How insecurity, poverty, out-of-school children, others can be addressed, by Obasanjo 

• As Stella Adadevoh Bags Bowen Varsity’s Honorary Degree

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, explained that one of the ways to address the myriad of challenges bedevilling the country, such as insecurity, poverty, out-of-school children and others is through research by universities.

Delivering the 16th convocation lecture of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Chief Obasanjo, therefore, urged private universities to conduct researches that would uncover causes and panacea to the challenges besetting Nigeria.

In his lecture titled: “Strengthening Private Universities For Greater Contributions to National Development,” delivered virtually, Obasanjo stressed that the maladies would be addressed through research.

A total of 1,021 graduates were awarded first degrees. A breakdown of the classes of degree shows that 90 obtained First-class honours, 409 had Second-class honour (upper division), 390 had Second-class honours (lower division), while 75 had Third-class honours and 57 bagged MBBS. 

The overall best graduating student, Miss Ufuoma Ayomide Okiti, was given a cheque of N1m.

Many also bagged post-graduate certificates, including PhD, Masters and post-graduate Diploma (PGD).

The former president maintained that the capacity of scholars in private universities should be strengthened, to enable them to proffer solutions to the nation’s ills.

Obasanjo said: “A major pillar of university operation is research. The visibility of the contributions of Nigerian universities to national development is largely seen through research, which will uncover the causes and cure of challenges inhibiting Nigeria’s development…

“The universities are called to duty, more than ever before, to play significant roles in the research enterprise and here, private universities should stand up to be counted.”

The Visitor to the university and President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Dr. Israel Akanji, charged the graduating students, saying: “You are to undo the ills already done to the society. You are to go and make a difference. Do not join bandits or robbers or the irreligious religiosity of the Priest and Levite, but be good Samaritans.”

Other highlights of the ceremony included the conferment of a posthumous honorary Doctor of Science and Public Health on Dr. Stella Adadevoh, who died while treating an Ebola patient in Lagos in 2014.