Nigeria needs innovative thinkers to surmount challenges — UNILORIN VC
By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Wahab Egbewole, has said the economic challenges in the country require innovative thinkers to surmount.
Egbewole expressed this view at the 39th convocation of the university on Monday as he charged the new graduates to be such thinkers.
The Vice Chancellor who titled his speech at the occasion “No Longer Where We Were” said the graduating students had been trained to be innovative thinkers and people with capacity for value addition and asked them to hit the ground running as graduates
“As important as today is to you and our institution, let me take the liberty to caution that while counting the stars, we do not lose our focus on the moon. I know you are excited but the reality is that you are no longer where you were some four years ago just as our university is no longer where we were. Your critical thinking ability should be activated now as the society awaits the wonders of your degrees to change the situation and restore hope for a better country.
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“As a nation, the experiences of recent times have clearly shown us that we are No longer where we were some 10 or 15 years ago. Our nation is greatly challenged and needs problem solvers, innovative thinkers and people with the capacity for value addition which your training offers you. You must therefore hit the ground running,” he stated.
Egbewole, who said that the high number of graduates the university is churning out yearly underscored the contributions the institution is making in the training and enlisting manpower for the nation, charged the graduates to be good ambassador of the school.
“Dear graduands, you need to understand that this occasion sets you up for unavoidable societal expectations to deliver and add value in your own corner to yet a great nation, your immediate community, this university and yourself.
“You will have to pick bills, take responsibility for your actions, contribute meaningfully to nation building and maturely integrate into the new world because you are no longer where you were for years ago.
“Becoming our ambassadors and advocates is a rare and matchless privilege in all ramifications. Guide jealously the heritage bequeathed on you from here on,” he stated.
While congratulating the graduates and their parents, the Vice Chancellor emphasised that the graduates should make use of training they received from the university.
“I sincerely hope that you will make use of your training here. Let your actions, contributions to national development and or course your give back to your alma mater from here on always reflect that it is not same you that was once described as admission seekers or ‘jambito’ but now a proud graduate of the Better by Far university.
“Your approach to issues of life should truly be better to show that you are no longer where you were years back but rather, now a progressive, impactful, resourceful, highly trained, and productive individual just as your institution,” he said.
A total of 12, 042 of students of undergraduate programmes are graduating while 1, 875 ones who have completed their post graduate programmes are participating in the convocation ceremonies.
The grand finale will take place on Tuesday.