ACCORDING to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Perseverance is defined as the “quality of continuing steadfastly to achieve a particular aim or goal despite some difficulties”.

It is the will to see things through until the end is achieved in spite of intimidating fear, overwhelming obstacles, stiff opposition, fierce competition and all manner of discouragement. A persevering person is one who has tremendous self-confidence, indomitable determination and natural urge towards hard labour and untiring energy to continue till the end without grumbling or expressing dissatisfaction. Perseverance is one of the secrets of success. Without it, great achievements are impossible. The fact is even if a person is not very talented and knowledgeable but has an average intelligence, he can succeed in life simply by persevering to achieve his set goals. On the other hand, a highly intelligent person who is lethargic and lazy by nature and reluctant to diligence can hardly prosper in life because he will not know how to use his brain and energy appropriately. That is why a British author, Samuel Johnson says: “Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance” Thomas Buxton also has this to say” With ordinary talent and an extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable” including Obafemi Awolowo University remaining on top as number one university not only in Nigeria but in the entire African continent.

The great lesson of perseverance is well taught in the wonderful natural structures built by some animals and insects. Take for instance, the weaver-bird and its long-curved nest or the bee and its sweet honey. The soldier-ants and their long stretch of column built and destroyed several times by pedestrians and rebuilt again and again is also an illustration of the relevance of the spirit of perseverance. Think also about the number of times as a toddler when you attempted to walk and you fell down several times but you did not give up. But through perseverance you are now a “champion” in walking. Can you imagine the efforts of the peasant farmer in building his hut or the perseverance of the builders of the Egyptian pyramids?

In the world of science and technology, magnificent and architectural buildings, monuments, overhead bridges, canals and cities could not have been built without the tenacity and perseverance of the engineers and builders. Back home, think of the general layout of Great Ife campus, which is the most beautiful campus in Africa. With its architecturally designed buildings blended with a network of roads, parking lots, walk-ways “with its well-manicured lawns, which are interlaced with ornamental shrubs and flower-gardens and which are preserved in a natural environment to maintain an overall beauty and harmony” is the product of the sweat and perseverance of our founding fathers led by Professor H. A. Oluwasanmi. We were told Professor Oluwasanmi in his pair of khaki shorts religiously went on inspection visits at every stage of each of the building projects every evening. William Shakespeare and our own W.S. – Wole Soyinka could not have been able to compose those voluminous works without the spirit of perseverance and tenacity of purpose.

In Ife lexicon, perseverance is what we call “Never-say-die-spirit of Ife”. That was the spirit, which Professor G. A. Makanjuola and other scientists and researchers used to bring about the pounding machine, the separation of the siamese twins and other scientific breakthroughs, which brought Great Ife into limelight as a centre of academic excellence.

What scientific experiment have you started and you have not made any headway for the past six months or over a year ago and you are getting despaired and frustrated? You have already put your hands on the plough and there should be no turning back. Perhaps, the stories of Thomas Edison and Lord Beaconsfield will inspire you to keep on trying until you achieve your goal. Thomas Edison who referred to the act of perseverance as “bull-dog tenacity” used it 10,000 times against failure and frustration before perfecting the electric light bulb, which we are enjoying today. Lord Beaconsfield was booed and jeered at, the first time he spoke on the floor of the House of Commons because of his incoherent speech. But he angrily exclaimed, “The time will come when you will hear me” and surely they heard him later. He became one of the greatest British orators because he persevered and mastered the act of speaking.

Remaining a champion is no easy task. It is a great challenge that requires much display of self-confidence, greater commitment and dedication. As an institution, the new challenge facing us is how to remain the best and the number one university in Nigeria and how to move from number fourteenth (14) position in Africa out of over 2,000 universities to be at the top of the Webometric ranking. In other words, our challenge is “either to be the first or with the first” in Nigeria and in Africa.

In spite of the fierce competition and intense opposition, which our university will face from other universities both in Nigeria and Africa, there is no limit to what we can achieve. All we need to do is to believe in ourselves and our dreams. We should be determined not to show ourselves as inferior to any university, including those in the top-bracket of the IVY League. With a winning attitude, and never-say-die-spirit, instead of the new challenge of being the best university becoming an insurmountable task, it should be an adventure, an opportunity to create a new reality. We have the potentials – world-class scholars and intellectuals, renowned and well-acclaimed researchers, as well as seasoned administrators to enable us expand the frontiers of our scientific breakthroughs and innovations.

To create the awareness and to be inspired, infused and filled with fresh ideas of what the new road map of our next series of breakthroughs and innovations should be, Management, at the beginning of every year, should organize retreat workshop or should I say advance workshop, which will ignite and energize our spirit of determination and passion to achieve our dreams and aspirations. With perseverance, consistent display of orderliness, ethical excellence and integrity in every aspect of our lives as individual member of the community, as well as co-operation and unity of purpose among our researchers, we shall remain champion forever.

Great Ife, the best is yet to come!

• Adefemi is an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.