From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin.

The Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Professor Shaykh Luqman-Jimoh, has called on the 2023/2024 graduating class to use their education as a tool for societal transformation.

Speaking during the university’s 12th convocation ceremony Professor Luqman-Jimoh emphasized the importance of making a positive impact in the world.

“You are stepping out to a new beginning, and I join your family and friends to look forward to you making positive marks in society. You have been properly equipped to make a difference. The education you have received in Kwara State University is your ticket to change the world,” he said.

The ceremony celebrated the achievements of 6,891 graduates, including 71 First Class honorees. Professor

Luqman-Jimoh urged the graduates to embrace challenges as opportunities, live exemplary lives, and embody KWASU’s core values of community service and societal impact.

Highlighting the institution’s progress, he announced the commissioning of a 104-bed hostel and the ongoing Students Smart City Project, which aims to deliver 8,700 bed spaces in its first phase and eventually 25,000.

The project, executed in partnership with private investors, is set to enhance students’ living conditions.

The Vice-Chancellor also praised the efforts of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in expanding access to higher education through the establishment of KWASU campuses in Osi and Ilesha-Baruba, catering to Kwara South and North Senatorial Districts.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, called for increased support from stakeholders to boost infrastructure development. Addressing the graduates, he said, “Today marks the beginning of your journeys into the larger society to face practical realities of life. You will have to carve a niche for yourself to succeed in the largely competitive world.”

Chancellor Engr. Johnson Bamidele Adewumi reiterated KWASU’s commitment to advancing infrastructure, technology, and academic excellence.

Representing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr. Mary Arinde, commended KWASU for maintaining a peaceful academic environment and consistent academic calendar.

She also encouraged the graduates to utilize their skills to drive socio-economic development in Kwara State.

The convocation ceremony not only celebrated the graduates but also underscored KWASU’s dedication to academic growth, innovation, and societal progress.