Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged graduates of the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun, to devise fresh approaches to solving Nigeria’s numerous problems.
On Saturday, Osinbajo spoke at the university’s 45th Convocation ceremony, which was place at the Amphitheatre, Oduduwa Hall, Ile-Ife.
The university’s graduates have pioneered a number of key intellectual discoveries over the years, according to the vice president.
Nigeria, he claims, is experiencing insecurity in various regions of the country.
“The access to illegal weaponry by nonstate actors tells us that we must be smarter in policing the country, using smart drones and surveillance equipment.
“The politicization of our means of the purchase of weapons tells us that we must manufacture our arms.
“Already, some Nigerian companies led by Profex, a Nigerian company, is already manufacturing APCs and exporting them to several African countries.
“Other companies and government-owned DICON is manufacturing different types of ammunition.
“Yes, the challenges are much, but the means to resolve it and the elements are here already. Young Nigerians are rising to the challenges facing the country.
“It is, however, said, right here in Ife, that it is effective economic planning and even more, an effective implementation that can help us to avoid a disaster and make phenomenal progress.
“And so, our national development plan 2021-2025, is an attempt to chart a path for the future; the future belongs far more to you graduands, so, you need to pay more attention to it,” Osinbajo said.
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State also gave the Convocation Lecture, which was titled “When is a Nation? : Exploring the Socio-Political Crises in Post-Independence Nigeria.”
All states, according to Akeredolu, are endowed with mineral resources such as gold and petroleum, among others, and no citizen would be satisfied if their government defrauded them of their important assets.
For the sake of their residents’ prosperity, the governor advised state governments to gear up and maintain the natural riches that exist in their individual states.
He admonished non-indigenous people to stop valuing what does not belong to them and to stop taking advantage of what does.
Akeredolu urged the federal government to grant each state the authority to manage their mineral resources at the state level.
As a result, he urged the leaders to find a way to work together and use all resources to combat insecurity, kidnapping, ritual killings, unemployment, and banditry.
“Nigeria must confront all challenges with unrelenting zeal until solutions appear on the horizon,” Akeredolu said.
Owelle Udoji, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University Governing Council, advised the university administration to look within and increase its contributions to society.
Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, also exhorted the graduates to have a good impact on all sectors of the Nigerian economy and to assist in resolving the nation’s difficulties as they enter the next phase of their lives and careers.
Ogunbodede commended the graduates and their families on being granted the opportunity to complete their academic programs with honors.
Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, the Founder of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin in Ondo State, was awarded the degrees of Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa and Honorary Doctor of Business Administration by the university.
