Nigerian historian and professor of African Studies Toyin Falola says the growth of any nation depends mainly on a good foundation of human capital and values through a well–funded and accessible education system as well as excellent and affordable health care and human labour.
The renowned scholar said that Nigerian educational system should work to improve access, quality and relevance, noting that vocational and skills training is needed to turn graduates into global competitive work place.
While noting that Nigerian young population can be both a blessing and a challenge, he said that to reduce the scourge of unemployment and promote creative ingenuity in the nation, programmes that equip the youth through education, entrepreneurship and vocational skill development should be encouraged.
“Once you train the youth of a nation and create values in them, you have helped the outstanding youth of nations and made your nation better, steadfast and ready for growth and development, he said
Professor Falola, spoke while delivering the convocation lecture entitled ‘Advancing Nigeria’s Future’ at the fourth convocation ceremony of KolaDaisi University, (KDUI), Ibadan, Nigeria held in the Agbeke Memorial hall of the institution, on Thursday, Nov 7.
The Africa’s most decorated historian, established that Nigeria as a nation has been having challenges developing human capital and by extension, instilling values in the growing generation of Nigerian as a result of its underfunded education system, the failure of the health sector and the brain drain among others.
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He, therefore, suggested an education reform sound health care investment and value-driven education, emphasising, integrity, responsibility, discipline and service to the nation, which he noted would help Nigeria raise its labour productivity for a good and prosperous society.
To improve the nation’s future, it is essential to understand why there are problems and how to solve them in details, adding that issues such as bad governance, corruption and ethnic distrust are the root level or base must be addressed to deal with other ancillary problems as actual progress can only be achieved through a collective effort.
In his address, the founder and chancellor of the university, Chief Kola Daisi, Bashorun of Ibadan Land, represented by Chief Oba Abiodun Koladaisi expressed joy at the progress of the institution and the honour bestowed upon him by God Almighty to be a partaker of educating the youngsters with quality education, ultimately supporting the country to produce excellent graduates, who will advance the country and the world in various ways.
He vowed his commitment to taking KDU to greater heights among world’s best university , saying “our commitment is unshaken and we are backing this up by necessary actions.”
Congratulating the celebrants, he charged them to be one of the problems solvers the world is looking for, saying “our country, in fact the world, looks forward to having problems solvers across many areas clustered with all kinds of challenges in our existence – be one of them.”
Desist from any gang or attitude that may smear the good name of your family, your university and humanity at large.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Professor Adeniyi Osuntogun, expressed appreciation to the founder of the institution, for his continuous contribution to the development of KDU, especially, on the provision of student’s and staff’s welfare, as well as construction of infrastructure and other essential facilities for promoting conducive learning environment in the school.
Between the space of third convocation and now our faculties of Law Complex and Basic Medical Science hostel are today completed. Also, the construction of the state-of-the-art Senate Building is near completion, as well as the commencement of the construction of two hostels of 500-bed capacity for male and female students.
The vice chancellor of the institution, Professor Adeniyi Olatubosun, revealed that the university turned out a total of 156 graduates this year, out of which 20 emerged with First Class honours, 50 with Second Class Upper division, 56 with second class lower division and 30 with third class honour.
Giving the highlight of the university achievements, he disclosed that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria had approved the commencement of Nursing programme in the university with an annual intake of 100 students for the Department of Nursing Science.
He also hinted that the Council of Legal Education Accreditation Panel for Law programme on May 20, had approved and affirmed the quota earlier granted for the university.
“We are resolute in keeping with the requirements set by CLE by complying with and upholding national and global educational standards towards ensuring that law graduates are well- trained for the legal profession”., he said.
He noted that the staff of the institution have continued to record many feat in the field of their academic disciplines and research activities in the year under review namely, completion of post-doctoral fellowship and Africa Oxford Initiative Fellowship, patent registration, travel grants and paper presentation, among others.
He charged the graduands to always put their expertise to work either in their pursuit of leadership and not only for their private benefit but also for the benefit of the society at large to advance the general good of the public so that “all our people may lead decent, fulfillng and productive lives.”
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards and prizes to outstanding students of the institution.
The overall best graduating student for both the female and male category were Deborah Inioluwa Oladeji , from the Department of Microbiology, Theophilus Adekunle Oyekola from the Department of Cyber Security respectively.
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