Chairman, Governing Council, Lagos State Cooperative College (LASCOCO), Rafiu Raji Oyebowale, yesterday, implored graduates that the modern world of work demands not just certificates, but clarity of purpose, adaptability, and vision.

He said that they must see themselves not just as graduates but also as architects of Nigeria’s enterprise future. Oyebowale, who spoke during the LASCOCO’s second convocation lecture titled, ‘Cooperative Management: The Development and Transformation of Nano Enterprises in Lagos State’, said: “You are entering an economy shaped by innovation and resilience — where nano and micro enterprises form the foundation of national productivity. Be bold enough to lead. Be humble enough to learn continuously. Be creative enough to turn obstacles into opportunities.

“You have been trained in the values of cooperation, resilience, service, and entrepreneurship. Whether you pursue formal employment, start your own ventures, or return to strengthen the cooperatives that shaped your journey, let your life reflect the ideals you’ve learned here.

“We encourage you to remain connected to this institution, to contribute to your alma mater’s growth, and to represent the LASCOCO brand with honour wherever life takes you.”

Also, Olusegun Dada, who delivered the convocation lecture, stated that nano enterprises are small informal businesses with a working capital of less than N500,000, adding that nano businesses constitute 85.55 per cent of the 38.4 million informal enterprises in Nigeria, which implies that the country has 32.9 million nano enterprises.

According to Dada, 85.7 per cent of nano businesses operate in the agricultural, wholesale/retail trade, and other services, noting that less than 14 per cent of the businesses experience notable growth.

In his welcome address, Provost of the college, Akorede Ojomu, said that the second convocation of the institution was a significant milestone in the academic journey of the students of the institution.

He said: “This special lecture is the second in the series since the inception of our college and is a major part of the activities that have been put together to commemorate the second convocation ceremony. The convocation ceremony, in itself, marks the culmination of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. It is a testament to the potential and talents of our students.”

Ojomu commended the guest lecturer for accepting to deliver the lecture at such short notice, saying: “Your deep and professional insights on this topic through the delivery of this lecture today speak volumes of your passion and commitment for knowledge sharing towards our socio-economic development as a nation.”