NOUN 2025 CONVOCATION CEREMONY: SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

So, today, 12 April 2025 marked the culmination of the activities surrounding the 2025 Convocation ceremony at the National Open University of Nigeria.

The sight and sounds of the ceremony are interesting and awesome.

The beginning point is about a year ago. The intensity increased recently when focus on the harvest of students for graduation reached a crescendo. Already, the University Senate has decided that instead of waiting for the last minute, students for graduation would be continuously harvested as they complete their course of study. Consequently, constant approval of results was quite a regular feature. Nonetheless, it is understandable that there would be a rush when a date for convocation is announced. Those that were sleeping on their watch due to the flexible nature of the Open and Distant Learning (ODL) system operated by the university would suddenly wake up and realise that they can actually convoke if they apply themselves to it. The university too, becoming tired of those that have chosen to become professional students, will want to see how to get them off its radar. This is not to talk of those anxious to conclude their studies, either due to the need for it at their place of work or simply so they can proceed for further studies. In short, this year, over 17000 individuals were fortunate to be part of the Convocation Ceremony, including 40 PhD students that concluded their work over the course of the year. Dr Francis Amos Dike, the husband of a colleague, is the only one in the Faculty of Arts this year. Another interesting one is Dr Grace Egenti, the NOUN ICT head of the web design unit. I am very proud of you two.

It is a great work graduating these students, based on the intentionality of the university to be the scion of postgraduate studies. I congratulate all those that had their names listed among those that convoked this year. Those that could not make it, wishing them success for next year.

The Convocation Lecture that kicked off the ceremonies was delivered by no less a person than Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the President and Chairman of African Development Bank Group. The Chairman of the Convocation Lecture is no less a personality than Prof Attahiru Jega. It was really a gathering of the eggheads.

Dr Adesina’s lecture was thought provoking. My major takeaway is that we should not see our young people as a risk but support their vision with money and risk management to help them thrive. Otherwise, they could bring our fears to reality by becoming a risk to our safety in the future. This especially resonated with me because, at the beginning of the year, the Lord gave me the assignment to begin to motivate the young people to see a future in this country that seems to be turning more and more into a hopeless pit due to unproductive government policies that seemed bent on snuffing life out of everyone in the country. However, I can never give up on my country because I have no other. So, I take with great responsibility the assignment to continue to speak to the young people and help them find a future in the midst of the ashes of the hopelessness by finding their God-given path to success without losing their authenticity and integrity. I have been doing that ever since. You can find them on my YouTube channel in the Playlist named Youth Series. You can check them out her and let me know how you can also support that work.

The lecture is titled Advancing Africa’s Positioning within Global Development and Geopolitical Dynamics. Indeed, another important point made is that Africa should stop depending on aids. “No one gets rich by begging.” I think that is without doubt a truism. It is time that Africa takes charge of her resources, add value to it and become who God ordained her to be. However, it is mainly a mindset thing. If the mind is delivered from the colonial cage, it can happen. Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso, whom I like to think is a resurrected Thomas Sankara, is showing us it is very possible. I pray that the God of heaven will continue to protect that beacon of light for Africa so that we can continue to see what is POssible.

In the evening, we had a nice dinner time. The Convocation Dinner was organised in honour of the Guest Lecturer and his wife. We ate, had cultural display.

During his speech, Dr Adesina told us he loved to dance. I guess I didn’t believe him until he got into action. Indeed, The Rich also Dance!

It was boogey time and we boogied until everyone was satisfied.

I had to leave in the middle of the dance though because my ride home was ready to go! And that is another story. The gentleman helped me right to my estate gate. When I told the wife today to help me to thank the husband for his kindness, she said that is who he is: He is a gentleman and will not leave you stranded. I was quite impressed by that kind gesture. Barrister Daniel Riki, I appreciate you for your great kindness last night. May God abundantly reward you. Of course, this is not to forget Prof Oludare Ogunleye that took me to the venue in the evening.

Sincerely, I had to go home to drop my car earlier because I was not used to being out alone at night and having had a driver for the past six year, it was difficult to adjust. I later realised that I could have simply ordered rides. However, this never occurred to me because I was simply not used to going out at night and alone.

Anyway, today was the big day. The ceremony started a bit behind schedule. I do not know why. However, as members of the Governing Council, we were ready and called many times that the procession was starting but to be later told that we should hold on, Finally, we processed, and the ceremony commenced. The degrees were awarded to the students. The speeches were made, and the ceremony came to an end at almost 2.30pm.

The highlight was the award of honorary doctorate degrees to Dr Akinwumi Adesina and the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria’s National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass, PhD.  They graciously accepted. Their friends and well wishers were there to celebrate this milestone with them.

However, my hope was most kindled by the fiery speech of the Valedictorian. As the best student in 2025, his story was not only inspiring but it gave hope that our young people really know that they will work together to make their country work. I sincerely hope that their blood will not continue to be used to stain the Nigerian ‘banner’. If they will not allow their hope in coming together to make their country work, there may still be hope for our country. He clearly identified what we know to be Nigeria’s major drawback: the twin weapons of religious and ethnic division. These are what the politicians continue to use as instruments of self-perpetuation in power against the Nigerian people. If we find our truth and learn to tell these people enough is enough, we may be able to break free of their shackles. Whether we like to hear it or not, their only interest is to perpetuate themselves in power through installing their children as the instruments of the continued oppression of the Nigerian masses.

Anyway, I hope you had a nice time visiting us in NOUN and being a part of our celebration today.

You can be the next to be celebrated. Go to our website to apply for any of our programmes. You will be glad you did.