Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said Nigerians must learn to make wise electoral decisions, as, according to him, wrong electoral choices can ruin the future of the younger generation in the country.
On Saturday, the governor said this at the 14th Combined Special Convocation Ceremonies for Admission to Higher and Honorary Degrees for graduands from 2015 to 2021, held at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Campus, Ogbomosho.
Makinde, who lamented how wrong electoral choices of the past had wasted the time of teeming students and affected their opportunities, explained that electoral choices made today would influence the future and affect the number of years children would spend at universities.
He charged Nigerians to make informed and guided decisions in the 2023 general elections.
The governor, who confirmed that the university was holding its first convocation in six years, said: “one reason we are having a joint convocation ceremony is the electoral choices made or did not make some years ago.
“And next year, we will face a similar choice. When we make electoral decisions, we may not think those choices will affect how many years our children spend at the university. Well, here we are.”
He admonished the graduating students to be resilient, focused and ready to face reality the world outside the campus presents.
Saying, they must be prepared to face real-life situations.
“You are leaving here with high hopes, believing you have all it takes to take on the world.
“But if you aspire for great things, you will face many challenges. In fact, I would say that if you are not challenged, you probably have not aspired high enough.
“So, you will need resilience to recover quickly from challenging or disappointing situations and try again. Without resilience, some of us would not be where we are today,” Makinde charged the graduands.
He highlighted some decisions made by his administration, which he said brought positive results, including the sole ownership of the University, the reduction of school fees by 25 per cent, approval of 13 new degree courses by the National Universities Commission and the recent rankings of LAUTECH by the World Scientist and University Rankings 2022 and National Universities Commission as the best state university in Nigeria and one of the top universities in the country.
The governor noted that his government would continue to increase youths’ chances of getting better jobs by attracting more private investors into Oyo State and investing in projects that could help the youths become more innovative and creative entrepreneurs.
Earlier, the Pro-chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Prof. Ayodeji Omole, commended the Governor Makinde-led administration in the state, saying eight months’ salary arrears inherited by the Council have been cleared.
He noted that staff members were being promoted as and when due. At the same time, all categories of workers in LAUTECH continue to enjoy regular salary payments, as stipulated by the governor.
“Let me, once again, eulogise the governor by saying that today’s event is further evidence that pursuance of qualitative education is one of your priorities. This event is a milestone for you, the University and Oyo State,” Omole said.
Several eminent Nigerians, including a former Military Administrator of Oyo and Ogun states, Major-General Oladayo Popoola (Rtd); Special Counsel to the Oyo State Governor, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN; former Nigerian Ambassador to Zambia, Ambassador Ibironke Adefope and Pastor Williams Bayo Olugbemi, were decorated with Honorary Doctorate degrees.
E/Suzan O.
