Unilorin VC Tasks 11,213 Graduands To Tackle Unemployment, Insecurity, Food Crisis

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin), Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), has charged 11,213 first-degree graduands of the institution to tackle Nigeria’s challenges, including unemployment, insecurity, inadequate healthcare, food insecurity and declining moral standards.

Egbewole gave the charge on Wednesday, urging the graduands to deploy their knowledge, skills and values to develop practical solutions to the country’s social and economic problems.

Speaking on the theme: “Let This Investment Count,” the vice-chancellor also urged the graduands to justify the investments made in their education by their parents and the university.

He warned them against joining the growing number of Nigerians who merely complain about the country’s problems instead of developing practical solutions.

“Your certificate is not the end of your journey. It is the beginning of a greater responsibility. The world is waiting for you, and Nigeria needs you,” he said.

Egbewole explained that the graduates’ education represented three major investments: parental sacrifice, institutional commitment and personal effort, stressing that all three must yield meaningful results through responsible conduct, professional excellence and contributions to national development.

He noted that many parents and guardians had sacrificed their comfort, postponed personal ambitions and committed substantial resources to ensure their children acquired university education.

“The money that could have been used to build a house went towards your accommodation. The money that could have bought a car paid for your textbooks, learning materials and internet data,” he said.

The vice-chancellor urged the graduands to honour these sacrifices by supporting their parents when they were able and making them proud through their achievements and contributions to society.

He also reminded them that they would become ambassadors of their alma mater, noting that their conduct, integrity and professional competence would influence public perception of the institution.

Egbewole encouraged the graduands to become solution providers, whether as employees or employers, and to embrace honesty, hard work and innovation in their chosen careers.

He stressed that the value of their university education should be measured not only by the certificates they received but also by how they applied their knowledge and skills to improve society.

The vice-chancellor urged the graduates to remain committed to excellence and responsible citizenship, saying their contributions would help determine the future of the university and the country.