Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has acknowledged the significant contribution of the Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola to the development of the state by pursuing infrastructural drive and human capital development with an unmatched passion.
Governor Oyebanji, who spoke on Wednesday at the 14th Convocation ceremony of ABUAD, commended Chief Babalola’s vital support toward the completion of the Ekiti State Agro-Allied International Airport.
The Governor revealed that Aare Babalola particularly funded some key facilities at the airport, including equipment for the control tower and the construction of the car park, which was instrumental in bringing the airport project to operational reality.
Speaking before an audience comprising graduands, academic leaders, and distinguished guests, Governor Oyebanji further described the Chancellor as a visionary icon whose tireless work continues to inspire youths and leaders across generations.
He used the opportunity to also laud ABUAD for maintaining its position as a leading institution of higher learning in Nigeria and across the globe by consistently topping rankings in higher education sustainability, stressing that such repeated recognition proves that ABUAD’s achievements are rooted in genuine excellence rather than temporary luck.
According to the Governor, the institution’s impact in teaching, groundbreaking research, and community service has firmly established it as a reference point for academic excellence.
Turning his attention to the graduands ,the Governor commended the students for successfully navigating the rigorous and demanding academic environment of ABUAD emphasizing that earning a degree from such a prestigious university is a significant feat.
He charged the new graduates to stand out as distinguished ambassadors and role models in their future professional endeavors. He further urged them to embrace creativity, innovation, dynamism, and adaptability as they enter an ever-changing world and labour market.
Governor Oyebanji noted that in a dynamic global environment, graduates must look beyond traditional classroom curricula and apply their knowledge to emerging fields, ensuring they remain relevant and competitive in an evolving economic landscape.
Addressing the rapidly growing influence of technology, the Governor called on the graduands to intelligently adapt to the artificial intelligence revolution as he advised them to continuously evaluate which services and skills hold value in the modern workforce, encouraging them to maintain a strong sense of curiosity and commit to lifelong learning to navigate new industry realities.
“I want to specially celebrate my father and icon, Aare Afe Babalola on the occasion of his being conferred with the honorary doctoral degree by two international universities from Canada and the United State of America.
” Even in his advanced age, he has not slowed down on his commitment to the task of making life better than he met it. It is therefore not surprising that he continues to attract recognitions and commendations from far and near, in celebration of his invaluable contributions to human capital development in Nigeria and beyond.
“In a world and a state of permanent effluxion, one needs to be creative, dynamic, adaptive and pragmatic to cope. Therefore, let the value of your degrees manifest in your ability to create, innovate and adapt your knowledge to emerging skill gaps which even the curriculum that graduated you might not have comprehensively or sufficiently envisaged.
“As the world gets led by the artificial intelligence revolution, you also need to intelligently revolutionize the reality of what services and skills get valued in the new world. In a short word, keep the antenal of your curiosity alive and keep learning to fit in.” He stated.
In her opening speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University (ABUAD), Prof. Smaranda Olarinde reminded the new graduates that the quality education they received carries significant societal responsibilities and mandates them to lead with sound character.
Professor Olarinde stressed that the academic and moral training imparted by the institution was designed to equip students to think critically, act with unwavering integrity, and work diligently across their respective fields.
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Highlighting the practical duties attached to higher learning, the Vice Chancellor called on graduates across all disciplines to embody compassion and social consciousness in their careers. She challenged engineers to prioritize safety in their designs, healthcare professionals to preserve patient’s dignity, and law graduates to steadfastly defend justice, maintaining that true individual success brings a profound duty to serve the broader community.
She expressed deep gratitude to the parents for their sacrifice, trust, and sustained financial commitment toward their children’s development.
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