…As VP restates Buhari’s commitment to quality education
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has charged universities in Nigeria to turn out graduates that will be able to stand on their own in terms of entrepreneurial skills.
The governor made this charge on Tuesday at the 10th anniversary, 7th convocation and Honorary Award ceremony of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun.
He noted that graduates of Nigerian universities should be one that cannot afford to fail the country in the area of development.
The governor held that the Redeemer’s University must not relent in its rating as one of the leading lights in the area of research in Africa.
Advising the graduating students, the governor noted that education is the greatest weapon against poverty, urging them to employ everything positive at their disposal for the development of their different professions as they move into the competitive world.
Aregbesola also admonished them not to forget what they have learnt while in school, saying the graduating students having acquired the character and education needed to succeed in life, they must all aim for the tops.
He said, “You cannot pass through this institution and fail in life, passing through a university is the ultimate after secondary education, you must acquire the character and the courage to succeed in life.
“You must put to use all that you have acquired during your period of stay in this school, you must strive to be an employer of labour, the entrepreneurial skills among other things must be put to use for the development of the nation,” the governor stressed.
Aregbesola urged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of their various communities, states, Nigeria and the entire world, stressing that they should continue to showcase to the world the virtues of patriotism, love, peace, professionalism and nationalism in all their endeavours.
Earlier in his speech, the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo admonished the graduating students to imbibe the ultimate spirit of truthfulness, God fearing, credibility and openness, adding that in as much as these exemplary qualities are embedded in them, they would surely succeed and triumph in life.
Osinbajo who described education as light that illuminates darkness stated that the road to fulfillment in life is characterized with the ability of one to strive for quality education.
The Vice president stated that the administration of President Muhamaddu Buhari led Federal Government was irrevocably determined to provide qualitative education for citizenry.
He said the current administration is committed to solve the power problem and encourage small scale businesses, stressing that their administration would improve technology and agricultural development to provide jobs opportunity for the teeming youths.
“As we are committed to the fight against. Corruption in the country, we shall equally do all we could to provide qualitative education as well as providing enabling environment for Nigerian people to survive.
“Our Government is currently partnering with 7 states to increase food production in order to make this country to be self-sufficient and sustainable through massive agricultural produce”, Osinbajo affirmed.
In his goodwill message, the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enock Adeboye implored the graduating students to always remains focused, determined and resilient in all their endeavours as they are transiting to the new world of fulfillment, challenging and accomplishment.
Pastor Adeboye admonished the graduating students to learn from his life as he was brought to the world through a poor parents, but remained determined to achieve greatness and success in life.
In his earlier remark, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Redeemer’s University, Pastor Tokunbo Adesanya said the university is excelling well beyond expectations as it continuously placing emphasis on academic excellence and the nurturing of personal values and ethics that have become the standards of communities, government and corporate Nigeria.
He said within a decade of existence, the University has made a remarkable contribution to intellectual and professional capacities, and to the very high skilled needs of the economy, adding that the university has made considerable investments in research as research remains vital to national and global prosperity.
Pastor Adesanya said University must strive to become wells from which imagination, invention and creativity are drawn to the benefit of society, where the future leaders learn the lessons that universities teach, where students’ discoveries and innovations will be the source of national prosperity in the coming centuries.
He urged the graduating students to always remember the sacrifices and commitment attached to their success as they hold the key to the door of their future professional triumphant.
“As you are graduating today, you have become part of elite group of the graduate population of Nigeria and beyond that have obtained academic and career focused qualifications in a higher education environment that mirrors the democratic ideals of our world.
“As students, you have had the honour of studying at a fine university that deservedly commands an enviable academic reputation as you have learnt the valuable lesson of rethinking education in all of its facets and you have experienced independence in decision-making that has made you found yourselves immersed in a multi-cultural environment that challenged and inspired you.
“For our part, we have tried to impart the values required in you, but there is need for you all to form friendship strong enough to last you a lifetime, gain skill sets that you will build on continuously and take away unforgettable experiences and memories.
“This convocation is a reflection of your achievement, but you should always remember the sacrifices that others have made to ensure that you stand here today. As future leaders, I trust that the leadership qualities that you demonstrate in the future ascribe to the highest levels of academic distinction, academic freedom and accountability; values that strive to promote integrity and respect for diversity and human dignity”, Pastor Adesanya stated.
Highlights of the ceremony was the awards to Prof. Folagbade Olajide Aboaba, a renowned academic and Engineer and the wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Mrs. Foluke Adeboye who bagged Honorary Doctor of Science and Doctor in Science management respectfully.
Dignitaries at the convocation ceremony included the Vice-President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Deputy Governor of Osun, Mrs. Grace Titi-Tomori, the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop Francis Wale Oke among others.
