The convocation ceremony of Akwa Ibom State University took on a policy dimension on Saturday when the State Governor used the occasion to push for a structural change in how the institution prepares its graduates for life after university.
Speaking at the sixth, seventh, and eighth combined convocation ceremony in Mkpat Enin, Governor Umo Eno, represented by his deputy, Akon Eyakenyi, called on the University to establish a dedicated department of business and entrepreneurial studies. His argument was straightforward: that equipping students with practical business skills was no longer a luxury but a necessity given the realities of the current job market.
"We need to prepare our youths for the future by equipping them with the requisite skills to become business owners. I urge the University to take this message seriously and let it be a part of the academic expansion programmes. We must be cognizant of today's reality," he said.
He went further, stating that thriving in a globalised world required students to develop business modules, understand how to market services, and grasp the protocols of professional engagement.
The Governor also acknowledged the university's recent growth under Vice Chancellor Otoabasi Akpan, praising the establishment of seven new faculties and the approval of 69 new academic programmes by the National Universities Commission.
Mr. Akpan, who spoke earlier at the ceremony, confirmed that the institution had grown from eight faculties to 14 and expanded its undergraduate programmes from 43 to 66. "I am also pleased to state that our postgraduate programmes have all secured full accreditation," he said.
A total of 3,836 students were conferred with degrees across the three combined convocation cycles. For many of them, the Governor's message may prove more consequential than the certificate they received on the day.
