NGO trains 100 undergraduates on career, personal development, marital choices
A non-governmental organisation, Standard Bearers Islamic Organisation (SB), Abuja Chapter, has trained no fewer than 100 undergraduates on career growth, personal development, and marital decision-making ahead of their graduation. The
A non-governmental organisation, Standard Bearers Islamic Organisation (SB), Abuja Chapter, has trained no fewer than 100 undergraduates on career growth, personal development, and marital decision-making ahead of their graduation.
The maiden edition of the summit, tagged Life Blueprint Summit (LBS) 1.0, with the theme “Becoming Before Arriving,” was held in Abuja over the weekend.
The event also attracted the participation of some recent graduates.
Speaking at the summit, the Abuja Coordinator of Standard Bearers, Mallam Idris Jumu’ah, said the initiative was designed to guide young people toward purposeful living anchored on faith, informed by knowledge, and driven by excellence.
He urged participants to apply the lessons acquired during the summit in shaping their future decisions.
He said, “Today’s theme, Becoming Before Arriving, reminds us that before we reach any destination in life, we must first develop who we are our faith, our values, our discipline, and our relationship with Allah. This summit is designed to guide young people toward a purposeful life rooted in faith, guided by knowledge, and driven by excellence.”
Delivering the keynote session, titled “Building and Swimming in Your Own Blue Ocean”, Dr. Saheed Sanusi challenged participants to rethink the conventional approach to success, urging them to move away from crowded career paths.
He described the term “red ocean” as a space where “everyone applies for the same opportunities, builds the same skills, and ends up competing for limited outcomes,” adding that this often leads to frustration and limited growth.
In contrast, he encouraged participants to create their own “blue ocean” — a unique combination of skills, interests, and problem-solving ability that makes competition less relevant.
“Don’t look for a job. Look for a problem you can solve uniquely,” he said, adding that undergraduates must begin early to build value beyond their academic qualifications.
Sanusi while speaking further, emphasised that “your degree alone will not make you stand out your combination will,” urging participants to start small by identifying problems within their immediate environment and experimenting with solutions.
The second session, delivered by Dr. Araoye Bello, focused on relationships and partner selection, with emphasis on faith, values, and critical reasoning.
He advised young people to prioritise compatibility in belief and values, noting that decisions around marriage should not be based on superficial considerations.
“Marry someone you can beg in the name of Allah, and they will understand what it means, because God or Allah doesn’t mean the same thing to everybody”, he said, stressing that shared faith provides a stronger foundation for long-term relationships.
Bello further highlighted the importance of respect and moral alignment, particularly in family life, stating that “everyone respected in society today was raised by a mother who respected her husband.”
Participants were also engaged in reflection sessions where they outlined personal resolutions based on insights gained from the summit.
Some attendees noted the need to move from passive learning to intentional action. One participant resolved to focus on research as a tool for spotting patterns and identifying future opportunities, while another committed to building collaborative networks instead of working in isolation. Others highlighted the importance of eliminating distractions and focusing on areas of genuine passion.
The organisers described the summit as a starting point for helping young people take ownership of their future before transitioning into the wider world.
