Nigeria Varsities Must Start Producing Nation Builders, Not Job Seekers – Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that it is high time institutions of higher learning in Nigeria started producing nation -builders rather than job seekers.
Osinbajo made the call at the 9th Convocation ceremony of the Redeemer’s University, Ede, held in the multipurpose hall of the institution in Ede, Osun State.
The Vice President, who was represented by Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, said that the primary assignment of the academic community should be to raise graduates that are not only self reliant, but problem solvers.
According to him, “there is need for a paradigm shift in our curriculum to enable the products of our ivory towers adapt to an ever-changing world.
“We need to begin to have innovators and courageous initiators of start-up business straight from the university”, he said.
Osinbajo noted that the world is becoming more challenging, as phenomenon like climate change and terrorism are becoming issues in Africa.
He therefore charged graduands to be good ambassadors of the university in all spheres of human endeavour.
The Vice chancellor, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, commended the parents of the students for investing in the institution, saying it is the right choice.
“I wish to congratulate the parents of our graduates for your perseverance and sacrifices, you have made the right choice by investing in their future through the Redeemer’s University. These wards will be a pride to you, the nation and the coming generation.”
Adeyewa also charged the students to fight the ills of the country and make it a better world.
“As divine champions, your must fight the ills of this nation; corruption, laziness, nepotism, short sightedness. You gave been destined to win the battle of life. None of you is a failure, therefore do not act like one. While others run, choose to fly. You have been primed, prepared to fly, you were made to fly.” the Vice chancellor stressed.
Speaking on the developments of the University within a short period of time, Prof Adeyewa said that the University has sustained and continued to improve on its academic excellence.
“Redeemer’s University’s service delivery in terms of academics has been greatly enhanced, our academic quality assurance remains the best in the country.
“Our capacity building in ICT is second to none as staff members were trained on high-skill information technology by the Digital Bridge Institute in the past few months.
“As a top-rated research university, we set pace. Few years ago, the University was thrown into the limelight for emerging as the best rated University in research-related qualification among its peers”.
Urging the graduands to be good ambassadors of the institution, Prof Adeyewa charged them to be courageous to face the Goliath of life and be passionate about God and his people.
