Oyo South Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Aderemi Oseni has charged Nigerian graduates to combine academic excellence with good character, integrity and godliness, stressing that while certificates may open doors, character is key to sustaining success.
Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), gave the charge on Saturday while speaking with journalists at the fourth convocation ceremony of Dominion University, Ibadan.
He noted that academic qualifications could create opportunities, but the values graduates uphold would shape their professional journeys and determine how well they sustain their achievements.
“Certification can only create a way for you, make a way for you and take you to where you are going, but your character will keep you there,” he said.
The lawmaker urged the graduates to see their academic achievements as a foundation for greater opportunities in their chosen careers, encouraging them to apply the knowledge and values acquired during their studies.
He described graduates of faith-based institutions as privileged, noting that the environment in which students are trained plays an important role in shaping their conduct, values and outlook on life.
Oseni also encouraged them to carry the lessons, prayers and counsel they received at the university into their workplaces and personal lives, emphasising that their conduct should reflect the quality of their education.
“My charge to them again is for everyone of them to see their academic excellence as the foundation to where they desire next in their chosen career,” he said.
He warned that professional success could be difficult to sustain without integrity and discipline, urging the graduates to remain committed to sound values wherever their careers take them.
Oseni added that the true value of education lies not only in the qualifications earned but also in how graduates use their knowledge, character and values to contribute meaningfully to society.
