The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has urged graduates of Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Ibadan, to live beyond their certificates and become critical thinkers and problem solvers.
Bishop Wale Oke made the call during the fourth convocation ceremony of PCU, noting that the university was founded to develop morally upright leaders with sound spiritual foundations.
He told the graduates, “Your degree is a launch pad, not a landing place. Keep learning, keep growing. Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” (2 Timothy 2:15).
The convocation ceremony, held at the university auditorium, drew dignitaries from academia, the clergy, and the wider society, marking another milestone in PCU’s growth as a centre of excellence in faith-based higher education.
A total of 143 students graduated across various faculties, with 14 earning First-Class honours, 65 obtaining Second-Class Upper Division, 47 achieving Second-Class Lower Division, and 17 graduating with Third-Class honours. The overall best graduating student, Lawal Eniola Kolawole, emerged from the Department of Computer Science with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.84.
The event also saw the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on five prominent Christian leaders, including Apostle Joshua Selman, Pastor Jerry Eze, and Pastor Poju Oyemade, in recognition of their spiritual leadership, humanitarian service, and contributions to national and global development.
Delivering the convocation lecture titled “Beyond Certificates: Preparing Graduates for Relevance in a Knowledge-Driven Economy,” Apostle Selman urged graduates to focus on lifelong learning. He stressed that skills acquired just a few years ago can quickly become obsolete and encouraged graduates to continuously learn, innovate, and network with professionals.
“Graduation should not signal arrival but evolution. Move from the mentality of ‘I have arrived’ to ‘I am evolving.’ To thrive in today’s knowledge-based economy, adopt what I call the T-shaped skill approach — deep expertise in one area complemented by knowledge across other fields,” he said.
Selman further advised graduates to become problem-solvers rather than job seekers, emphasizing that skill without integrity is hollow. “Our values of honesty and transparency are fast eroding. There is an urgent need to restore ethical standards if we must build a sustainable nation,” he added.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Timothy Adejumo described the 2025 graduating class as “The Trailblazers Set,” praising their resilience, innovation, and drive for excellence. He noted, “They are change-makers trained to be blessings, not burdens. Our graduates are equipped not just to seek jobs but to create them. They have been empowered to commercialise their skills and knowledge.”
Adejumo also announced that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had granted full accreditation for all PCU academic programmes, reflecting the university’s commitment to quality teaching and research.
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Bishop Dapo Asaju, reaffirmed the council’s dedication to transforming PCU into a world-class institution. He lauded Bishop Wale Oke, describing the university as “a product of divine inspiration for excellence and disruptive innovation.”
In his remarks, Bishop Wale Oke reminded graduates that education is a foundation for lifelong purpose, not an end in itself. “Your degree is a launch pad, not a landing place. Keep learning, keep growing. Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” (2 Timothy 2:15), he said.
