Osinbajo Urges Nigerian Varsities to be Problem Solvers
Yinka Kolawole
The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has charged higher institutions in the country to be the domain of problem-solvers, as well as a breeding house for nation-builders.
Osinbajo, who was represented by Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, made this known at Redeemer’s University convocation ceremony held at the multipurpose hall of the institution in Ede, Osun State.
He said the primary assignment of the academic community should be to raise the elite rangers of problems solvers and not just job seekers.
“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 businesses straight from the university.”
Osinbajo stated that the world is becoming more challenging, as phenomena like climate change and terrorism are becoming issues in Africa. He therefore urged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the university in all spheres of human endeavours.
The Pro-Chancellor of the university, Pastor Tokunbo Adesanya, who urged the graduating students to be diligent and change the world, implored them to pursue the knowledge and skills they have acquired while in school in the outside world.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, commended the parents for investing in the institution, saying that 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 generation.”
Adeyewa also charged the students to fight the ills of the country and make it a better world.
“As divine champions, you must fight the ills of this nation; corruption, laziness, nepotism, short sightedness, among others. 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.”
Speaking on the achievements of the university within a short time, he said the institution has sustained and continues to improve on its academic excellence.
“Redeemer’s University’s service delivery in terms of academic 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 highskill information technology by the Digital Bridge Institute in the past few months.
“As a top-rated research university, we set the pace. Few years ago, the university was thrown into limelight for emerging as the best rated university in research-related qualification among its peers.”
While urging the graduands to be good ambassadors of the institution, Adeyewa charged them to be courageous to face the Goliath of life and to be passionate about God and His people.
Meanwhile, the overall best student, who graduated from the Department of Natural Science/Biological Science, Miss Ifeoluwa Bejide, urged other graduands to always put God first in whatever they do, just as she charged them to always remember their parents who laboured for them.
Bejide thanked God for giving her strength, knowledge and wisdom to accomplish her dream. She also thanked Pastor E.A Adeboye and his wife for their moral, spiritual and financial support.