Governor Peter Mbah, represented by his Deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, had at the 13th convocation ceremony of Godfrey Okoye University, called on graduating students to uphold sound character, resist the glorification of ill-gotten wealth and play active roles in rebuilding the nation’s value system.
Barr. Ossai, congratulated the students for being found “worthy in character and learning,” describing Godfrey Okoye University as one of Nigeria’s leading private universities noted for quality teaching, research and moral formation.
“Now is the time to deploy the content of the character and learning that the university has imbibed in you,” Ossai said, urging the graduates to prepare for real-life challenges with integrity, discipline and courage.
Ossai, who spoke frankly on the country’s security and moral challenges, lamented the erosion of values and the rise of criminal activities driven by the celebration of unexplained and illicit wealth.
“Today, we are confronted by people bent on destroying God’s creation, using assault weapons to waylay innocent citizens. Government is investing in technology, supporting security agencies and deploying cutting-edge tools to hunt down criminal elements,” he said.
He stressed that lasting security must be anchored on stong values, noting that a society guided by moral discipline would not produce those who take up arms against fellow citizens. He recalled how teachers, priests and school headmasters were once revered, describing today’s trend of disrespect and attacks on clergy and educators as troubling.
The Deputy Governor challenged the graduands to become ambassadors of the university’s values, calling on young people to reject criminality, refuse to celebrate fraud and cooperate with authorities by providing useful information to tackle insecurity.
“Until we work together, refuse to glorify ill-gotten wealth and treat moral decay with disdain, the drivers of criminality may not be fully defeated,” he stated.
Ossai also reaffirmed Enugu State Government’s readiness to partner with tertiary institutions, inviting universities to share research findings that could drive innovation, human development and economic growth in the state.
“As a government, we are happy to read research outputs that add value to society, and we are minded to embrace them,” he added.
He commended the Catholic Church for its historic role in education and healthcare, and urged it to continue to “speak the truth” to leaders. He assured residents that the government’s services remain inclusive and people-centred.
The convocation ceremony marked the formal graduation of students across various faculties, as the university leadership celebrated another milestone in its contributions to manpower development in Nigeria.
