Ogun Gov Gifts Babcock Varsity Best Graduating Students N11m

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, gifted the best graduating students of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels a total of N11 million.

The governor also witnessed the conferment of doctorate degrees on the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, and his Chief of Staff, Dr Oluwatoyin Taiwo, during the university’s 15th Postgraduate Convocation and Doctor of Philosophy Hooding Ceremony held in Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State.

Speaking at the ceremony, Abiodun urged the graduates to pursue lives of integrity, innovation, and service, warning that education without character poses a danger to society.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Breaking New Grounds,’ the governor said universities must produce graduates who combine intellectual excellence with moral responsibility to address Nigeria’s development challenges.

“This convocation is more than the conclusion of an academic journey. Today is the beginning of a greater responsibility. It marks your transition from preparation to purpose,” he said.

According to him, while academic certificates recognise achievements, society would ultimately judge graduates by the impact they make.

Abiodun challenged the graduating students to reject mediocrity and embrace innovation capable of transforming society.

Abiodun said, “Breaking new ground does not always require discovering new continents. More often, it means discovering new possibilities within familiar circumstances.”

“Artificial intelligence can process information with astonishing speed, but it can not replace integrity. It cannot replace compassion, moral responsibility, or ethical judgement.”

He added that the future would belong not merely to those who mastered technology but to those who combined innovation with integrity, excellence with humility, and intelligence with character.

Abiodun urged the graduates to become builders of institutions, defenders of truth, and problem-solvers rather than mere job seekers.

The governor also highlighted Ogun State’s education reforms, disclosing that the state had recruited over 6,000 teachers through the Ogun Teach Program and rehabilitated schools under the Ogun Rehab Initiative.

He further said the state’s digital education reforms, including the Learner Identification Number initiative, had been adopted as a national framework.

Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in education, technology, enterprise, and innovation, saying human capital remained the greatest asset of any society.

Earlier, the President and Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole, charged the doctoral graduands to see the award of their degrees not as the end of learning but the beginning of greater responsibility.

He described the occasion as one that celebrated lives shaped by discipline, perseverance, sacrifice, and God’s grace.

“A doctorate does not make anyone an authority on everything. Rather, it places upon you a greater responsibility—to continue asking tough questions, pursue solutions to society’s challenges, mentor younger scholars, and ensure that your scholarship remains relevant to humanity,” the VC said.

Ojewole said Babcock University remained committed to producing graduates whose intellectual excellence was matched by integrity and service.

According to him, the university’s G.R.A.C.E. Mandate continues to guide its administration by building a Globally Relevant, Research-Focused, Adventist-Rooted, Competent, and Entrepreneurial university community.

“Society needs more than experts. It needs trustworthy experts. It needs researchers whose findings are credible. It needs leaders who serve before they seek recognition,” he added.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the graduands to allow their professional competence to be guided by humility, wisdom, and moral courage wherever they found themselves.

Announcing the governor’s donation in his presence, Ojewole disclosed that Abiodun pledged N2 million each to the overall best graduating students in the Master of Science, Master of Philosophy and Postgraduate Diploma categories, while the overall best Doctor of Philosophy graduating student received N2.5 million.

The VC also announced that the governor extended the gesture to the overall best graduating student at the undergraduate level, which will be presented at the undergraduate convocation ceremony on Sunday.

Salako was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Public Health, while Taiwo earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Public Administration.