President Bola Tinubu recently charged the graduating class of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to continue to seek new knowledge, embrace the challenges ahead, and strive for excellence in every endeavour.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad gave the charge at the 36th convocation ceremony of YABATECH held at Dr. Philip Adegbite Sport Complex.
He stressed as you move forward into the next chapter of your lives, he reminded the graduates that learning is a lifelong journey, therefore, continue to seek out new knowledge, embrace the challenges ahead, and strive for excellence in every endeavour.
According to him, the world is full of opportunities, and you are well prepared to explore and seize them, stating,”let the education you have received serve as a beacon, guiding you to make a positive impact.
Tinubu further said the skills and expertise gained at YABATECH are not just tools for personal advancement, but instruments for national growth and transformation, therefore use them to foster innovation, drive entrepreneurship and promote social progress and encourages them to be determined.
The president reiterated that his administration’s through Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector are committed to providing enabling environment for productivity in tertiary institutions through funding and infrastructural support. Adding that, apart from TETFund and the Needs Assessment Programmes, which is on- going in the institution, Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was also established to provide financial support to students.
He expressed gratitude that the students of YABATECH have distinguished themselves in various fields, earning accolades for their achievements in academics, sports, arts and community service among others.
Therefore, he challenged the graduates as they embarked on new journey to be courageous, stay true to your dreams and never stop believing in your abilities, “do not get involved in any activity that will tarnish your image, your family and that of the country.
However, he commended YABATECH for the significant milestones in the area of entrepreneurial development, which according to him is playing a crucial role in Nigeria’s drive for job creation and economic growth.
President Tinubu stressed, the college ‘s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial skills among it’s students has greatly enhanced our nation’s capacity for innovation and self reliance. ” I encourage today’s graduates to build on this strong foundation and leverage your acquired skills for professional growth and societal impact”.
In his address, the Chairman of Governing Council, Prof. Funso Isolaowa Afolabi, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the graduands and acknowledged that the occasion marks a significant milestone in their academic journey.
Afolabi charged the graduands as they go into the world beyond YABATECH to remember that education is not a destination, but a lifelong journey.
He advised them to embrace curiosity, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence.
Earlier, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul stated that, today is not just a day of celebration; it is a testament to hard work, resilience, and vision.
He added: “Our graduands are the embodiment of this institution’s legacy, a legacy rooted in excellence, innovation and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. I have no doubt that you are ready to conquer the world driven by technology, innovation, and an insatiable hunger for progress as you are stepping out into the world that is rapidly changing.”
Abdul reminded the graduands that success in the 21st century is not just about knowledge; it is about availability, adaptability, collaboration and vision. “Technology will involve, industries will transform, and the problems of today will give way to the challenges of tomorrow, and charged the graduates to be curios, bold and ethical.
He further stated that, YABATECH would maintain and sustain her ranking as the best polytechnics in the country for the 6th consecutive years.
He disclosed that 8,139 graduands have been trained by their various departments, out of which 316 obtained Distinction, 2, 381 graduated in Upper Class while 3,939 students are graduating in Lower Credit and 1, 503 are in Pass grade.
The college conferred fellowship award on the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
Responding to the conferment as a Fellow of YABATECH, Senator Tinubu expressed her gratitude to the governing council for the honour bestowed on her, she added that she considers the award as a challenge that would continue to inspire her efforts to uplift others for the greater good and development of our nation.
She said: “It is my firm belief that it is a collective responsibility of everyone to prepare the young ones for tomorrow. This is one of the reasons why, I initiated various charities over the years including, the New Era Foundation that birthed the Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition and produced the One day Governor event, the Musical Youth Fiesta Initiative that led to the Leadership Academy for Girls (a mentorship programme) among others.
The new Fellow in pursuant of her vision to promote education of students donated ₦50million as an endowment fund for the best overall female student of YABATECH.