At UNILAG convocation lecture, Fayemi charges academics on nation building

“The university as a community of teachers and scholars is an instrument of social transformation. Universities like the people within them must embrace change and re-imagine possibilities.”

These were the words of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi during the 2015/2016 convocation lecture of the University of Lagos, yesterday.

Delivering a lecture titled, “Building a successor-generation: Reflections on values and knowledge in nation building,” Fayemi traced the nation’s leadership and developmental challenges to the inability of most universities to provide the right environment and inculcate in learners both hard and soft skills that make up a balanced individual.

He, therefore, stressed the need to urgently review the nation’s educational institutions and programmes to reposition them for greatness.

“In contemplating the challenges of leadership and development in Nigeria, we have to critically reappraise our educational institutions and make necessary interventions to ensure they have adequate funding, world class physical structures and functional teaching equipment.

They should also have the right social environment that supports the education of a total man. Indeed, functional education is absolutely vital to our economic, social and political progress,” he stated.

The minister urged the graduating students to continually seek knowledge, be disciplined and follow their passion.

Chairman of the event, former military governor of Imo State, Major General lke Nwachukwu (rtd) urged leaders in the country to give the youths a chance to contribute to running the nation’s affairs.

He challenged the youth to vie for leadership positions and contribute their quota to the country’s development.

The institution honoured former vice chancellors by renaming some structures after them. The main auditorium is now renamed J. F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, the second access road was renamed Akinpelu Adesola Road; Radiography hostel is now Kwaku Adadevoh Hostel; the DLI auditorium now Nurudeen Alao Auditorium; multipurpose hall renamed after Jelili Adebisi Omotola and the staff school hall now Tolulope Odugbemi hall.