Building Knowledge Economy, Only Way To National Development –Falana SAN

Renowned lawyer and activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has said
that tertiary education is the cornerstone for Nigeria’s economic
growth and national development.

He stated this while delivering the 9th Convocation Lecture of
Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State at the graduation ceremony,
which held recently.

The lawyer added that training of students in universities is
vital for both formal and informal education for the onward
transmission to building a knowledge economy, new challenges in
life and for establishing a civic duty to the society.

Falana, however, said that it seems that institutions of higher
learning have eluded the cross border or global dimension of the
changing global landscape, especially in relation to knowledge.
“Thus, a striking question is how we implement policies for the
openness to new ideas, and for setting up institutions to promote
competitions.”

He said the university ought to have prepared the graduates to
grapple with the challenges of life. “Bu

due to lack of opportunities and abuse of academic freedom the
education acquired here has partially prepared the graduates to
face the vicissitude of life.”

The lecturer, therefore, said for Nigeria to find its unique way
of gaining impressive achievements in economic growth and poverty
eradication, political departments should constantly monitor the
political system, track budget performance at the federal, state
and local government levels in order to ensure even and balanced
development of all areas of the country.

Earlier in his speech, the Chancellor of the university,
Brig-Gen. Mobolaji Johnson (rtd) charged the graduates to remain
worthy ambassadors of the university wherever they find themselves,
“always uphold the truth, holiness and above all, modesty in all
that you do.

The Pro-chancellor, Prof. ‘Fola Tayo in his speech congratulated
the graduating students urging them to make use of what they have
learnt in the university for the development of the country. The
Acting vice-chancellor, Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie in his convocation
address said the imperative of building a world-class university
and to make the university an unmatchable aesthetic showpiece,
demands the growth of all elements of the university dream,
simultaneously, systematically and holistically.

Giving the highlights of the graduating students, the VC said
compared to 409 graduates in 2017, and 477 graduates in 2018, 733
students are graduating at the convocation this year with 24 first
class, 235 second class upper division, 255 lower divisions and 30
in third class.

The postgraduate had 19 distinctions, 160 pass with the overall
best graduating student this year is Otibhor Imuse with CGPA of
4.85 from the college of Pure and Applied Sciences and the overall
best graduate at the post graduate level is Temitope Adedayo-Ojo
with CGPA of 4.96.

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