Education Must Produce Solution Providers, Not Just Degree Holders — Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said that education must produce solution providers, not just degree holders, urging Nigerian graduates to apply their knowledge and skills to solve the country’s numerous challenges.

Governor Abiodun made the statement on Tuesday while delivering the convocation lecture at the Postgraduate Convocation Ceremony of Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The governor, who was also honoured with Babcock University’s Award of Good Governance, announced cash rewards for the institution’s best graduating students.

Speaking on the theme, “Breaking New Grounds,” Abiodun said universities should not only confer degrees but also prepare graduates to become innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers capable of advancing society.

He described the graduands as some of the brightest minds of their generation whose scholarship, innovation, leadership, and character would shape the future of Nigeria, Africa, and the wider world.

“Universities occupy a unique place in human civilisation. They do far more than transmit information; they sharpen minds, refine convictions, mould character, and prepare citizens capable of advancing society,” he said.

The governor stressed that education must produce solution providers, not just degree holders, adding that the true measure of education lies not only in what graduates know, but in how they apply that knowledge for the benefit of humanity.

Abiodun commended Babcock University for consistently demonstrating that education achieves its highest purpose when intellectual excellence is complemented by moral responsibility, noting that competence without character could become dangerous.

He also highlighted his administration’s commitment to transforming education in Ogun State through the Ogun REHAB Initiative, which has led to the renovation of public schools and improved learning environments across the state.

According to him, more than 6,000 teachers have been recruited under the OgunTeach Programme to strengthen teaching and learning in public schools.

The governor said the reforms underscore his administration’s belief that education is not merely a social service but the most strategic investment in the future of the people.

“By combining infrastructure renewal with digital innovation, data-driven planning, teacher empowerment, and strategic partnerships with institutions like Babcock University, we are building an educational ecosystem where knowledge inspires innovation, research drives enterprise, and planning produces globally competitive graduates equipped to lead in a knowledge-based economy,” he said.

Abiodun urged the graduates to embrace innovation without compromising integrity, noting that the future belongs to those who combine technological excellence with ethical leadership.

He reminded the graduands that the convocation was not merely the end of an academic journey but the beginning of a lifelong responsibility, adding that while degrees confer honour, character and service ultimately define the value of education.