The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has said that young university graduates must take part in transforming Nigeria.Soludo said this at the 13th Convocation of Veritas University, Anambra State, highlighting the institution’s journey as a shining example of vision and dedication in Catholic higher education.
 
The governor, who previously led a discussion on the university’s financial sustainability under the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) finance committee in 2014, admired Veritas University’s growth over the past decade.
 
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the governor applauded the foresight of its founders, the staff’s commitment and the perseverance of successive administrations in elevating the institution to its current level of excellence, and the students’ achievements in character and learning.
 
Soludo, who shared with the Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. (Prof.) Hyacinth Ichoku, his former student, that conventional convocation speeches often feel repetitive and formulaic, offering graduates generic guidance on success and resilience, presented a call for transformative change: a “new deal” for Nigeria.
 
According to him, this new deal emphasises collective purpose and renewal, with active roles from the graduates in Nigeria’s transformation process, and the challenges of economic disparity, climate threats, and evolving governance structures that demand a deep commitment to the country’s shared destiny.
 
He urged them to envision a country that embraces its full potential, transcends divisions, values equity, innovation, and resilience, and is uniquely positioned to become nation-builders, with a new deal built on principles of equity, justice, and inclusive development. This is for them to emerge as the change makers the country urgently needs.