Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged students to embrace hard work and discipline, while promoting storytelling as a tool for character development, cultural preservation and moral education.

Obasanjo gave the advice at the 2026 edition of Storytelling with the Legends, organised by the Department of School Library and Media Technology, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan (UI).

The programme, which was held at the Trenchard Hall of the university had the theme: “Preserving Heritage, Inspiring Generations, Learning from Legends”.

It attracted pupils, educators and members of the university community to explore the role of storytelling in preserving cultural heritage and inspiring younger generations.

Obasanjo said storytelling helped teach morals, build character and transmit societal values to children as they grew up.

“The purposes of storytelling are to teach morals, inculcate and build character in people as they grow up, and to help them learn the culture of society,” he said.

He added that storytelling could help people develop public speaking skills, overcome shyness, and learn valuable lessons from the experiences of others.

Reflecting on his childhood, the former president said he grew up in a village without a road or a school but learned the value of hard work from his father.

“I was born in a village; no road to my village, no school in our village. But I learned hard work from my father. There is no substitute for hard work,” he said, adding that his father detested slothfulness.

Obasanjo also recalled learning the importance of respecting teachers on his first day at school, urging students to cultivate discipline and respect for those responsible for their education.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, described storytelling as an important vehicle for learning and transmitting values across generations.

Adebowale said the initiative, which followed an inaugural edition featuring the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, was designed to connect young people with the experiences and wisdom of distinguished Nigerians.

He said storytelling was more than entertainment, noting that oral traditions could promote literacy, preserve cultural identity and help young people develop sound character.

The Vice-Chancellor urged pupils to learn from Obasanjo’s experiences, saying the university was committed to producing graduates who combined intellectual excellence with impeccable character.

The Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Kehinde Kester, described the event as an opportunity to reconnect children with indigenous knowledge and cultural traditions at a time when digital media is shaping their interests.

Kester urged pupils to listen attentively, ask questions and share the stories they learnt with their families and friends to help preserve cultural heritage.

He said storytelling had historically served as a means of teaching morals, courage, history and the values associated with being an Omoluabi : a person of good character.

Earlier, the Head of the Department of School Library and Media Technology, Dr. Alice Bamigbola, said the programme aimed to inspire children to read, work hard, develop good character and aspire to leadership by learning from the lives of distinguished Nigerians.

Bamigbola also called on governments, especially the Oyo State Government through the State Universal Basic Education Board, to invest in functional, well-equipped school libraries and to employ qualified teacher-librarians.

She said many school libraries were dilapidated or non-functional, while those still operating often lacked adequate books, digital resources and trained professionals.

Bamigbola appealed to individuals, organisations and the private sector to support the department’s literacy programmes and provide books, computers, tablets, interactive smart boards and other learning resources to improve children’s access to education.

She said stronger school libraries and literacy initiatives were essential to nurturing responsible citizens and future leaders.

There were goodwill messages from Dr. Bukola Ladoja on behalf of Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Oyo State Ministry of Education and others.