Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the immediate past Minister of Works and Housing, Dr. Babatunde Raji Fashola have urged the graduating Students of the Lagos State University to embrace the future with their acquired skills, technological marvel and self-discipline for enormous possibilities of prosperity.
The duo gave this charge today at the 27th Convocation Lecture of Lagos State University (LASU) titled: “Embracing the Future: Navigating the Intersection of Technology and Humanity,” held at the School campus, Ojo, Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat encouraged the graduates to stay up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and imbibe hard work as there is no shortcut to prosperity.
The governor said “The world has changed and young graduates must be ready as there is no shortcut to success. Human beings have never been more remunerated than today. If you have knowledge of what people need you can become rich”.
While reiterating the need for human readiness for emerging technology, the governor noted that technology allows consistency, and builds a better life, adding that it makes things easier as it continues to shape human lives especially that of the future generations in profound ways.
Sanwo-Olu stated that technology has the potentials to revolutionize education, transform social interactions redefine the workforce and impact physical health immensely. He added it is important that they imbibe it as it is useful in all spheres of human endeavours.
He stated that Lagos State is the first government institution in the country to implement 11 modules of oracle ERP which brought efficiency to government activities in the state and helped in the elimination of ghost workers, thereby saving the state government a lot of money and in tracking of operations and ongoing projects within the state.
Earlier in his lecture, titled: “Embracing the Future: Navigating the Intersection of Technology and Humanity,” the Convocation Lecturer, Dr. Babatunde Raji Fashola stated that humanity and human civilization as well as intrinsic values that have kept man at the apex of all things that exist in the world must be preserved in spite of technology.
He added that the students are graduating into a world of technology at a time when talent is being rewarded at an unprecedented level. He therefore advised them to continuously educate themselves either formally and informally, and beyond skills and education they must be self-disciplined.
Fashola emphasized that self-discipline will be the element that completes all the work their parents, guardians and lecturers have done and will concretize and define their reputation. It will be the compass for their integrity and determine whether they are trustworthy.
He said “Partly the education you have received here will take you someway on your journey but it will not be enough. You will require more things, including continuing education in the formal and informal way. Life becomes meaningless the day we stop learning. But over and beyond skills and education, you will require self-discipline”.
He stressed that only hard work provides sustainable wealth, not ritual, not fake pastors or imams and not trafficking illicit drugs.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Dr. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello said the Lagos State University is committed to leveraging technology to enhance its service enabling and make life better for its staff and students.
Dr. Olatunji-Bello added that in the domain of education, technology has facilitated online learning making education accessible to a wider audience. Besides, e-learning platforms, digital test tools and visual classrooms have enabled continuous education.
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that education educates learners to move around and do business, but the debate on how it impact humanity both now and in the future have not been sufficiently addressed, adding that it is imperative that we find a balance between technology and humanity by harnessing the power of technology to improve lives and humanity in general.
Citing few of the technologies developed in the university to ease challenges such as the manual admission clearance, school fee payment, course registration, result operations, certificate and transcripts processing, among other developments which are all digitalized, she stated that all the technological development has earned the university an accolade from far and wide including its recognition as the most digitally advanced State university in Nigeria at the Nigeria Information Technology Award (NIT).
While speaking on the theme of the lecture, Mrs. Olatunji-Bello stated that the theme of the lecture underscores the university position about the persistence involvement of technology in national development and people’s daily lives.
