Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has emphasised that hard work, dedication, and perseverance remain essential virtues for success.
The governor, who was represented by a Director from the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Dr Omoloye Yemisi, gave this admonition at the 2025 Conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degree and Awards Ceremony of Highstone Global University, Texas, USA, in collaboration with Total Miracle Group of Schools.
While charging the new doctoral degree holders to uphold excellence in all endeavours, Sanwo-Olu commended the awardees for their commitment to excellence, stating that their achievements reflect the institution’s standard of quality education and moral guidance.
“Today, we honour not just the individuals, but also the spirit of excellence that defines this great institution. Each of you has shown great determination and commitment to excellence that is worthy of celebration.
“Keep pushing forward, be curious, and never lose sight of your dreams. May this recognition inspire your passion and drive you to even greater heights in life,” he said.
The event, themed “Impactful Leaders, Making Waves in the Distressed Global Economy,” brought together dignitaries, scholars, and advocates from Nigeria and abroad.
Delivering the keynote address, titled “Reshaping the Nation Under Economic Hardship,” the Vice-Chancellor of Highstone Global University, Prof. Ayeni Edward Sunday, called on the Federal Government to enforce capital punishment for individuals or groups that wage war against the nation or finance terrorism.
According to Ayeni, national peace and unity cannot be achieved without justice and accountability.
“Capital punishment must be given to those who work against the nation. Whosoever joins terrorists to wage war against the state must face capital punishment. The sponsors of terrorism, no matter how highly placed, must also be punished,” he stated.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasised that addressing insecurity requires exposing and prosecuting the financiers of violence rather than focusing solely on military operations.
He further identified hunger and food scarcity as key threats to national stability, linking them to poor governance and weak agricultural policies.
“If Nigerians must know peace, food must be made accessible and available,” Ayeni stressed, warning that continued neglect of agriculture could worsen economic hardship.
On education, Ayeni described it as the foundation of human and national development, lamenting the decay within Nigeria’s education sector.
“Education is very important. I have great respect for men who contributed to Nigeria’s educational development. A nation that abandons education will suffer setbacks,” he said, noting that the system’s moral and intellectual decline has fueled corruption.
He called for a total reform of the education sector to ensure quality, equality, and accessibility, especially for children from low-income backgrounds.
Ayeni also lamented the abandonment of African-authored literature that once shaped students’ moral and cultural values, urging schools to reintroduce such works into the curriculum.
On the economy, he criticized Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil, describing it as a “major cause of instability,” and urged a return to robust agricultural investment.
Also speaking, Prof. Theophilus Aku Ugah, Vice-Chancellor (America) of Highstone Global University and Professor of Climate Change, Environmental Sustainability, and Renewable Energy, challenged world leaders to redefine leadership ethics in a time of global crisis.
Ugah urged leaders across political, religious, and traditional spheres to use their influence for humanity’s progress rather than personal or partisan gains.
