Education
“Certificates Aren’t Enough” — Tunji Olowolafe Charges EKSU Graduates to Embrace Values for Success
The Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Tunji Olowolafe, has urged graduating students to prioritise character and values, stressing that academic certificates alone are not enough to guarantee success in life.
Olowolafe gave the advice on Saturday during the institution’s 30th convocation ceremony held in Ado-Ekiti, where degrees were awarded to the Class of 2026.
The event was attended by Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, top government officials, members of the academic community, and proud parents.
Addressing the graduates, the chancellor encouraged them to look beyond academic achievements and focus on cultivating qualities such as hard work, humility, and honesty, which he described as essential for navigating life’s challenges.
“A certificate, as significant as it is, is only the beginning of the real work. What you carry inside you is what determines whether you will build something lasting,” he stated.
Olowolafe also emphasised the importance of continuous development for lecturers, noting that the quality of education depends largely on the growth and exposure of academic staff. He revealed that the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation has, since 2024, sponsored 37 lecturers to attend international conferences across Europe and North America to enhance research capacity and global collaboration.
According to him, the initiative will be expanded under a structured programme known as the TOF Continuous Learning Ecosystem.
Highlighting efforts to boost students’ employability, the chancellor pointed to the establishment of an investment trading room in partnership with the university’s Department of Finance. The facility, he said, has evolved into a diploma-awarding programme approved by the university senate and open to students nationwide.
In the science and engineering fields, Olowolafe disclosed that the foundation has supported the Department of Geology with a fully equipped geoscience laboratory and facilitated fieldwork opportunities. He added that civil engineering students have also benefited from internship placements with a construction firm handling the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The chancellor further noted that the foundation continues to reward academic excellence, revealing that 200 first-class graduates received N500,000 each at the previous convocation. He added that beneficiaries will now be part of a First Class Graduate Club, providing access to professional development and job placement opportunities.
Olowolafe explained that these initiatives are part of a broader strategy to promote lifelong learning and career development through a digital platform that tracks students’ skills and achievements.
He, however, urged the graduating students to see themselves as ambassadors of the university, reminding them of the responsibility to uphold its legacy.
“We did not come this far to stop here, and neither should you,” he said.
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