in other fields today. I am a living witness even with the little time i have spent in this field.

After i graduated from secondary school, studying forestry was the last thing on my proud mind. All i wanted was engineering and medicine & surgery but as fate would have it, i find myself admitted to study forestry. I couldn’t comprehend it at the early stage as i was thinking of changing course or registering for Jamb again before i later knew that God was involved. Since, i caught this revelation, i have never regretted studying forestry till today.

Let me not bore you much about my story but i am very sure a lot of you are also in the shoe i was 6 years ago presently. I am sure many of you are already thinking you are in the wrong place. Wait a minute, how many of you agree with me that your admission into this department was not just by accident or co-incidence. How many of you believe it is divinely arranged. If you do, i want you to throw away those negative thoughts and pride that might want to stop you from giving your best and do everything possible to be the best in this field of study.

Yes, your friends might make jest of you but never mind, they will soon come and celebrate you. Making it in life today is not only a function of the course you studied but a function of many other things some of which are attitude, ability to multitask, ability to solve human problems etc. And this you can acquire irrespective of your course.

To conclude, let me share with you the 7 P's that helped me achieved a lot during my stay on campus.
1. Plan: If you fail to plan, you will plan to fail. Have a short and long term plan, this will help you.

2. Prepare: Adequate preparation prevents poor performance. I will forever remember the boys scout motto which says "be prepared". Test can come at any time, let it not meet you unprepared. Be ready at all times.

3. Practice: Make it a habit to always reflect on everything you are taught on a day. Don't wait till a week before the examination before you start reflecting. Practice on daily basis. Practice they say makes perfect.

4. Passion: Develop passion for this field. Make it a point of duty to learn something new about this profession on daily basis. Have a tree book where you will jot down vital information on trees for those interested in the Forestry aspect and an animal book for those interested in the Wildlife aspect. Just be passionate.

5. Purpose: The question of purpose is a very important question every individual on earth must answer. Your purpose in life guides your and shapes your actions. Your purpose gives you a clear direction. Ask yourself on daily basis, God, why am i in this department. What is that special thing you want me to achieve in this department and be rest assured he will tell you.

6. People: This is a very important aspect of it all. People plays a vital role in the success of any individual in life. You Can't succeed without people. Remember, we are gregarious. Created to interact. So, having this understanding there is need for you to align yourself with good people. People who will influence you. People who will add to you and not devalue you. Abstain from people who will lure you into sin and cleave to people who will always draw you to God on regular occasions. People that will motivated and encourage you. It is also important you have a mentor especially one in this field.

7. Pray: After all that have been said and done, prayers remains the most important Key of it all to becoming a success during your stay on campus.

My prayer for you is that God almighty who saw me through without a carry over despite all my extra curricula attachments to the glory of God will see you through.

I love you....

God bless you.

Signed;
Com. (Hon) Ogunyemi Olakunle Joshua.
Pka: Prof Kay.
07063403997.