My unwavering commitment to building a productive nation, founded on youth empowerment through education, persuaded me to honour the invitation to deliver the keynote address at the Graduation Ceremony of @nexford University in Lagos yesterday. I was truly delighted by the opportunity to speak to the newly graduated students, understanding the weight of this moment in their lives. A single misstep at this stage could have consequences, but I was inspired to share insights that might guide them in their next steps.
The ceremony saw over 1,000 students graduate, and two previous speakers, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili @obyezeks and Bola Adedola, both of whom are among Nigeria’s finest and most committed citizens spoke before me. Their words were impactful, and I found myself reflecting deeply on their thoughts, which only enriched my own. Their invaluable advice to the graduating students provided essential insights that would help these young people transition seamlessly into society.
This event offered me the perfect opportunity to remind the graduates of the need to prioritize societal development, driven by positive values. I shared with them a guiding principle that has always shaped my actions: the Socratic dictum, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” I urged them to examine their lives carefully and reflect on their true priorities. I reminded them that our academic degrees, leadership positions, and material possessions are ultimately meaningless unless we use them to serve humanity and contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of our nation.
As these young graduates step into the wider world, I encouraged them to focus on building a nation where people’s skills and hard work are matched by the opportunities available to them. This is the kind of nation we all deserve, a nation where every individual’s potential can be fully realized.
I also commended Nexford University for its commitment to education through a distance-learning system that offers flexibility, low cost, and convenience. This is a model we, as a nation, should support and encourage, especially within the tertiary education sector. Globally, some of the largest universities by student enrolment, such as Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in India, National University in Bangladesh, and Anadolu University in Turkey, have successfully created organised, flexible, and low-cost educational systems through distance learning.
By empowering our youth with access to quality education, we are strengthening the very foundation of our nation and taking significant strides toward building the New Nigeria we all aspire to.
It is POssible. –PO
