EKSU convocation: Certificates not enough for success, Chancellor tells graduates
The Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, has urged graduating students to uphold the values of hard work, humility and honesty, stressing that academic certificates alone are not
The Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, has urged graduating students to uphold the values of hard work, humility and honesty, stressing that academic certificates alone are not sufficient for success in life.
Olowolafe gave the charge on Saturday during the institution’s 30th convocation ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, where degrees were conferred on the Class of 2026.
The event was attended by Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, senior government officials, members of the academic community and parents.
Addressing the graduates, the chancellor encouraged them to look beyond academic accomplishments and focus on building strong personal values that would guide their decisions and sustain them through life’s challenges.
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“A certificate, as significant as it is, is only the beginning of the real work. What you carry inside you is what determines whether you will build something lasting,” he said.
Olowolafe also stressed the need for Nigerian universities to prioritise the continuous development of lecturers, noting that the quality of education is closely tied to the growth and exposure of academic staff.
He disclosed that the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation has, since 2024, sponsored 37 lecturers from the university to attend international conferences across Europe and North America to strengthen research capacity and foster global collaboration.
According to him, the initiative will be expanded under a structured programme known as the TOF Continuous Learning Ecosystem.
The Chancellor further highlighted several interventions targeted at improving students’ practical knowledge and employability, including the establishment of an investment trading room in partnership with the university’s Department of Finance.
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He said the facility, equipped with modern tools to simulate real-world financial markets, had evolved into a diploma-awarding programme recognised by the university senate and open to students nationwide.
In the area of science and engineering, Olowolafe noted that the foundation provided a fully equipped geoscience laboratory to the Department of Geology, alongside support for fieldwork, while civil engineering students were placed on internship with a construction firm handling the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
He added that the foundation had also sustained its financial reward scheme for academic excellence, awarding N500,000 each to 200 first-class graduates in the previous convocation.
According to him, the beneficiaries will now be integrated into a First Class Graduate Club, where they will receive continuous professional development support and access to job placement opportunities across key sectors.
Olowolafe explained that all interventions were part of a broader strategy designed to ensure lifelong learning and career development for students beyond graduation through a digital platform that tracks skills and achievements.
He, however, urged the graduating students to see themselves as ambassadors of the institution, noting that they carry the legacy and expectations of the university into the wider society.
“We did not come this far to stop here, and neither should you,” he said.
