‘Don’t Box Yourself Into a Single Identity’ — ACS UNILAG Advises Students

By Iman Aiyeola

The Academic Counselling Seminar (ACS) 2026, organised by the Muslim Students’ Society Nigeria, University of Lagos (MSSN UNILAG), has urged students to embrace their multifaceted potential and intentionally design lives that extend beyond singular labels or limitations.

Held on Saturday, 9th May, at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, UNILAG, the seminar featured an insightful keynote speech from Hon. Fuad Laguda, where he charged students to reject lives shaped by an “unconscious inheritance” of the expectations of others.

He emphasised that an “unboxed” life is one lived by design rather than by default.

“The turning point comes when you stop asking, ‘What do people expect from me?’ and start asking, ‘What am I truly called to do?'” Laguda noted.

“The choice will shape everything: your career, impact, and fulfilment”.

Similarly, in his speech titled ‘Who are you Becoming?: Navigating Growth, Identity & Purpose in a Changing World’, guest speaker, Engr. Nasir Giwa challenged students to shift their focus from their academic degrees and professional aspirations toward a deeper exploration of their character.

He argued that in an unpredictable world where industries can collapse and skills often become obsolete, a student’s true identity serves as the only reliable anchor for navigating life.

“The real question should be, ‘Who am I becoming in the process of becoming anything?’ Because careers can change, industries can collapse, but your identity will determine your direction,” he noted.

He further emphasised that true growth is an “internal reconstruction” rather than the mere acquisition of status or titles. He invited them to look past external markers of success, to define their true self, saying:

“If you remove title and if you remove money, and you remove your status, who remains when you remove those three things? That’s your true identity”.

The seminar also featured a panel session with Associate Professor Ayodele Shittu, AbdulBasit AbdulSalam, Muhammad Abebefe, and Nimot Muili.

The session featured insights on designing one’s future and staying focused, with experiences drawn from the panellists’ personal and professional journeys.

SPEAKERS WERE CAREFULLY SELECTED

Speaking with UNILAG Sun, the ACS Planning Committee Chairman, Adam Adebakin, explained that the committee was intentional about selecting a theme that reflects the realities students currently face.

He noted that success today requires thinking beyond the conventional idea that education ends with obtaining a degree.

“One major thing we want attendees to leave with is the understanding that they can think bigger, aim higher, and be more intentional about the future they want to build”, Adebakin added.

In his opening remarks, the Amir of MSSN UNILAG, AbdulSalam Muhammad, also described the seminar as a response to the uncertainty many young people face in navigating academics, careers, and entrepreneurship. He expressed confidence that participants would leave with greater clarity and a direction for both their academic and professional journeys.

ACS, sponsored by Ednux Mobile, Wekoya, and Ummah Square, also featured an innovation pitch competition, where students presented innovative solutions to real-life challenges. The student-built app PathSync AI, a scholarship advisor designed to ease the process of finding and applying for scholarships, emerged as the winner, securing a one-hundred-thousand-naira cash prize.

ACS is an annual event aimed at providing academic and career guidance to young people at different stages of their educational journey, equipping them with clarity to navigate a rapidly evolving world. This year’s edition drew a diverse audience, including secondary school students, undergraduates across various disciplines, and graduates from multiple fields.