Former Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), has advised graduating students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) to equip themselves with practical skills in addition to their academic qualifications, warning that certificates alone are no longer enough in today’s competitive world.
Kayode gave the charge while delivering the convocation lecture at the university’s 36th convocation ceremony on Friday. He stressed that digital literacy and continuous upskilling are essential for young people to thrive in the modern labour market.
According to him, formal education is only the starting point, and graduates must embrace self-driven learning to remain relevant.
He said, “My dear youths, do not wait for institutions to provide everything. Actively seek out online courses, certifications, boot camps, and apprenticeships in high-demand fields. Many free courses are available on platforms such as YouTube, Coursera, and LinkedIn. Even when not certified, the skills acquired are valuable.”
Kayode emphasised that employers increasingly prioritise functional skills over degrees, noting that many opportunities—including entrepreneurship—do not require formal qualification once competence is proven.
He added, “Digital literacy is a must, irrespective of your degree. The richest people in the world today are those in the digital economy. Young Nigerians are already excelling in the creative and tech sectors. You need basic digital literacy first, and then you can scale up.”
The former Labour Minister also called for the full integration of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into Nigeria’s education system. He urged federal and state governments to prioritise TVET by expanding training centres and establishing policies that attract private-sector participation.
Kayode said, “TVET must be mainstreamed as a national priority. Increased budgetary allocations, public–private partnerships, and incentives such as tax breaks for companies investing in skills development will help transform the sector.”
240 Students Graduate with First-Class Honours
In her remarks, FUTA Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announced that 240 out of 2,747 graduating students finished with first-class honours. She described the achievement as a testament to the institution’s consistent academic excellence.
Providing the breakdown, she said:
240 graduated with first-class honours
1,479 graduated with second-class upper division
912 with second-class lower division
116 with third-class honours
She noted that the university remains committed to producing graduates equipped with both academic knowledge and practical competence needed to drive national development.
