The governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has insisted that his administration would continue to sustain the state’s enviable pride as the cradle of education and civilisation in Nigeria.
He also pledged that he would continue to provide enabling environment for public and private tertiary institutions to thrive in the Gateway State.
Governor Abiodun said thee at the 4th Convocation ceremony of the Chrisland University, Abeokuta, noting that the state was not just the industrial hub of Nigeria, but also the intellectual capital, hosting the highest number of tertiary institutions.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Technical and Vocational Education, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa, Governor Abiodun assured that the state would leave no stone unturned towards promoting quality education and industrialisation.
He said, “We want to assure you of our unwavering support for you to thrive. We are also focused on technologically-based, total and dual education for the citizenry, which would better position them to be self-sustaining, employers of labour and prepare them for the challenges ahead.”
The Gateway State helmsman congratulated the graduands and the school management on the feat, charging them to continue to complement government’s effort in the sector.
The guest lecturer and an accomplished administrator, Dr. (Mrs.) Ajoritsedere Awosika, who spoke on ‘Visible and Invisible Hands of Development: Interrogating the Roles of Tertiary Institutions and The Financial Sector,’ stated that stakeholders should focus on education to enhance productivity, scale development and reduce poverty; just as she urged the graduands to expand their horizon and contribute meaningfully to the society through innovation and foresight.
Earlier in her address, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. (Mrs.) Chinedum Babalola, appreciated the government and people of the state for according the institution an enabling environment to operate, charging the 52 graduands to be good ambassadors of the school.
Highlights of the occasion was the conferment of award of honorary Doctor of Science degrees in Political Science and Administration and Doctor of Science in Business Administration D.Sc., Honoris Causa, on the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo and (Dr.) Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, respectively and the unveiling of the institution’s Law Faculty.
The convocation ceremony was graved by the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, the wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief (Mrs.) Bola Obasanjo, the honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the acting Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Prof. Babatunde Olusola Kehinde, and heads of tertiary institutions, among others.
