The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has said Nigeria no longer needs passive graduates but active citizens capable of solving the country’s challenges.
Hamzat made the statement on Tuesday in Osogbo, Osun State, at the 15th Convocation Lecture of Fountain University, Osogbo, where he served as chairman of the occasion.
Speaking against the backdrop of concerns in some quarters that young school leavers often fall short of the demands of the modern labour market, the deputy governor, who was represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Layode Olanrewaju, advised the graduating students to be compassionate and to see the moment as a transition into the realities of life.
He also urged the graduands to consistently apply the skills and values imbibed during their time at the university when faced with life’s challenges.
“As graduates, you sure have a role to play. The world does not need more passive graduates. It needs active citizens. It needs architects of solutions, heirs of divisions and stewards of your shared future.
“Yes, the university has equipped you with two fundamental tools, specialised knowledge and critical thinking. But today, I urge you to cultivate the third, even more crucial dimension, wisdom and compassion.
“Let your mind wander positively and always re-evaluate your ideas by thinking again and again. This institution has given you the skills. Be ready to apply your trained mind in various experiences and encounters you will have in life,” Hamzat said.
In his lecture titled, “From Faith to Fortune: Building a Prosperous Ummah Through Leadership, Education, Innovation, and Economic Empowerment,” the convocation lecturer, Kazeem Adeduntan, called on Islamic scholars to move beyond traditional roles and become drivers of economic development.
Adeduntan, who is the founder and president of Sequoia Holdings, described Muslims globally as sleeping giants, stressing the need for recognised scholars in areas such as Islamic Digital Ethics, Islamic Venture Finance, and Islamic Biomedical Law.
He said the prevailing posture must change from fear to confident stewardship.
“Our esteemed Islamic leadership, you hold a sacred trust. The community looks to you. Your role must now evolve decisively. You must move from being custodians of mosques to architects of economies.
“Our scholars are the custodians of our moral and ethical compass. They guide the soul. But in the 21st century, the soul does not reside only in the mosque; it operates in the boardroom, on the trading floor, and within the lines of code that govern digital transactions. If our moral guidance does not illuminate these spaces, we surrender them to an amoral, and often immoral, logic,” he said.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Fountain University, Ramota Karim, said the institution remained committed to advancing knowledge, nurturing character, and serving humanity with distinction.
She disclosed that the university invested more than N2.7 billion in capital projects during the academic session, adding that the institution would continue to uphold its ideals while responding decisively to global demands.
Karim also presented a breakdown of the graduands at the university’s 15th convocation, stating, “This distinguished cohort includes 426 undergraduates, comprising 43 First Class Honours, 190 Second Class Upper, 135 Second Class Lower, 51 Third Class, and 7 Pass degree graduates.
“Additionally, 81 Postgraduate students will be conferred with advanced degrees, including a PhD in the Department of Biological Science (Microbiology option).”
