The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has encouraged graduates to focus on acquiring relevant skills, developing global connections and upholding integrity rather than depending solely on academic certificates to achieve success in an increasingly competitive world.
Salako gave the advice on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while delivering a lecture at Chrisland University’s eighth convocation ceremony. The event was themed, “Beyond the Degree: Next Generation Leadership, Innovation and Impact in a Changing World.”
The guest lecturer reminded the graduating students that earning a degree marks the beginning of their journey, noting that academic qualifications alone do not guarantee success in the wider world.
He urged them to continuously build their capacity, establish international networks and channel their efforts towards solving societal problems instead of concentrating only on securing jobs.
Speaking with journalists at the event, Salako said, “I have admonished the graduates that the certificate is just the beginning, that the certificate may not necessarily determine how far you will go in the world out there.
“So the graduating students need to move beyond their certificate to improve their capacity, to ensure that they are able to build networks globally; they should be able to focus their minds on solving problems rather than just looking for employment, and that they are able to maintain integrity in everything they do.
“And more importantly, even if they leave Nigeria, they remain connected to their country, because east or west, home is the best. I want to admonish them to ensure that whatever they do in life, they never forget their origin, their origin in terms of their country, their origin in terms of their school, Chrisland University that trained them, and so on and so forth.”
Salako emphasised that combining academic qualifications with practical skills, international competitiveness and sound ethical principles would help graduates adapt to the demands of a rapidly changing world.
Meanwhile, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyedunni Arulogun, announced that 53 out of the 281 students who graduated from the institution’s regular undergraduate programmes earned First Class honours.
She added that another 43 students graduated through the Centre for Distance Learning and Executive Programmes, bringing the total number of first-degree graduates to 324.
Reviewing the university’s performance during the 2025/2026 academic session, Arulogun disclosed that all 23 academic programmes submitted for accreditation received approval.
She further revealed that the university’s College of Law secured accreditation from the Council of Legal Education, with its approved admission quota rising from 50 to 70 students.
The vice-chancellor urged the graduates to represent the institution positively, make meaningful contributions to society and maintain strong connections with their alma mater. She also encouraged members of the university community to remain dedicated to their duties, expressing confidence that sincere efforts would yield positive results.
In her remarks, the university’s Chancellor and founder, Dr Winifred Awosika, charged the graduates to uphold integrity, discipline and academic excellence as they embark on the next stage of their lives.
Delivering the valedictory address, Abisola Okusanya, the Best Graduating Student from the Department of Nursing Science, celebrated her colleagues’ achievements and expressed gratitude to their parents, as well as the academic and non-academic staff, for supporting their aspirations. Okusanya graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.92 out of 5.00.