Young Nigerians must create opportunities, not wait for government —KDU VC

Vice-Chancellor of KolaDaisi University, Ibadan, Professor Olajumoke Abimbola Morenikeji, has urged young Nigerians to take greater responsibility for their future by developing relevant skills, creating opportunities and becoming employers of labour, rather than waiting solely for the government or others to provide jobs.

Morenikeji, the first female vice-chancellor of KolaDaisi University, made the call while receiving the Outstanding Leadership in Education Award from CRED 360 Media in recognition of her leadership and contributions to the education sector.

Speaking on Nigeria’s leadership deficit and growing concerns over young people’s declining confidence in the country, the vice-chancellor acknowledged that limited opportunities remained a major challenge facing Nigerian youths.

She noted that many young people were increasingly turning to entertainment and other sectors because they found it difficult to gain access to political leadership and other opportunities traditionally controlled by older generations.

According to her, while the government and other stakeholders had a responsibility to create an enabling environment, young Nigerians must also develop the mindset to create opportunities for themselves.

“It is not who to blame, but how you carry yourself and how you achieve it. As a young person, you must create opportunities for yourself,” she said.

Morenikeji said universities had a major responsibility to address the problem by ensuring that students were equipped with skills beyond academic qualifications.

She said graduates should not leave university solely expecting to be employed but should also possess entrepreneurial and vocational skills that could enable them to create jobs for themselves and others.

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“At KolaDaisi University, apart from academics, we also learn a little entrepreneurship,” she said.

The vice-chancellor added that the university was strengthening its vocational training initiatives to equip students with practical skills while creating opportunities for members of the surrounding community to benefit from the programmes.

“We are very interested in making sure that we skill up our students,” she said.

Morenikeji also urged young Nigerians to develop resilience, discipline, hard work and determination, recalling that she did not wait for others to recognise her before pursuing her ambitions.

 “I didn’t wait for anybody. I didn’t wait for anyone to acknowledge me. I encouraged myself. I worked hard. I looked forward. I knew what I wanted,” she said.

She further advocated greater opportunities for women in leadership, noting that women often had to navigate professional responsibilities alongside family and other societal expectations.

According to her, women aspiring to leadership positions must demonstrate resilience, determination, discipline and excellence, while institutions must create fair opportunities for them to advance.

Morenikeji stressed that leadership should not be restricted to academic administration, saying there was a need for competent leadership across different areas of national life.

Speaking on the rationale behind the award, the Chief Executive Officer of CRED 360 Media, Mr Rotimi Agboluaje, said Morenikeji was selected after the organisation reviewed her achievements and leadership record.

Agboluaje said the award was not presented randomly, stressing that the organisation had established criteria for selecting recipients and that the vice-chancellor met the requirements.

According to him, Morenikeji had recorded significant achievements during her tenure, which made her deserving of the Outstanding Leadership in Education Award.

He said, “We are not just giving the award to anybody. We have important criteria that every recipient must meet, and she met all the criteria. That is why we decided to give her the award.”

Agboluaje added that Morenikeji’s achievements and commitment to excellence distinguished her as a worthy recipient of the recognition.

He said the award was intended to acknowledge individuals whose work and accomplishments demonstrated outstanding leadership and deserved public recognition.