Akwa Ibom State University has held its combined 6th, 7th, and 8th Convocation Ceremony, with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, delivering a charge that set the tone for the occasion.
Speaking on the theme "Leveraging Emerging Technology to Enhance University Education and National Development," the APC Chairman urged graduating students to look beyond local employment and position themselves for opportunities in a global labour market.
Professor Yilwatda argued that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has fundamentally changed the nature of work, making physical location increasingly irrelevant and opening up competition across borders. He cautioned that Nigerian universities could no longer afford to prepare graduates solely for domestic job markets.
"The world has become a single, borderless labour market. Global jobs are today more available than local jobs, especially for young people equipped with the right digital skills. Nigerian youths must therefore think globally, compete globally, and work globally," he declared.
He also challenged the long held assumption that natural resources remain a nation's greatest asset, stressing that human capital has taken over as the defining currency of the century, even in resource rich states like Akwa Ibom.
"In the 21st century, oil will matter less than algorithms, and land will matter less than innovation. The true wealth of nations now lies in the quality of their human capital," he stated.
Professor Yilwatda called on universities to overhaul their curricula, research priorities, and teaching methods to reflect global realities, identifying graduate employability, impactful research, international outlook, and quality teaching as the pillars modern institutions must strengthen. He described technology not as optional but as an essential multiplier for national competitiveness.
Turning directly to the graduating class, he urged them to embrace lifelong learning, create rather than merely consume technology, and lead with integrity across digital platforms, remote work opportunities, and entrepreneurial ventures.
"You are not victims of global disruption; you are the designers of the response. Graduate boldly, innovate fearlessly, and lead ethically. The world is watching, and the opportunity is yours," he concluded.
