The Chancellor of Southwestern University, Okun Owa, Ogun State, Babatunde Odufuwa, has called on leaders to move Nigeria onto the path of economic growth and development, saying it will curb poverty and unemployment among citizenry.
According to kim, the development of the economy is also important because will create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives.
Odufuwa spoke during the third convocation of the university, held at the main campus of the institution at Okun Owa in the Odogbolu Council of Ogun State.
He said: “Economic growth and development is fundamental to impacting the living standards of citizens.
“Development is not just a high growth rate in per capital income because it is possible to record a high growth rate in per capital income while the masses of the people continue to be in abject poverty and lacking in basic necessities of life, such as the situation in Nigeria today.
“Development and growth must be a sustained effort to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives.”
He said when the economy moved towards the path of growth and development, poverty, inequality and unemployment would be eradicated.
The educationist added: “Poverty is anti-development while the alleviation of poverty can advance human development and create opportunities for sustainable growth and better future.
“Within the context of a growing economy, economic development can only be seen in terms of reduction or elimination of poverty, inequality and unemployment in the country.”
He called on the Federal government to focus attention on the economic growth and development of the country for human capital development.
Speaking of the role of education in development, the chancellor said a nation’s growth and development rest on the quality of education of the people.
According to him, education defines the path of growth and development of any nation and boosts innovation and creativity.
“Education,” he added, “involves the acquisition of knowledge and skills that facilitate the process of wealth creation. Education, however, defines the path of growth and development of any nation as it promotes innovation and creativity.
“It strengthens governance and make for easy discharge of civil duties. Education eliminates waste, promotes efficient resource utilisation and by extension economic growth and development.”
The don, who underscored the need for education, added: “Investment in education is an investment in the future of the nation.
“In many countries, education is viewed as a good investment to national developments, as it is expected that the educational system will produce the quality and quantity of human resources required for the economic growth of the country.
“Education remains the most important element in the process of human progress whereby ignorance is eliminated and the development of knowledge, skills, talents and the capacities of human beings are attained.”
He, therefore, advised the government to pay attention to students in private institutions.
The Chancellor, who congratulated the graduates on their academic feats, urged them to be worthy ambassadors of the institution and Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Amusa Adetunji, charged graduating syudents to be agents of impact to the society.
He stressed the institution’s commitment to producing ethical and morally-sound graduates of great impact in the country even as he tasked them with professional service delivery.
In his convocation lecture, an academic and a former Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr John Abolurin (OFR), said education played vital role in shaping the future of a nation.
Abolurin said: “Education is a weapon for meaningful change, revolution and orientation. The level of development in most developing nations and countries of the world is largely attributed to education; hence, a nation’s ability to thrive and compete globally is inextricably linked to the quality of its educational system.”
He, however, urged the graduates to do their best and invest in knowledge to have an edge.
At the convocation ceremony, 439 diplomates were conferred with Bachelor degrees from the Faculty of Social and Management Science and Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, while two diplomates were conferred with postgraduate degrees.
Personalities, such as the wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun; CEO/Chairman, Loatsad Promomedia, Mr Seyi Tinubu; and the Managing Director, Upperlink, Mr Olusegun Akano, were conferred with the Doctor of Science Degree Honoris Causa in Business Administration, Mass communication and Computer Science respectively for their numerous contributions to higher education in Nigeria.
While delivering his keynote address, Akano urged the graduates to uphold the principle of hard work as they launch into the labour market.
Akano, who also enjoined the graduating students to have hope in the Nigeria, advised them to position their mind towards problem solving for a better Nigeria.
He said: “To the graduating student, work hard and look for opportunities to grow. Nurture your passion and don’t loose faith in Nigeria because very soon Nigeria will begin to employ people from abroad.
“Have hope in Nigeria and put your mind towards problem solving for the betterment of the nation”
