The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has urged graduates of Chrisland University, Ogun State, to look beyond academic certificates by acquiring relevant skills, embracing global opportunities and upholding integrity in their professional and personal lives.

Salako gave the advice yesterday while delivering the convocation lecture at the university’s convocation ceremony, with the lecture tagged “Beyond the Degree: Next Generation Leadership, Innovation and Impact in a Changing World.”

He said academic qualifications alone were no longer sufficient to guarantee success in an increasingly competitive world, urging graduates to continually improve their capacities, build international networks and develop innovative solutions to societal problems.

The minister noted that graduates belonged to a relatively small, privileged segment of the Nigerian population, given the limited proportion of citizens with university degrees.

“If you look at the data, probably less than 10 to 15 per cent of Nigerians are graduates. So, if they have been able to cross this path, that means they now belong to the elite group of Nigerians,” he said.

Salako, however, cautioned that obtaining a degree should be regarded as the beginning of a journey rather than the ultimate measure of achievement.

He said graduates needed to move beyond their certificates by acquiring practical skills, developing meaningful global connections and focusing on solving problems rather than merely seeking employment.

He identified three critical shifts required to succeed in the changing world: moving from certificates to capacity, adopting a global mindset and making integrity the foundation of all endeavours.

“The first is to move beyond certificates to capacity. Second is to ensure that they look at the world as one. Even if you are in Eko, you can still operate in London and serve a client in New York. So, they must have that kind of mindset.
“And the third shift is to ensure that integrity is the basis of everything that they do,” he said.

The minister also urged the graduates to remain connected to Nigeria, irrespective of where their careers might take them, stressing the importance of remembering their roots and the institution that trained them.

“Even if they leave Nigeria, they should remain connected to their country, because east or west, home is the best.”

Salako added that graduates who combine academic qualifications with relevant skills, global competitiveness and strong ethical values would be better positioned to navigate the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Prof. Oyedunni Arulogun, disclosed that 53 students graduated with First Class honours among 281 graduates from the institution’s regular undergraduate programmes.

She added that 43 students graduated from the Centre for Distance Learning and Executive Programmes, bringing the total number of first-degree graduates to 324.

Arulogun described the figures as more than mere statistics, saying each certificate represented a story of sacrifice, determination and perseverance.

Reviewing the university’s achievements during the 2025/2026 academic session, the vice-chancellor said all 23 academic programmes presented for accreditation were successful.

She also announced that the university’s College of Law had secured accreditation from the Council of Legal Education, with its approved admission quota increased from 50 to 70 students.

Highlighting students’ performance in professional examinations, Arulogun said the Medical Laboratory Science programme recorded a 100 per cent success rate in both its first and final professional examinations.

She added that Physiotherapy students also achieved a 100 per cent success rate in their professional examination.

According to her, Nursing students recorded a 100 per cent success rate in the Registered Midwife examination and 98 per cent in the Registered Nurse examination.

The vice-chancellor further disclosed that students of the university’s Business Administration programme emerged winners of a South-West quiz competition organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management.

She described the graduation of the institution’s first set of Postgraduate Diploma students as another milestone in its academic development.

In her remarks, the Chancellor of Chrisland University, Dr Winifred Awosika, urged the graduates to uphold integrity, discipline and academic excellence as they began the next phase of their lives.

Awosika charged them to reflect the institution’s motto, “Intellectual Radiance, Moral Integrity, and Academic Excellence,” through their conduct, decisions, and contributions to society.

She expressed confidence in the university’s continued growth in excellence and innovation as it entered its next decade, attributing its progress to collective efforts and God’s faithfulness.

The chancellor urged the graduates to remain worthy ambassadors of the institution, contribute meaningfully to society, and maintain strong ties with their alma mater.

She also encouraged members of the university community to remain committed to their responsibilities, expressing confidence that honest and dedicated efforts would ultimately be rewarded.