DON URGES YOUTHS TO BUILD HOLISTIC STRENGTH, OVERCOME LIFE’S LIMITATIONS AT YPF EVENT
Landmark University Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Afolayan, has urged young professionals to build holistic strength and develop the capacity to overcome personal and societal limitations in order to make meaningful impact in their communities and the world.
ProfessorAfolayan gave the charge while delivering a keynote address titled, “Building Holistic Strength to Overcome Encompassing Limitations,”at a leadership summit held at Phijul Event Gallery, Agege Lagos and hosted by Young Professionals Forum, Agege Chapter, with the caption VALEO 2026: Fortifying Leaders with strength for Global Exploit.
The don identified five major dimensions of holistic strength as spiritual, mental, character, emotional intelligence and resilience, as well as capacity and competence, stressing that greatness requires strength.
He said, “If something must be great, it requires great strength,” adding that people who make significant impact globally are those who influence their world positively.
Afolayan, who is a professor of civil engineering and a pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Anchor University, Lagos, said many people merely existed without making meaningful contributions.
He explained the acronym VALEO as Vision, Anointing, Liberty, Excellence and Open Door, urging participants to cultivate these qualities in their pursuit of leadership and excellence.
According to him, spiritual strength is the foundation for every other form of strength, noting that individuals cannot achieve true exploits without God.
He cited John 15:5, stressing the importance of maintaining a personal relationship with God through prayer and the study of His word.
“Public exploit comes from private strength,” Afolayan said, urging the participants to develop their inner capacity through diligent spiritual and personal development.
The professor also charged the youths to develop their mental capacity, avoid negative thoughts and overcome fear, which he said could hinder progress and block vision.
He urged them to read about people who had achieved great things and to think beyond their present circumstances.
“Organise your thoughts to be victorious and not a victim,” he said.
On character, Afolayan maintained that talent and gifting alone could not sustain success, stressing that integrity and discipline were essential for anyone seeking to remain at the top.
He said, “Character will sustain you in high places. Integrity is the only thing that will sustain your greatness in life. Discipline is strength.”
The don further encouraged participants to develop emotional intelligence and resilience, particularly when confronted with pressure, setbacks and difficult circumstances.
He urged them to see challenges as opportunities for growth, saying, “Let your setback be your springboard.”
According to him, life is filled with obstacles and challenges, but individuals must learn to rise after setbacks rather than allow difficulties to discourage them.
The scholar also identified capacity and competence as critical components of holistic strength, advising participants to keep learning, acquire relevant skills and pursue excellence.
He said, “Pray and prepare hard. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
He added that competence empowers individuals to achieve exploits, urging young professionals to go beyond their assigned responsibilities and do extra in their pursuit of excellence.
The don further identified fear and self-doubt, distraction and peer pressure, and financial and identity struggles as some of the major limitations young people must overcome.
He advised participants to confront fear with faith, weakness with discipline and mediocrity with excellence.
Earlier in his welcome address, Pastor Victor Owotowoseye described the leadership summit as a purposeful gathering designed to strengthen and inspire meaningful contributions from young professionals.
Owotowoseye said the world needed leaders who possessed not only knowledge and competence but also character, courage, integrity, vision, resilience, emotional intelligence and the capacity to positively influence others.
“Leadership is not simply occupying a position but about accepting responsibility, providing direction, solving problems, developing people and creating a lasting impact,” he said.
He said the YPF was committed to shaping the future through innovation, entrepreneurship, ideas and professionalism while helping participants develop the capacity to lead institutions, strengthen communities and contribute to national development.
The interdenominational gathering attracted entrepreneurs, graduates, academics and other professionals.
