Innovation, not certificates, key to employment – Minister tells new students
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh (SAN), has charged newly admitted students of Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, to embrace innovation and technology as critical tools for securing their
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh (SAN), has charged newly admitted students of Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, to embrace innovation and technology as critical tools for securing their future in an increasingly competitive global environment.
Udeh gave the charge on Saturday while speaking as guest lecturer at the institution’s third matriculation ceremony in Abuja.
The minister, who was represented by the Director-General of the National Centre for Technology Management, Olushola Odusanya, noted that academic qualifications alone are no longer sufficient to guarantee employment.
"A graduate degree doesn't translate to a job anymore. What translates to job is innovation," he said.
He congratulated the 430 newly admitted students and their parents for choosing the university, describing the institution as technology-driven and focused on producing graduates equipped to tackle both national and global challenges.
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Udeh also commended the rapid growth of the university since its inception and urged the management to consolidate on its achievements.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Carl Adams, described the matriculation ceremony as a landmark event for students joining an institution witnessing steady academic and infrastructural development.
He said: "We've grown in our courses, our quality of our courses. We are providing top-level courses. You'll be on par with any other university in other parts of the world.
"One of the mantras that we started off with, is that why would you go and spend thousands of dollars or pounds or yen or whatever and go and study abroad when we've got such great capability in Nigeria. Some of that capability is recognised here. We have world-class teachers, world-class researchers.
"I say world-class, what does that mean? It means that we interact and we collaborate with other researchers, with other teachers teaching in the topic areas. Last year we celebrated having five books published from our staff. This year we'll double that.
"Books that will be there on the international market space, pushing the science of our topic areas. It means that we get international scholars that want to join with us on collaboration, that they like what we're doing and want to collaborate with us on that. Not just international but also the fantastic researchers across Nigeria.”
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Adams noted that the university was committed to producing graduates who would excel across various professions.
He further urged the students to take full advantage of the technological and innovative resources available in the institution.
Adams said: "We see you as the future leaders in your professions, whatever profession you're taking, whether it be nursing, engineering, computer science or agriculture. We want you to be out there pushing your profession, making your profession stand out, being top people in your profession. It's a global market.
"These are the technologies that companies, organisations, governments around the world are asking for. They're crying out for skilled people in these areas.”
Earlier, the Registrar of the university, Mani Ibrahim Ahmad, disclosed that the institution had secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to introduce new academic programmes.
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"The university got approval to establish Faculty of Agriculture as well as programs in radiography and postgraduate degree that will commence in about a week from now with MBA and Masters in Management as well as Intelligence and Security Studies," he said.
Ahmad also revealed that the university had acquired a new site in Jahi and was making arrangements to relocate some faculties to the new location.
Describing the matriculation ceremony as a significant milestone, the registrar said it marked an important moment in the lives of the students and the growth of the institution.
"I am very grateful to all of you and we are happy that we are all here to witness this all-important event in the life of these black people as they aspire to be the top leaders of tomorrow," he said.
