The Bishop of Ajayi Crowther Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt Revd Collins Babalola, has challenged graduating students of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo to become solutions to societal problems rather than contributing to them.
The Bishop made this known during the valedictory service for the 2023/2024 graduating class of the varsity held on Thursday.
The valedictory was attended by key university officials including Vice-Chancellor Prof Timothy Adebayo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Muyiwa Popoola, and other senior staff members.
A statement on Thursday sighted by PUNCH Online noted that Bishop Babalola likened the graduating students to arrows.
He emphasised the importance of divine guidance, advising, “The Bible describes children as reward and heritage from God, emphasising the value and important of family in His plan.
“My focus is on children being likened to an arrow. Arrows are carefully crafted and designed for unique purposes. They are sent out to hit specific target. You are created to make specific positive impact in life, therefore, I urge you not to be wasted generation. An arrow needs an archer to perform, make God your archer in life. Be solution to problem and not the cause or part of it.
“I call on you to make deliberate, wise choices that align with God in your life. Let the wisdom of God guide you as you hit target in life. A fool lives on his own understanding but the wise acknowledges God in the choices he makes. We are in the age of technology but the greatest information comes from God.”
The Bishop also expressed concerns about the proliferation of private institutions in Nigeria.
“Today, there are private institutions that contribute positively to mankind like Ajayi Crowther University and there are some that train thugs,” he remarked.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Timothy Adebayo, in his address, highlighted a new initiative at ACU.
“This is a unique set and that is why we labelled it unicorn set. They are the first beneficiary of our new policy which gives Mind Education and Entrepreneurship certificates in addition to regular first-degree certificates to graduates,” he announced.
On June 24, the institution announced that its graduates will now receive three certificates upon completion of their studies.
This initiative, described as “unprecedented in the history of tertiary education in Nigeria” by the Vice-Chancellor includes the standard degree certificate, a Mind Education certificate, and an Entrepreneurship Training certificate.
A statement made available to PUNCH Online noted that the announcement came during a visit by Mind Education experts from China and Korea, who were at ACU to implement a mind education project.
Prof. Adebayo explaining the origins of this innovative program said, “The Mind Education project began following my visit to South Korea in 2023 to participate in the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) program. Other Vice-Chancellors and heads of tertiary institutions from Nigeria attended the program, where we observed how mind education is used to combat social vices among the youth in Korea and other Asian countries.”
This triple certification innovation aims to equip ACU graduates with additional skills and certifications, potentially enhancing their competitiveness in the job market.