Young Nigerians who choose to leave the nation are encouraged to do so without delay, according to Matthew Kukah, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.
He did, however, ask God to provide the ideal conditions so those left behind might compete fairly with their overseas competitors.
Kukah, the pro-chancellor and chairman of the Veritas University Governing Council in Abuja, made this statement on Saturday while speaking to the university’s graduates.
“I encourage young people who want to leave Nigeria to please feel free to leave,” the bishop stated. The nation is sufficiently large. We guarantee that, after you establish yourself in the United States or your new location, you will realise how much Nigeria depends on you.
We also hope and pray that the people you left behind will be vying for the same opportunities as you. We possess all the necessary elements to flip the tide.
“At Veritas University, we’ll never stop motivating and forming the next generation so that the change we want to see in our nation does not come from political reform.
It is the shift that will result from a thorough intellectual grasp of how complicated our nation is. Thus, any graduate who exits Veritas’ doors would be fully prepared, both intellectually and mentally, to rule Nigeria.
Kukah gave the grads instructions to stay concentrated and to keep in mind the school they were leaving behind. He also urged educators to make an effort to serve as positive role models for the pupils.
“How the alumni left this university will determine the quality of help and support you will get from them,” he said.
“I urge you to be committed to your dream as you get ready to start a new chapter in your life. Because you are standing on the shoulders of those who came before you, never forget your alma mater. Recall the sacrifices that you have made.
Because of this, we also encourage educators to be role models for their students, as the manner in which graduates leave this university will dictate the calibre of the assistance and support they provide. They are unlikely to turn around if they depart from this university with sadness.
Therefore, we would want to implore you parents to make an effort to act as role models and mentors for these children. Keep in mind that it could have happened elsewhere. They are not in Nigeria by mistake, he continued.
He mentioned that certain educators were making sacrifices to offer their utmost to the nation. Kukah argued that instructors’ rewards are here on earth and refuted the notion that they are in heaven, urging them to keep rowing.
“I have a personal experience of coming late to catch a flight to Sokoto,” he said, recounting an incident. The final person to board the aircraft was myself.
“The pilot was waiting at the bottom of the aircraft when I arrived, and the plane miraculously kept waiting.”
He bowed to meet me as I attempted to take a seat. I had never seen this gentleman before, so I was really ashamed. However, he answered, “Well, Bishop, I must bow and greet you because it was you who nominated me for the pilot position more than ten years ago.”
As educators, we can never be sure. Reject the notion that your rewards await you in paradise. Both here on Earth and in paradise are your benefits.
He complimented the university’s administration and personnel, especially Prof. Ichoku Hyacinth, the vice chancellor.
The exceptional leadership and attributes of the VC, according to Kukah, “have been very clearly enunciated on how far the university had travelled.”
“We’re hoping this university will become elastic enough so that everyone who started with Veritas can get a spot.”
In order to allow some universities, like Veritas University, to give their fair share to the education of the populace, he made a plea to the organisations that oversee university admissions to provide opportunities for them.
“As the chairman of the Council, I’m fully aware of the sacrifices that people have made,” Kukah remarked, turning to face the parents and guardians. Not to belabour the point, but (I am) also noting the increasing amount of revenue created internally.
We don’t take these things for granted. I commend Veritas University’s administration and employees for their bravery and tenacity in carrying out their duty.
As Veritas University’s pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council, we firmly guarantee the council’s unwavering backing for the university’s continued growth.
We are pleading with you once more to allow your name to appear someplace within this university. The size has no bearing on the problem. Come forward and pledge your support for Veritas University so that together we can push the boundaries of knowledge.
