Former governor of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola, has urged students preparing for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) not to cross the lines drawn by the hosts of the places they will be posted to.

This was as he urged them to embrace wherever they are posted to by the scheme, saying, "There are gains herein because I was once like you, you will gain a lot."

Fashola made this statement while speaking at the University of Ilorin's 40th Convocation lecture ceremony on Wednesday.

He said, "We have a beautiful country despite bad labelling in certain quarters. You will surely confront Nigeria's diversities - different foods, cultures, traditions and languages.

"Work very hard because your lives really depend on it. Respect the spaces of your hosts by understanding the lines you should not cross; please do not abuse their hospitality; also, make friends with your colleagues during the NYSC exercise," he urged.

After the NYSC experience, the former Minister for Works, Housing, and Energy advised his "students" to avoid arrogance and undue ego as they enter the real world.

"After service, there won't be any more monthly allowance that was cushioning your financial pressure even as you search for the elusive jobs," he said, urging them to stick to their close family members under this condition, saying, "they will push you back up when dejected."

ASA