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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday attended the 10th convocation ceremony of Lead City University (LCU), Ibadan, charging the graduates to innovate using technology.
Five hundred and ninety students graduated in various fields across the institution’s faculties. 39 graduated with first class degrees.
Speaking, the Vice President, who as special guest of honour, stated that while white collar jobs are fading and thereby difficult to come by, youths who have acquired various skills in the university are better positioned to look inward and come up with innovations that will change how things are done, and earning a decent living through it.
He advised them to concentrate on how to serve others and how to solve problems of the society.
He said: “Today, technology is a great asset for young people to innovate and climb the ladder of greatness. Use your acquired knowledge and skills to innovate by leveraging on technology as young people. You have a chance to determine your future.
He cited the example of Facebook founder, Mark Zukerberg, and some other young people creating big ideas all over the world.
Charging the youths on the need for hard work, diligence and readiness to seize opportunities, Osinbajo, said: “I was 60 years old in March this year, and I must confess that one of the greatest surprises I ever experienced was that I just suddenly became 60. I can clearly remember when I graduated from the university. I was 21 years old at the time. How time flies!
“One of the important lessons that you will learn is that time flies, whether you are wasting it or you are using it well. It simply flies back. At the age of 60 years, I am entitled to give some advice.
“By talent, a good degree and coming from a very wealthy family does not bring success and certainly it does not bring greatness. The most talented people, those who get the best degrees do not necessarily become the most successful in life.
“The difference between success and failure, mediocrity or excellence is character. Along with character is opportunity, perhaps the most crucial is the place of God. Character is a set of values that shapes the conduct of an individual. It is a set of principles spoken and unspoken that a person observes and lives on.”
In his short remarks, Governor Abiola Ajimobi who accompanied Osinbajo the occasion, expressed optimism that the university could one day become one of the top 10 in the country and one of the best in the world going by the quality he has observed in the graduates of the institution.
He expressed the readiness of his administration to create a synergy between the Lead City University and the new state-owned Technical University, Ibadan.
The Vice Chancellor, LCU, Prof Remi Adeyemo, commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for the successes recorded so far in the anti-corruption war, praying that the effort would succeed to make the country a better place.
While Miss Olukorede Ayomide Mary, who bagged Bachelor of Science in Micro-Biology emerged the best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0, Amedu Anthony, who obtained Bsc in Mass Communication and Media Technology emerged as the best graduating male student with CGPA of 4.77.
The Chairman, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Victor Osibodu, and Chairman, Musoro Booksellers, Kolade Musoro, were honoured with doctorate degrees of the university.