Bishop David Oyedepo, Chancellor, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara, has suggested the adoption of innovative education system to tackle the nation’s socio-economic challenges.
Oyedepo made the suggestion on Friday while addressing the 5th Convocation ceremony of the university in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara.
He spoke on the topic: “Defining Destiny by Taking Responsibility’’.
Oyedepo, who doubled as the Chairman of the institution’s Board of Regent, said that Nigeria’s socio-economic and security challenges were surmountable through stakeholders’ responsibilities.
He expressed the need for students and youths to be groomed through innovative education system to be able to assume responsibility in tackling the nation’s challenges as future leaders.
Oyedepo said that students of the institution upon graduation, possessed the prerequisite entrepreneurial and life applicable education through its well-tailored curriculum and academic base.
“This has clearly set them out to be solution providers and in restoring the dignity of the black man in line with the university’s motto – “Breaking new Grounds’’.
“By way of situating the relevance of university education, particularly in addressing the issues of the day.
“I have come to the conclusion that universities do not exist to teach and graduate students but rather to serve as a preparatory ground for raising students to take responsibility.
“This they do as they engage with the issues in the real life context upon graduation,’’ he said.
Prof. Adeniyi Olayanju, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, in his remarks, reiterated the institution’s efforts in advancing the frontiers of research activities in boosting agricultural value chain.
He noted that this would engender the much-needed food sufficiency in the country and Africa as a whole.
“We are poised to move Landmark University to a higher level through positive policy initiatives and unrelenting commitment to value addition and global competitiveness.
“With the breathtaking infrastructure development programmes; supportive of teaching and learning; the university is set to enlarge her coast by introducing more undergraduate programmes and commencement of post-graduate programmes.’’ Olayanju said.
Prof. Israel Adu, the Guest Speaker, said that a good content delivery was a critical key to effective implementation of a curriculum that could give knowledge and attitude.
He spoke on: “Restructuring Curriculum and Content Delivery in Higher Education for National Economic Development”.
Adu, a Professor of Animal Science, maintained that since the society was dynamic, the curriculum must also be dynamic to adequately respond to the emerging needs of the society.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 405 students christened “The Elite Set”, graduated from the institution’s three colleges for the 2017/2018 session with 38 of them graduating with first class. (NAN)