The 2019/2020 Graduating Set of Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, are a very lucky bunch indeed!
‘The Lynx Set’, as the 2019/20 set are called, had their convocation last Thursday 20th August and they had no less a personality to give the Commencement Speech than the Managing Director & Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan, who laid out for them what they should expect in the world they were going into and how to be the ‘Positive Difference’ in that world.
The event was the 18th Undergraduate and 9th Post Graduate Convocation Ceremony of the institution; it was also its first virtual graduation so it was digital through and through.
Akinwuntan seemed to use that as a launch pad when he told the graduands that the world they were going into was a digital village and they must be digitally savvy to compete effectively, notwithstanding what they studied at Babcock.
He gave an example:
“Agriculture, which was hitherto largely manual in these parts, now leverages digital technology. Today, it is possible for a farmer in Ilishan to scan a plant or tree and send to an online expert based in Ibadan or Canada, who prescribes the appropriate pesticide and generates a barcode for an instant online order for payment to be made by a card, QR code or instant transfer. The pesticide is then delivered to the farmer or applied to a specified field by drones using Google maps. All this can happen within minutes or hours. You must be ready to adapt and compete effectively in these settings”.
The Guest Speaker then offered the graduands some tips for seeking employment or establishing a business in today’s environment:
- Focus on industries that offer services and products that have massive day-to-day use. This includes Agriculture, Telecoms, Food and Beverages, Technology, Banking and Finance etc. This ensures you will find customers and growth opportunities. One of the core reasons for the success of the Dangote conglomerate is that it focuses on these things – cement, flour, sugar which are in demand by everyone and used massively on a day-to-day basis.
- If you wish to start your own business, pay attention to businesses that enable you scale or grow without much additional capital from you. This is the logic of Uber or Netflix. Uber provides transportation globally without owning vehicles. Netflix provides movies without owning cinema houses or producing any movie. Tiktok is the latest example. The owners created an App but you will be the one to buy your phone and data while your activities lead to the growth of the business and value of Tiktok.
- If you seek employment, you need to have the DNA of an employer. It may come across as a paradox but an employer DNA seeks to add value while an employee DNA seeks to collect salaries. Note the huge difference.
- The basic values of punctuality, respect, humility, diligence, integrity have become rare in the business environment. Do not take these for granted. Keep them and you will be better for it.
Mr. Akinwuntan told the graduands that as they set out to make a difference in the world, they must be bold and have the courage to dare.
Above all, they must have integrity and learn to play by the right rules.
He expressed the assurance that ‘The LYNX Set’ would ‘bring into the unfolding world, an uncommon integrity, deep insights, accountability, excellence, servant leadership, creativity and a never-give-up spirit that truly creates a new, better world’.
Apart from the graduands, the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor & Members of Council, Principal Officers, Deans, Heads of Department, lecturers and other staff of Babcock University, parents, guardians, relations and friends of the graduands, current students and members of the university community participated in the virtual convocation ceremony which was moderated from the campus of the institution at Ilishan Remo.
IMAGE CREDIT: babcock.edu.ng, PA
Epa Ogie Eboigbe, veteran journalist, broadcaster and public affairs specialist writes on, and analyses current and historical issues with a ‘wise pen’.
