PROTOCOLS
I am elated to be at this historic tenth undergraduate and sixth post graduate convocation of Adeleke University. Our gathering here is significant as this is a dual event witnessing the successful completion of academic pursuits.
I start by warmly congratulating graduates of both undergraduate and postgraduate schools. Your graduation is the beginning of a new life, an entrance into the bigger society.
You are graduating at a turbulent economic period in the life of our nation. You are to take the crisis as an opportunity. As challenging as Nigeria is today, it presents multiple options for those with entrepreneurial mindset.
I task you to be innovative and enterprising. We must tap into the turbulence to build a future of prosperity.
You may also want to note that governments at levels are working hard to address the parlous state of the economy. At the National Economic Council meetings, both the federal and the state governments regularly brainstorm on finding solutions to the economic hardship, unemployment, and hyperinflation facing the nation’s. Several options are being experimented on.
For us as a state, we believe the solution lies in the devolution of powers and financing to the state governments. There is an urgent need to move many items on the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list. The states are better positioned to handle many items for which the center is presently responsible..
So the solution is more devolution rather than more centralisation of governance powers and responsibilities.We must as a nation focus on economic federalism. This will deepen subnational prosperity and create an enabling environment for job creation and boost local capacity across the sectors.
We must, however, continue to maintain national stability and unity. We can not escape the several issues facing us as a nation unless we harness our potential across the regions. But only when there is peace can we resolve the economic question. We will continue to support President Bola Tinubu as all levels of government grapple with the crisis of the moment.
I must, however, commend the pro-Chancellor of Adeleke University, my brother, Dr Adedeji Adeleke, for setting a record in national education philanthropy. It will interest the public to note that 70 percent of students in this school are on scholarship. The pro-Chancellor targets indigents students for scholarship as his own unique way of giving back to society.
My brother, Mr Pro-Chancellor, I congratulate you for your unusual kindness, for your lifeline to many families from all over the world. By refusing the usual commercialization of education, you set a positive tone for others to follow.
My brother’s example is a clarion call to many well to do Nigerians. We must give back to society by supporting economically weak residents to get educated. For every challenged student we support, an agent of anti-poverty is being raised. For every sponsored student, several families are billed to exit the poverty circle. Rich Nigerians must, therefore, prioritize education philanthropy.
On a personal note, I want to tell this congregation something about my brother, the Pro-Chancellor of this university. Mr Pro-Chancellor is a selfless brother with a huge heart and an all-inclusive family mindset. Instead of naming the school, Deji Adeleke University, he opted to call it Adeleke University, honoring the entire Adeleke family at home and abroad.
Dr Deji Adeleke refused to appropriate the school simply as his own but in his magnanimity, integrated all family members, not only in the naming but also in the running of the schools.
On behalf of the entire Adeleke family, I thank you for living and acting the training of our late father on family unity and collective prosperity.
On this historic stage of the university, I salute the sweet memories of our late mother, father and wife, Mrs Ester Adeleke, Senator Ayoola Adeleke and Dr Imade Adeleke with whom my brother conceived the idea of this great university. Years after, the institution has grown in leaps and bounds. Congratulations to the Pro- Chancellor, the management, and the entire students and staff of Adeleke University.
On this note, I again congratulate the graduating students. The Lord is your guide as you move into the wider society.
HE, Senator Ademola Adeleke
Executive Governor of Osun State.
