Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NiDCOM, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has charged fresh graduates of the Lagos State University to always think globally but build locally, if they eventually travel abroad for greener pastures , saying they must not be disconnected but remain connected to Nigeria, so to contribute to the growth of the country
The Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM gave the charge on Tuesday while delivering a lecture for the combined 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies of the university, titled "From LASU to the World: Harnessing the Potentials of Nigeria's Diaspora As the 7th Region", urged the graduating students to use the knowledge, skills and exposure garnered over sea for the further development of the country
"So, as you move from LASU to the world, I want you to see the world not only as a place to build your individual careers, but also as a space from which you can remain connected to Nigeria and contribute to its development"
"Worthy of note is that Nigerians in the diaspora sent home over $20 billion in remittances last year. But remittances are only one part of what the diaspora offers Nigeria. The real potential is much bigger. It is in the skills and technical expertise Nigerians acquire abroad. It is in the ideas and technologies they are exposed to. It is in the international networks they build with universities, companies, investors and institutions around the world. These are resources that can be brought to bear on Nigeria’s development", she stated
The NiDCOM, mandate according to her, is to engage, empower and enable the Diaspora by creating platforms that connect Nigerians abroad with home.
"We hold the National Diaspora Day and Diaspora Merit Awards, and we are building mechanisms to better understand and connect with our diaspora community"
Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello while congratulating the graduands , urged them to continue to learn, so as to be more relevant in their chosen careers
"The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, and those who continue to learn will always remain relevant. Be curious. Be adaptable. Be courageous enough to embrace new ideas and new possibilities".
She encouraged them not to be discouraged by any form of setbacks later in life but rather they should be determined to succeed by overcoming such challenges
"You will undoubtedly encounter setbacks along the way. Do not be discouraged by them. Every meaningful achievement is preceded by moments of difficulty. What defines truly successful people is not that they never failed, but that they refused to surrender to failure. Let every challenge strengthen your resolve and every disappointment become an opportunity to grow"
"More importantly, let your journey be defined by the positive difference you make in the lives of others. Strive to leave every place better than you found it, approach every responsibility with purpose, and remain committed to values that stand the test of time"
For the 2024/2025 Academic Session, a total of 8,568 students graduated for
the 2025/2026 Academic Session, while a total of 8,697 students graduated
For Higher Degree Programmes for Combined 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 Academic Sessions, a total of 3,383 students graduated
Overall, the University will graduated a total of 20,604 students with Ayilara Lawal Olawale of the Department of Project Management with a CGPA of 4.96 emerging as overall best student for 2024/2025 Academic Session while Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide of the Department of Aerospace Engineering with a CGPA of 4.97 , emerged as overall best student for the 2025/2026 Academic Session
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