The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has challenged Nigerian graduates to look beyond academic certificates and become active citizens capable of addressing the country’s social and economic challenges.
Hamzat gave the charge on Tuesday at the 15th Convocation Lecture of Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, where he served as chairman of the occasion.
Represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Layode Olanrewaju, the deputy governor said the realities of today’s labour market demand graduates who can think critically, adapt quickly and provide solutions rather than wait passively for opportunities.
According to him, graduation marks a transition into a phase of responsibility, where young people must apply knowledge with wisdom, compassion and a strong sense of purpose.
“The world does not need more passive graduates. It needs active citizens — architects of solutions and stewards of our shared future,” Hamzat said.
He noted that while universities equip students with specialised knowledge and critical thinking skills, graduates must also cultivate wisdom and compassion to navigate life’s challenges and make meaningful contributions to society.
Hamzat urged the graduands to constantly re-evaluate their ideas, think creatively and apply their trained minds to real-life encounters.
In his convocation lecture titled ‘From Faith to Fortune: Building a Prosperous Ummah Through Leadership, Education, Innovation, and Economic Empowerment,’ the guest lecturer, Kazeem Adeduntan, called on Islamic scholars to expand their roles beyond religious spaces to economic and technological development.
Adeduntan, founder and president of Sequoia Holdings, described Muslims as “sleeping giants” and stressed the need for leadership in areas such as Islamic digital ethics, venture finance and biomedical law.
He said moral guidance must extend beyond mosques into boardrooms and digital platforms to remain relevant in the modern world.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Fountain University, Prof. Ramota Karim, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, character development and service to humanity.
She disclosed that the university invested over ₦2.7 billion in capital projects during the academic session and announced that 426 undergraduates and 81 postgraduate students, including a PhD in Microbiology, graduated at the ceremony.
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