The convocation lecturer at Babcock University’s 15th Postgraduate Convocation Ceremony, Dr Olukunle Iyanda, has urged graduates to move beyond academic qualifications, warning that certificates alone are no longer enough to guarantee success in today’s competitive world.
Delivering the convocation lecture titled “Make a Choice: The End of Easy Advantage,” Iyanda said graduates must develop character, problem-solving abilities and leadership skills to remain relevant.
“Certificates or degrees may open doors, but they cannot sustain them,” he said. “You need to beat your own drum. And the drum is your potential. You must learn how to beat it through discipline, moral courage, responsibility and being useful.”
He told the graduands they were at a critical point in their lives where the choices they make would determine their future.
“The path of hardship and resilience most times leads to the path of glory,” he said.
According to Iyanda, knowledge has become widely available and is no longer a distinguishing factor, noting that what now sets people apart is their ability to think critically, make sound judgments and solve complex problems.
He described the situation as the “law of diminishing credential advantage,” explaining that qualifications eventually become the minimum requirement as more people obtain the same credentials.
“There used to be a time when being the first graduate in your family or local government was a distinction. Today, there are thousands of graduates in every local government,” he said.
He advised the graduates to continually build their capacity to tackle difficult challenges.
“Whatever you have achieved, add capacity to solve difficult problems. That is what people are looking for now,” he said.
Iyanda also challenged leaders to ask the right questions and think beyond immediate challenges.
“People who solve difficult problems are those who ask the right questions. If you cannot project into the future, you cannot solve the present problem,” he added.
The former university administrator commended Babcock University for its remarkable growth, describing it as “a little village that carried a big vision,” while expressing confidence that the graduates would make meaningful contributions to society.
In his remarks, Babcock University President and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole, described Iyanda as “a strategist of excellence, a man of faith and faithfulness,” whose contributions have left a lasting impact on the institution.
He noted that many landmark structures on the campus, including the convocation venue, reflect Iyanda’s vision and commitment to excellence.
Earlier, the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Yacob Haliso, said the postgraduate convocation lecture, introduced in 2016, was revived by the current administration to preserve the identity of the college.
He acknowledged the financial demands of organising a separate postgraduate convocation but stressed that maintaining the tradition was essential to celebrating the unique achievements of postgraduate scholars.
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