The Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Regents of Covenant University, Dr David Oyedepo, has called on the graduating class of 2023 to evolve a contribution mentality if they must make the most of their life after University.
Dr Oyedepo gave the counsel during the 18th convocation ceremony of the University on Friday, September 29, 2023. He admonished the graduands, noting that nobody lacks what he gives, but only lack what they keep. As such, the less possessive one is, the more he contributes towards the betterment of the society, and as a result, the greater he becomes.
“What matters most in life is not our qualifications, but our contributions. Most people that changed the world, including the world of science and technology were not mostly men and women of great qualifications or certifications. They were simply men and women with contribution mentality,” he posited.
Dr Oyedepo reiterated that no one would be remembered for his qualifications, profession or office occupied, but for his contribution. According to him, the impact of any man is a function of the quality of contribution he makes. Hence, only Value-adding individuals today become great leaders of the future, as such contributive work is what enhances the worth of men.
He reminded the convocants that where one finds himself tomorrow is a function of his contributions to the society today. He, however, stated that there was need for each one to adequately define their field of play and invest the requisite time, energy and resources before they can emerge candidates of impact.
“If we crave after contribution today, the same way we crave after recognition or position, many more world changers will emerge; if we crave after impact the same way we crave after pleasure, many more giants will rise in our various fields of endeavours. The value of a name is not in the title or office one holds or occupies, but the impact of his or her life. Therefore, our impact lies in our contributions and not in our possession, he averred.
Going further, the Chancellor advised the graduating class of 2023 to recognise that champions are made of challenges, while stars are product of sacrifice as there is no star without a scar. He noted that the scar of every star is sacrifice.
The Chancellor concluded his lecture by pointing out that there is nothing extraordinary on its own as it is man’s extraordinary input that makes it so. As such, no world-changer runs a normal schedule - it is paying the abnormal price that makes a world-changer. According to him, “No world changer possesses a normal habit. No world-changer has a normal lifestyle. All world changers are highly focused individuals.”
In addition, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Bishop David Abioye, while congratulating the graduating class of 2023 for a successful completion of their various academic programmes, admonished them to be guided by all the principles that have been inculcated in them. He emphasised the place of little beginnings, and averred that while one's brain is allowed to think great, and his mouth to speak great, starting small is mandatory, not-negotiable and not non-optional.
The Pro-Chancellor said starting small does not connote being in doubt of one’s greatness, neither does it disprove one’s compelling vision for greatness; nor does it make one look slow or indolent. According to him, in the integral process of life, one does not jump up, rather, one grows up to stay up by starting small.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo, took the stage and emphasised the University’s commitment to her founding mission which is to transform students into expert thinkers, innovative managers, and resourceful technocrats in all fields of learning, thereby restoring relevance to universities in Africa. He explained that this avowed goal is already resonating across the African continent and the entire world as Covenant University continues to distinguish herself and underline her competence in Nigeria's tertiary education space and among the committee of world-class institutions.
While congratulating the class of 2023, the Vice-Chancellor said he was certain that they have been equipped to soar higher and attain unimaginable feats in their various callings. “Don’t despair, even when the journey gets tough and stormy, but remember that an eagle earns its honour from the storms it endures,” he concluded.
A total of 1,177 Bachelor’s and 204 higher degrees were awarded in various disciplines. In the Bachelor’s degree category, 283 (24.04%) of the graduands made First Class, while 656 (55.74%) are in the Second Class (Upper Division). 216 (18.35%) of the graduands bagged Second Class (Lower Division), while 22 (1.87%) of the graduands were in the Third Class category.
In the higher degree category, 57 scholars were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree, 107 graduated with Master of Science degree, 27 obtaining Master of Engineering degree, while two 2 persons were conferred with Master of Arts degree, this is in addition to the 11 graduands who were conferred with a Master in Business Administration degree.