Daud Olatunji
The 35th convocation ceremony of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, witnessed a blend of celebration and responsibility on Saturday, as Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, urged graduates to see their degrees as instruments for national development while Governor Dapo Abiodun reinforced his administration’s commitment to education with cash awards for top-performing students.
Delivering the convocation lecture, Tijani told students that the true measure of their success is the impact of their knowledge on society, not the certificate itself.
He stressed that universities must go beyond producing graduates to producing solutions that address real-world problems, saying:
“OOU sits at the intersection of knowledge, industry, agriculture, and markets.
This gives the university a special responsibility: to convert academic excellence into economic value, and human capital into national productivity in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of a prosperous Nigerian economy.”
The minister challenged graduates to approach life with a sense of assignment, urging them to ask: “What problem am I closest to because of where I come from? What skill did I acquire here that I can apply immediately? And who benefits if I do my work well?”
He emphasized that Nigeria’s prosperity will be driven by the productivity of its workforce, not policy alone.
Represented by his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Governor Abiodun described education as a vital pillar of his administration’s developmental agenda, noting that the convocation coincided with Ogun State’s 50th anniversary.
He applauded OOU for producing competent, innovative, and future-ready graduates, highlighting that ₦275.4 billion—17% of the state’s ₦1.7 trillion budget—has been allocated to education this fiscal year to expand access and ensure no child is left behind.
The governor congratulated the graduating students and announced cash awards of ₦500,000 each to the 13 best students from various faculties, while Master Ajayi David of the Faculty of Engineering, who emerged as the overall best graduating student, received ₦2 million.
Also speaking, Vice Chancellor Prof. Ayodeji Agboola noted that OOU has maintained a proud tradition of academic excellence, currently ranking 16th among 321 Nigerian universities and second among state-owned institutions, according to the latest Webometric rankings.
He commended the State government for prioritizing education, describing it as a catalyst for holistic and transformative development, and reiterated the university’s commitment to advancing a knowledge-driven economy anchored on innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable development.
The event, attended by the Pro-Chancellor, members of the governing council, faculty, students, alumni, and staff, underscored the university’s role in producing not just graduates, but solutions and leaders capable of shaping Nigeria’s future.
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