Kunle Adelabu
Former Labour Party (LP) Chairmanship candidate in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA), in the last Local Government Elections, Dr. Oladeji Akinola, has said that his inability to win the election was never a failure, rather, the educationist said that he gained something far more valuable than his aspiration.
Dr. Akinola, who is the Chairman, Topdeal College and 3G Educational Service, located at Powerline, First Gate, Ikorodu, an educational institutes that has been producing lots of outstanding students, moulding and preparing young minds for the future, emphasized that the setback deepened his leadership knowledge tremendously.
The educationist, who lost to the candidate of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke about his sojourn into the political space and charged his students and guests to see failure as source of inspiration and encouragement to attaining greater heights, during the graduation ceremony for 57 Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3 and Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 students in his school, recently.
“I recently participated in the Local Government Elections. While the outcome did not align with my hopes and aspirations, I chose to view this experience not as a failure, but as a valuable learning opportunity; a stepping stone for growth and a poignant reminder that setbacks often precede success. Through this experience, my understanding of leadership deepened significantly.
“Leadership is not merely about occupying a title, it is fundamentally about making a meaningful impact in the lives of others. My ambition to enter the political arena stemmed from a profound desire to serve, contribute to the community and advocate for a society built upon principles of justice and accountability.
“Though the election did not yield the result I envisioned, I gained something far more precious: critical perspectives, insight and a resolute determination to continue my commitment to societal betterment, whether through political engagement, educational initiatives, or community service”, he said.
He emphasised that the courage and determination to achieve greatness will not only bring about success but its sustenance.
“To all our students, staff and colleagues, let my experience serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement. Embrace failure as an opportunity for growth and stand firm against discouragement when challenges arise. The pathway to achieving your dreams may be paved with obstacles, unexpected delays, and moments of disappointment.
“However, let me remind you that success is not the ultimate destination, nor failure the end point; it is your courage and resolve to persevere that truly matter.
“Learn from missteps, and let them fuel your ambition to pursue excellence. Each challenge you encounter is an opportunity to fortify your resilience. Our world today is in dire need of thoughtful, compassionate, and audacious leaders. It requires innovations , critical thinkers, and individual of integrity”.
He charged his audience to always be focused and be passionate about their pursuit of success.
“I passionately believe that among us today are many who possess the potentials to become future leaders. You have the talent, knowledge, and drive to create meaningful change not only in your own lives but in the lives of others.
“I implore you to stay focused, work diligently and pursue your passions with unwavering dedication. Believe in yourselves and never lose sight of your potential.
“The world needs individuals like you who are committed to making a difference. As we look ahead to the next academic session, let us take the lessons learned from this year and apply them moving forward. Let us remained united in purpose and strive to create an inclusive learning environment where every child feels recognized, valued and supported”, Dr. Akinola charged.
