The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has said Nigeria’s future depends on graduates who are ready to think, act, and solve real problems—not those content with just earning certificates.
Hamzat made this point on Tuesday in Osogbo, Osun State, while speaking as chairman at the 15th Convocation Lecture of Fountain University. He addressed growing concerns that many young graduates struggle to meet the realities of today’s labour market and societal demands.
Represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Layode Olanrewaju, the deputy governor urged graduating students to see the convocation ceremony not just as a celebration, but as a turning point in their lives. According to him, this new phase comes with responsibility, self-awareness, and the need to apply what they have learned beyond the classroom.
“The world does not need more passive graduates. It needs active citizens,” Hamzat said. “It needs solution builders, not observers. It needs people who can heal divisions and responsibly shape our shared future.”
He noted that while universities equip students with specialised knowledge and critical thinking skills, graduates must also develop wisdom and compassion—qualities he described as essential for navigating real-life challenges.
Hamzat encouraged the students to keep questioning their ideas, think deeply, and remain open to learning, stressing that education only becomes meaningful when applied to life’s everyday encounters.
Delivering the convocation lecture titled “From Faith to Fortune: Building a Prosperous Ummah Through Leadership, Education, Innovation, and Economic Empowerment,” the guest lecturer, Kazeem Adeduntan, challenged Islamic scholars to expand their influence beyond religious spaces.
Adeduntan, founder and president of Sequoia Holdings, described Muslims globally as “sleeping giants” and called for the rise of experts in areas such as Islamic digital ethics, venture finance, and biomedical law. He argued that moral guidance must now extend into boardrooms, financial markets, and digital systems shaping modern society.
“Our scholars guide the soul,” he said, “but today, the soul also lives in code, commerce, and innovation. If ethics don’t enter those spaces, they are left to systems without conscience.”
Earlier, Fountain University Vice Chancellor, Professor Ramota Karim, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and character development. She disclosed that the university invested over ₦2.7 billion in capital projects during the academic session to strengthen its infrastructure and learning environment.
Professor Karim also announced that 426 undergraduates graduated this year, including 43 First Class degree holders, alongside 81 postgraduate students—among them a PhD graduate from the Department of Biological Sciences.
She concluded by assuring that the university would continue to respond boldly to global challenges while staying true to its founding values.
