Amosun to young graduates: aspire to be governors, others

•OOU produces 18 First-Class graduates, others

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged Nigerian youths to aspire for various elective offices.

But he said being a governor comes with a lot of responsibilities.

The governor said youths should align with the current thinking in Nigeria that “it is not too young to run”.

He urged them to seek leadership positions to fulfil their destinies.

Amosun spoke yesterday at the 27th convocation of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, where the Alake of Egba, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; the Chairman of First Bank PLC, Mrs Ibukun Awosika; foremost Nigerian banker, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and a historian and Professor of African Studies at the University of Texas at Houston in the United States of America (U.S.A), Toyin Falola, were awarded the institution’s Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa).

The governor advised youths to prepare for qualitative education at the tertiary level.

He said undergraduate education is highly subsidised in Ogun through the state government, adding that the best would not come out the university system if people continued to insist that it must be free.

Amosun said: “Education can’t be free. Otherwise, there will not be qualitative education. But to cushion the effects of the various payments, which you think are too high, we are at the same time subsidising this university and other tertiary institutions across the state.

“If you are insisting or yearning for free education, then the quality of graduates the university and other tertiary institutions in the state will be churning out will be on a ‘garbage in, garbage out’ scale, a situation we don’t cherish.

“You will need to programme yourselves. You are to think out of the box. Be ingenious while we create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. You are to see your graduation today as a turning point in your life. Also, be ready to give back to the school, your families, the society and humanity.

“You have not only been a pride to yourselves and your parents but you have also carved a niche for yourselves and the centre of excellence you have graduated from. The world is waiting for your manifestation. So, let the world see that you are eagles.

“Olabisi Onabanjo University has raised the bar of excellence and we will do all humanly possible to improve from the 23rd position ranking.”

The governor hailed the Overall Best Graduating Student, Mr Semiu Olalekan Taiwo, of the Department of Economics for obtaining a First Class and winning the institution’s and vice chancellor’s awards.

Vice Chancellor Prof Ganiyu Olatunde said 4,386 graduands were awarded first degrees and diplomas in the 2016/2017 academic session with 18 graduands making the First-Class list, 605 in Second Class Upper Division and 1,938 in the Second Class Lower cadre.

Also, Prof Olatunde said 654 received their higher degrees and postgraduate diplomas, comprising 105 postgraduate diplomas, 474 Master’s degrees, one MPhil and 74 PhD degrees.

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