VICE President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday in Ede, Osun State tasked both public and private universities to raise elite rangers of problems solvers, who would proffer lasting solutions to the myriad of socio-economic challenges, confronting the country.
He gave the charge during the 9th convocation ceremony of Redeemer’s University, which was held inside the main hall of the institution in Ede.
Osinbajo, who also tasked all institutions of higher learning to assume the status of a breeding house said: “the primary assignment of the academic community should be to raise the elite rangers of problem solvers and not just job seekers.”
The Vice President, who was represented by Pastor Idowu Iluyomade hinted that “there is the need for a paradigm shift in our curriculum to enable the products of our ivory towers to adapt to the ever-changing world. Until we begin to have innovators and courageous initiators of start-up businesses straight from the universities, education rather than being a blessing would continue to be a burden.”
Osinbajo further advised the graduating set, christened “the class of Divine Champions to make their impacts felt in all areas of human endeavours, including economy, politics, technology, corporate world, science, media, among others.
According to him, “it is no longer news that we are in a challenging time. Climate change is not a Western world phenomenon anymore. The global economies are going through moments of systemic upheavals. The best securities are being compromised in a world of growing terrorism. It is instructive that your class is called the Divine Champions. You are a brand specially prepared for a time as this”.
“Therefore, as arrows, we are releasing you to make your impacts felt in academia, business world, media, corporate world, politics and all strata of life. I implore you never to be part of the problem but the solution to lingering societal challenges”, Osinbajo asserted.
Earlier in his address, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Visitor of Redeemer’s University, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye appealed to all parents to be more committed to the upbringing of their children in the right way of God.
He stated, “there are many role models and stakeholders and mentors in the global public space. None of them can, however, take the place of parents. Our children are from God and we are accountable to Him. The destinies of parents can be adversely affected by the failure to inculcate the right values in their children.”