…as Senate Leader,2 others Conferred Honourary Degrees
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has tasked Nigerian universities on research efforts to Liberate the nation from myriad of Challenges , he also urged the ivory towers on producing graduates who are solution providers.
Governor Oyebanji spoke at the weekend during the 8th convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, FUOYE.
He stressed the need for institutions to produce graduates equipped with the skills and mindset to tackle the pressing problems of the country head-on.
Newshereandthere earlier reported that the FUOYE on the 8th Convocation produced 6,563 graduates.
Three eminent personalities ,Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele; Senator Solomon Adeola, and Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu at the ceremony were conferred Honourary Degrees of the University.
While Senator Opeyemi Bamidele was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Public laws, Senator Solomon Adeola was conferred with Doctor of Accounting and Rt Hon Yusul Adamu, Doctor of Political science.
Governor Oyebanji justified the importance of nurturing a generation of problem solvers poised to drive sustainable development. He urged universities to revamp their curricula to emphasize critical thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurship that could provide solution to the problems of this country.
He emphasized the urgent need for homegrown solution to Nigeria’s divers’ challenges, and stressed the importance of equipping students with practical skills and a real-world experience through hands-on learning and industry partnership.
While commending the University for their numerous achievement in about eight years of establishment, the Governor said “I have watched with keen interest the phenomenal growth of this university from 5,041 students to 51,000 in less than eight years as well as the quality of scholarship in the institution.
He congratulated the graduands and charged them to take the advantage of the training and learning they have acquired to contribute their quota to the society.
The Governor assured that his government will continue to collaborate with the institution for greater development and growth of the school.
“As a government, we will continue to collaborate with this institution but I plead with you sir, university must put a lot of emphasis on research, we must produces solution providers, people that will help to solve the problem of this country” the Governor said.
FUOYE Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina had also in his welcome address at the occasion highlighted the efforts of the University in research development:
“We have changed the narrative of the University by being more intentional about research. First, we published and gave all our academic staff our research policy brochure and we did several research trainings for all academic staff on how to write and win research grants.
“This has brought about a rapid change in the disposition of staff to research. Right now, staff individually seek research opportunities within and outside the country with testimonials of internal and external grants attractions and winning of scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships. Several members of academic staff are outside the country on short and long time postdoctoral fellowships.”
The Senate majority leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele who spoke on behalf of the honouress said they valued the honour conferred on them by the university and expressed their profound appreciation for the recognition bestowed upon them
He said the honorary degree conferred on them serves as testament to their dedication, achievement, and commitment to excellence in their respective fields.
Earlier, while delivering the Convocation Lecture titled: The Failure of Success, the Registrar of Joint Admission Matriculation Board,JAMB,Prof.Is-haq Oloyede described Success and Failure as two sides of the same coin,” Just like happiness and sadness, day and night,postive and negative. The two opposites dominate and animate life but when they are understood, the undesirable opposite could be minimized all together at individual, societal and national levels.
” It is all about doing the right things and doing things right”
Oloyede who disclosed that more interventions on education would still come up in both ways, however stated that the listening government is on ground.
“The cancellation of the 40% Varsities IGR is a way to make the Universities breath and not suffocate them”
President Bola Tinubu at the event which was attended by eminent personalities, was represented by Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin . He congratulated the new graduates for putting in their best in character and learning to successfully complete their various courses of learning in the University and urged the graduands” to put into practice, the knowledge expertise and skills acquired in the University using it as strong pillars to build their promising future.”