Graduating students of Babcock University’s NOVA Class of 2026 have been urged to embrace innovation, resilience and ethical entrepreneurship as they prepare to thrive in an increasingly dynamic and disruptive global environment.
Delivering the 2026 Undergraduate Convocation Lecture at the University’s Amphitheatre, the incoming Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Professor Adejoke Oyewunmi, challenged the graduating class to adopt what she described as a “Renaissance Mindset” by becoming creators of opportunities and solutions rather than relying on traditional employment.
Speaking on the theme, “Renaissance Mindset: Innovating Your Identity and Enterprise,” Professor Oyewunmi said graduation marks the beginning of a new phase in which graduates must intentionally redefine themselves through continuous learning, innovation and purpose-driven leadership.
“There are two pages in the life of every graduate – the student page and the blank page of a new mind and new identity,” she said. “The future belongs to those who create value, not those who merely consume it.”
She described the renaissance mindset as one that transforms uncertainty into opportunity, stressing that innovation is not limited to technology but is a way of thinking that enables people across all professions to solve real-world problems.
“Uncertainty is not the opposite of intelligence; it is the terrain on which intelligence is built,” she noted, encouraging graduates to view disruption as fertile ground for creativity, innovation and enterprise.
The legal scholar identified lifelong learning, resilience and digital literacy as essential pillars for building a future-ready identity. She urged the graduands to remain curious, cultivate strategic networks, embrace failure as part of the learning process and pursue excellence without compromising integrity.
“Do not build your financial security on the exploitation of others. Build honestly, lead with conscience and let enterprise create value beyond yourself,” she advised.
Professor Oyewunmi also encouraged graduates to see artificial intelligence as a tool that enhances human creativity rather than a threat, emphasising that judgement, imagination and ethical leadership remain uniquely human qualities.
She concluded by reminding the graduands that innovation is a daily discipline rather than a job title.
“The canvas is waiting to be painted with your innovative ideas. Practise innovation as a daily discipline. Never allow fear to limit your growth, because disruption is not your enemy; it is the fertile ground upon which innovation is born,” she said.
The lecture formed part of activities marking Babcock University’s 2026 Undergraduate Convocation, where graduating students were equipped with practical insights on leadership, entrepreneurship and responsible citizenship as they prepare to make meaningful contributions to society.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.