The Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe has launched a N1 billion Innovative Fund to support agro-tech companies, which he encouraged the 2021/22 graduands and other students of the institution to establish.
The serial entrepreneur said that the programme, whose endowment was the highlight of the 28th convocation of the university on Wednesday, would also offer support and subsidies for up to 30 academic staff members of the university. “This initiative aims to facilitate their participation in international conferences, training sessions, and research activities”, he explained.
Olowolafe admonished the graduands nd students not to practise only what they formally studied, urging them to distinguish between academic qualifications and life’s reality.
“Graduands, what I studied did not make me who I am. But it helped me discover who I will be. In Medicine, we are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat. This means we keep an open mind and always listen. So, I never close my mind to any opportunity.
“My academic qualification will remain with me for life. However, it did not dictate how I live or earn my livelihood.
“My great graduands and students of Ekiti State University, your generation must learn to distinguish between academic qualifications and the realities of living. Many people are lucky enough to earn a living from what they study. But for most of us, we may have to ‘course correct’ at some point to truly achieve our potential”.
The full text…
“It is with great delight that I stand before you today to preside over the 28th convocation ceremony of our great university. On behalf of the university, I extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you.
“To our graduands, let me begin by saying congratulations! Today marks the reward of your years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. You have overcome challenges, embraced the rigours of character development, endured the process of learning, and demonstrated the resilience necessary to attain this significant milestone. Your journey has not been without hurdles, but it is the challenges that have shaped you into the capable individuals you are today.
“This is my first address as the Chancellor of this great university. Let me use this opportunity to express gratitude to the Visitor of the university and Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, for finding me worthy of the appointment. I want to pledge my unflinching support to the growth and transformation of the university.
“Great graduands and students of Ekiti State University, today technology has made information accessible and in abundance. Your expectations have also changed as there are too many opportunities to consider. This is a blessing, but if not well managed, could also be a curse. Sometimes, abundance causes confusion.
“Please don’t get me wrong, it is very important to be ambitious. But what is more important is to match your ambition with reality. If you intend, for example, to live in Ekiti, then you must recognise the realities of Ekiti – its current state, needs, opportunities and future prospects. Same applies to those intending to live in Zamfara. They may both have the same ambition and aspirations, but the peculiar realities of their environments differ vastly. Thus, an understanding of reality will enable you appropriately position yourself to thrive and succeed in your chosen location.
“As you graduate and move into the real world, many of you may worry that you are not prepared for its realities. This concern is normal; I say this from my personal experience. Trust me, I did not dye my hair grey so I can look smart or experienced or matured. My journey through life, actually turned the colour of my hair!
“The history of my grey reflects the many failures and ‘course corrections’ that led to my eventual successes. Please note that both failures and successes are blessings. Failures give you opportunities to make corrections and adjustments. You make new friends and gain new experiences. So, when you eventually succeed, you will appreciate the experiences and journeys more.
“Today, I am an entrepreneur. I am into healthcare technology, financial services, real estate and construction, to mention a few.
“In the university however, I studied Medicine, and I am a medical doctor by profession and academic qualification. What may surprise you is that I practiced Medicine for only four years.
“Graduands, what I studied did not make me who I am. But it helped me discover who I will be. In medicine, we are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat. This means we keep an open mind and always listen. So, I never close my mind to any opportunity.
“My academic qualification will remain with me for life. However, it did not dictate how I live or earn my livelihood.
“My great graduands and students of Ekiti State University, your generation must learn to distinguish between academic qualifications and the realities of living. Many people are lucky enough to earn a living from what they study. But for most of us, we may have to ‘course correct’ at some point to truly achieve our potential.
“Many universities are seen as centres of academic learning. But they should also ‘course correct’ to be ‘life experience’ centres. It is beyond obtaining a qualification, you ought to also leave university with some experiences on how to live and be independent with little or no family support.
“Great students of Ekiti State University, for example, as you study in the morning and afternoon, you should also have vocations for late afternoons and early evenings. Listen carefully. my graduands, I said ‘vocations’, not ‘hobbies’.
“Your Excellency, Governor of Ekiti State, my recent pet project is on Agriculture. I hope it will be a vocation. I have put in a lot of time and effort to understand Agriculture most especially in Nigeria. My first move was not to study it in a book. Instead, I proactively made friends who are in the sector. I was shocked to learn about the billions of Naira they are making in a very quiet yet impactful way. No one knows them. But they create millions of jobs.
“The first thing that struck me, Your Excellency, about these successful agricultural entrepreneurs is that none of them studied Agriculture. They were chemical engineers, mechanical engineers, computer scientists, accountants; and some did not even go to the university. However, these agricultural entrepreneurs control our dining tables today. It is quite remarkable actually. Please take note, I did not call them farmers, I called them entrepreneurs.
“I dug further to understand how they got to where they are today. The feedback was mixed between family upbringing, passion and, of course, my favourite – an opportunity that accidentally fell on their laps.
“Today, Your Excellency, the general discussion in Nigeria is about cost of living and food security. All of us eat. But many of us do not spend time to think about what we eat, how it is produced and how did it get to our table. These are very important questions.
“My view is, regardless of what we are studying at university, we must all think about how we can do our bit to produce food. This means both the academic and student faculties must come together to think and act! Afterall, what is the point of learning if we don’t apply our thoughts!
“Mr. Vice Chancellor, I would like to make a suggestion. This campus is located on very fertile land. Let us see how we can optimise the use of this land for agricultural purposes. Each student can lease a small plot of land for production. As we learn to pass our exams, we can also use these farms to eat and earn a living. There is no age or gender restrictions.
“Mr. Vice Chancellor, Sir, as we give awards to best academic students, we can also give awards to best agro-entrepreneurs on campus. Some can do grains while others do vegetables. Some can do poultry whilst others can do fisheries. Some can even do logistics whilst others do apps.
“Graduands, the market is there. Agriculture cannot and will not prevent you from pursuing your dreams. As a matter of fact, it will allow you to pursue your dreams on a full stomach.
“Your Excellency, Sir, Visitor of Ekiti State University, my passion lies in nurturing inclusive and sustainable growth within our local communities. Agriculture stands as the backbone of our nation, and it is here that I see the greatest potential for innovation and economic prosperity. That’s why I am proud to announce the launch of a ground-breaking initiative: a N1 billion Innovation Fund designed to empower agro-tech companies founded by present graduands and students of our Great Ekiti State university.
“Your Excellency Sir, I am also delighted to announce the establishment of a new programme, which I will be endowing, designed to offer support and subsidies for up to 30 academic staff members. This initiative aims to facilitate their participation in international conferences, training sessions, and research activities.
“Your Excellency, the Governor of Ekiti State, our work does not stop with agriculture. I believe in harnessing the untapped potential of our youth, particularly in fields like business process outsourcing. This sector presents a world of opportunity for our graduates, especially those from Ekiti State University, to immediately contribute to the global economy. To this end, I am excited to create a platform for 100 of the brightest minds from our esteemed institution to engage in meaningful, sustainable work that challenges them and grows their skills.
“In closing, I am reminded of the words of the great Nnamdi Azikiwe: ‘Originality is the essence of true scholarship. Creativity is the soul of the true scholar’. Let us embody this spirit of originality and creativity as we forge ahead, investing in our students, and through them, securing a prosperous future for Nigeria.
