1. A LECTURE DELIVERED BY PASTOR O
A LECTURE DELIVERED BY PASTOR O. YUSUF AT THE FIRST ORIENTATION MEETING HELD WITH JUPEB STUDENTS OF ILESA BUSINESS SCHOOL, TITLED “THE WAY TO ATTAIN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE” TODAY WEDNESDAY 20TH DECEMBER, 2017.

2. The Universal God the Omnipresent, The Omniscience, Spiritual Lords and Temporal, The President and Registrar of the College, Eminent Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Other Protocols duly Observed.
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

3. It is a great pleasure and privilege that I welcome you all to this memorable occasion. The first of its’ kind in this great citadel of learning. I am here this afternoon to speak on The Way to Attain Academic Excellence in your pursuit.
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

4. First and Foremost: What is academic excellence?
Academic has to do with those subjects taught to provide skills for the mind while Excellence is the quality of being excellent.
Attain means to succeed in arriving at something after effort has been made or to reach a desired state.
It is the way by which a student stands out and stands tall in his or her studies.
Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance!
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

5. Your Steps on the Ladder of Excellence include the following:
Seek the Lord
Set the Limit
Strengthen your Life
Shun Laziness
Stretch the Limit
Stand Out and Stand Tall
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

6. Without Me, you can do nothing (John 15:5b).
Seek the Lord
First, seek the Lord, you cannot achieve excellence without God (John 15:5b).
He is the author of excellence, your success comes from Him and nobody else.
He has already planned for your success before you enroll in this school.
Therefore, you must seek his guidance, He will help you through.
Without Me, you can do nothing (John 15:5b).
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

7. Your reading habit is paramount here!
Set the Limit
Setting the limit or goal of what you want to achieve in this programme gives you focus and direction.
It also gives you a sense of purpose.
You need to write down your exam success goals (Vision).
Then, draw an action plan on how to achieve it (Mission).
Then, take action.
Newton’s first law of motion says, “All objects remain at a state of rest until a force is applied.”
In this world nothing moves until you move it.
Make sure you stick to that plan.
Your reading habit is paramount here!
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

8. Let those who are going nowhere go there without you!
Strengthen your Life
Do the right thing at the right time.
Shun procrastination and stop being a tomorrow person.
Seek necessary knowledge in your course of study, because knowledge is power.
Don’t allow criticisms to stop you from getting to the peak.
Be strong-minded and courageous to ward-off oppositions and challenges.
Just stick with what you’re supposed to do until you achieve what you are after.
Let those who are going nowhere go there without you!
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

9. Shun Laziness
Diligence is alternative to laziness, therefore be diligent (Proverbs 22:29).
Never give up!
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
Tough times are timed.
Learn from the ants (Proverbs 6:6-11).
Ants are active, noble, industrious, steadfast and intelligent.
Success comes to the man who does today what others were thinking of doing tomorrow.
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

10. A rubber band is not useful until it is stretched.
Stretch the Limit
This means extending your goal beyond what you’ve previously set and achieved.
Widen you expectation.
Do extra – it will make you achieve extra ordinary fit.
This will set you on a new higher level.
It will fetch you outstanding success in your studies.
A rubber band is not useful until it is stretched.
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

11. Stand Out and Stand Tall
It takes growing wings on your own to attain academic excellence.
Eagle does not flock, it flies alone.
Doing your best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.
Therefore, develop a positive attitude to stand out for excellence.
Positive attitude is a criterion for success.
Thus, if 1-26 is equal to A-Z; then “ATTITUDE” is
A = 1, T = 20, T = 20, I = 9, T = 20, U = 21, D = 4, E = 5, (Total = 100)
Your attitude is your true self. It is more honest and consistent than your words.
It is your best friend or your worst enemy. You cannot hide it.
It is the keeper of your yesterday.
The speaker of your today.
And the prophet of your tomorrow.
Develop a possibilitarian Attitude for academic excellence.
Hence, your attitude determines your altitude in life.
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

12. POSSIBLE CHALLENGES TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Discouragement
Disappointment
Delay
Distress
Doubt
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

13. Discouragement and Disappointment
It is possible to get discouraged and disappointed as you ascend the ladder of excellence.
Don’t let disappointments from people; friends, lecturers or family members break you down.
Keep your eyes on the goal and press forward.
Look up to God who never fails.
All things come to those who have strong desire and persistently go after them.
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

14. Stay determined and you will get there soon.
Delay and Distress
Sometimes your expectation may be delayed.
Sometimes you may get tired or weary as you ascend the ladder of excellence.
But remember, delay is not denial.
It doesn’t matter your present situation, never give up hope.
Never surrender to weakness and tiredness.
Stay determined and you will get there soon.
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

15. The easiest way to excellence is self conquest.
Doubt
This is one of the greatest tool in the hand of the devil.
The moment you begin to doubt yourself, defeat is imminent.
Believe in God, and believe in yourself that you can.
Self confidence is the antidote for doubt.
The easiest way to excellence is self conquest.
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence

16. You have no right to anything
Conclusion
I will like to conclude with the advise of
Mike Murdock; he said,
You have no right to anything
you have not pursued. For the proof of desire is in the pursuit! Therefore, Pursue Excellence And It Shall Be Yours.
Thank you.
The Way To Attain Academic Excellence