13TH CONVOCATION ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR J.A. KAYODE MAKINDE
PRESIDENT/VICE-CHANCELLOR, BABCOCK UNIVERSITY
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
“Just remember – when you think all is lost, the future remains.” – Bob Goddard
Your Excellencies,
Your Royal Majesties with special mention of the Olofin of Ilishan,
The Chancellor & Chairman, Board of Trustees, Members of the Board of Trustees,
The Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Members of the Governing Council,
Honorable Ministers, Legislators, & Respected Public Servants,
Visiting Vice Chancellors and Officers of Other Universities,
Senior Vice President, Vice Presidents, Associate Officers Senate and Administration of Babcock University,
Deans, Heads of Departments, Directors and Fellow Teachers of God’s Own University,
Elated Graduating Parents, Relations and Friends,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen!
PREAMBLE
Ebenezer, Thus far hath the Lord led us on this trip into academic, moral and spiritual excellence. Welcome to another historic day in the journey on the pathway to greatness of Babcock – God’s own university. It is another defining moment for us as an institution – it is our 13thUndergraduate and 4th postgraduate Convocation ceremonies. It is also the tenth and valedictory convocation ceremony for this divinely anointed administration and President. Dieu est grand! Oluwa Tobi! Chukwu di Ebube! Allahu Akbar. Our God indeed, is Great!
I owe a debt of gratitude to God for the gift of a committed and the visionary leadership team in academics, finance, development and strategy, student development, and other subsidiaries: Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Babcock Investment Group (BIG), Babcock University Schools Managemnt Board (BUSMB), Babcock University Campus Landscape Aesthetic Environmental Network (BUClean), etc.. From the Senior Vice President, Vice Presidents and Associates, to Deans and Heads of Departments, Directors, Research and Project Supervisors as well as Professors and teachers at all levels and in all units. We are jointly celebrating the successes attained by, and intellectual achievements of members of our Class of 2015: 1,416 undergraduates and 191 postgraduates:
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOLS
• School of Agriculture and Industrial Technology: 24
• Benjamin S. Carson School of Medicine: 34
• School of Basic and Applied Sciences: 51
• School of Education and Humanities: 112
• Babcock Business School: 626
• School of Law and Security Studies: 215
• School of Computing and Engineering Sciences: 250
• School of Public and Allied Health: 60
• School of Nursing Science: 44
SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
• Masters Degrees: 141
• PhD: 50
To my dearly beloved graduates, this is your time for hearty congratulations. You are the 1,607 reasons we are here today, having endured, persevered and excelled and to the end. Now the certification silver that lines your program clouds are bright and beautiful. It surely was not an easy road and that, we knew all along – neither was it designed to be, or your achievements would have been flat ordinaryordinance no doubts whatsoever that right now, the reward of your hard work tastes sweet and your troubles have been worth the while. Nothing good comes easy but with God all things are possible. I rejoice with you and say again, CONGRATULATIONS!
The Class of 2015 is indeed blessed, having in your company, three outstanding high achievers, primus inter pares former governors whose presence here go beyond mere accolades. Since the operational philosophy of Babcock does not celebrate assignments but achievements, not appointments but performance, we are recognizing, commending and celebrating these “trois mousquetaires” (three musketeers) and identifying with their spirit of total commitment and selfless service in making the future of Nigeria brilliantly outshine the darkness of corruption and expose the ignominy of mediocrity. Your Excellencies my brothers, thank you for accepting the national call to serve and the Babcock invitation to be here today.
The past one year has been eventful and historic equally for Babcock as it is for our dear country, Nigeria. Symbolically, the story of Babcock is the story of Nigeria. For in 1914, David Caldwell Babcock, an American Seventh-day Adventist Missionary from West Virginia arrived the port of Lagos preaching salvation as solution to the problem of sin, about the same time as Sir Frederick Lugard, a British colonial officer preaching the gospel of “Empire”, amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates to birth a nation called Nigeria. Then in 1959 the Seventh-day Adventist Church established what is now Babcock University as the Adventist College of West Africa in Ilishan-Remo, and by 1960 Nigeria became an independent nation. Furthermore, on May 10, 1999 after 40 years of wandering through the turbulent wilderness of socio-political vacillations, the Federal Executive Council delivered an operating license to Babcock along with two others (Igbinedion and Madonna), to become Nigeria’s pioneer private university. Similarly by divine providence, May 29 1999 ushered in Nigeria into its fourth republic of democratic governance – the first to pass the litmus test of enduring a truly structural and peaceful political power shift from incumbency to opposition in May 2015. For Babcock as well before the end of 2015, the current administration and President/Vice Chancellor will joyfully take a bow and smoothly pass the baton of godly leadership to a God-appointed successor – new blood, expanded vision and enduring passion – after successfully concluding its eventful second five-year term assignment of leadership and human capacity building, keeping hope alive. As a matter of fact, Babcock’s mantrais to reassure many who have lost faith in the nation’s education system that…the future is bright. For Babcock, this is living the mission of our purpose driven-existence. It is our raison d’être.
The near collapse of Nigeria’s educational sector due to successively disjointed but highly regimented creativity-stifling government policies, hostile socio-political operating environment and rapidly deteriorating national inflationary economy in a gloomy global recession informs the inadequate funding of education over the years to its current abyss. The broken healthcare system which nauseating insalubrity has led to a spiral dwindling quality of life and living in a national space of continuously depreciating safety and security has turned Nigerians into a nation of global medical tourists in India, Middle East and the West. The atrophying quality of life driven by graduate and youth unemployment, decayed infrastructure and deplorable living and working conditions and environment, have all fueled simultaneously the brain-drain, economic migrants stream and financial scams exportation syndrome to give Nigeria a most pitiable global image. It is our inspired response as a faith-based institution to the sum total of these plagues that constitute our raison d’être and emboldened our passion to initiate and propagate a reverse engineering of the negative trend, thus offering a fresh lease of hope to millions of citizens of this country and Africa. Our activities and engagements with our stakeholders over the years have been tailored in this direction, and we remain undaunted in riding this course on the platform of the five cardinal principles of our mission: Teaching, Research, Healing, Preaching, and Community Service. Having assumed the responsibility of enhancing the future of higher education in Africa by inspiring a generation of servant-leaders trained to make a difference in the society, Babcock has accepted the nation’s challenge of giving meaning to human lives through our education and human healthcare.
In the past ten years you have actively partnered with our administration to render first-class value-added services to all our stakeholders in the best tradition of our core values and in accordance to global best practices. This occasion offers me a momentous opportunity to appreciate your incredible support and contributions to the development of this institution, and through Babcock to mankind. Your collaboration fuels the hope that keeps our light shining brightly.
Based on our belief that the human resource is the most critical component in any organization, this administration has mounted an aggressive head-hunt to attract the very best available brains, skills, and commitment across the globe to enhance learning. The number of faculty has doubled to 483 since 2005, powered behind the classroom scene by 480 professional technical support staff spread across the rapidly expanding disciplines, student enrollment, programs, services and infrastructure in the university. But since this is Babcock, certainly the best is yet to come.
HONARIS CAUSA AWARDS
As part of activities to mark this year’s convocation, Babcock University is, today honoring three of the nation’s great public administrators who made significant contribution to national development in general, particularly in their various states as immediate past governors. The three deserving individuals who each, last week successfully completed two terms as governors of Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Kano states respectively, visibly, tangibly and credibly transformed their states and impacted their communities and the nation positively. The three also gained additional credibility by handing over the reign of leadership to their preferred successors groomed for the jobs without acrimony.
Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is being honored for his leadership and the capacity to translate vision into reality. As a governor, his well-articulated education road-map ensured the establishment of modern institutions of learning across the different tiers. The reactivation of existing centers of learning equipped with up-to-date facilities in line with global best practices is a record yet to be challenged. Having painstakingly arrived at a very rational judgment that most of the citizens of the state are financially incapacitated as is the case elsewhere in the country, Alhaji Kwankwaso initiated a scholarship scheme for the brightest students at the secondary school level to study specialized disciplines in universities here in Nigeria and abroad.
His intense devotion to the duty of impacting the youth by transforming the education sector, and his strong sense of personal excellence has provided superior and professional diligence in the success of many projects touching the lives of state residents. Kwankwaso’s superb performance of duty reflects great credit on him at a time when mediocrity seems to have become elevated to the status of honor. With extraordinary tenacity, his administration drove a highly rewarding agriculture initiative in the state.
Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF), SAN has earned his place on the honor roll for vision, passion and innovation. The emergence of Lagos State as a foremost destination city in Africa, and one attracting the highest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in West Africa, eloquently attests to the fact that, anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course. Today Lagos stands as the benchmark for other states in the country – a glaring feat attributable to Fashola’s visionary leadership and uncompromising stance against mediocrity.. Without doubt Lagos State remains the reference point for excellence in accountability, rule of law, security and economic growth throughout the country. This is countable for the sheer diligence and intelligence of one man: BRF.
As for Godswill Akpabio, his daring leadership style that welcomes opportunity and challenge to orchestrate a fundamental shift in how government views its most important resource – human capacity – no doubt accounts largely for his place among the greats. His exceptional contributions to the creation of a leadership-centered culture, the transformation of lives has achieved an extreme make-over state once regarded as a backwater into a now acclaimed global development model. His vision of a back-to-basics leadership that focuses on leading from the heart has become the hallmark of administration in the country. Akwa Ibom State can be nothing but better as a result of his vision and inspiration.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
In the area of community support,the University has continued to give annual scholarships to indigenes of the Ilishan community to study at Babcock. It is also the policy of the institution to give priority in employment to qualified indigenes of character who demonstrate commitment to service according to existing vacancies. This is complimemtary to other direct and indirect numerous supports that we offer our immediate communities, especially in the area of security.
SECURITY
The need for tighter security has become increasingly imperative to secure lives and properties on and around the campus environments due to increasing security threat globally. It was against this backdrop that we set up the Babcock Security Initiative, outsourced the management of security in the University to a reputable firm of core professionals. This has paid off for the University. Nonetheless we have intensified security surveillance on our two campuses, introduced more CCTV cameras, incentivized security personnel and boosted the security operations of the Ilishan vigilance group. But we have had to shut down some banks operating on campus for failure to meet their annual security obligations to the university community. Currently three banks, Diamond and Wema and Zenith banks are in operation. Although this comes with some business transaction challenges, it needs to be noted that the existence of the banks has its own attendant security risks.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
In view of the great demand for healthcare services in the country and Africa as a whole, Babcock has deliberately and strategically engaged in medical mission outreach through partnerships and collaborations.The long awaited international students’ exchange program kicked off last year, and it will continuein the years ahead.
The collaboration with Tri-State Cardiovascular Institute, Delaware, USA, is aimed at revolutionizing cardiovascular preventive and therapeutic heart care in the country. The centre provides services that surpass the available cardiovascular services in the sub -Saharan Africa. The centre areas of specialization include: cardiology services, heart and vascular services (cardiology and cardiac surgery) and a state of the art diagnostic imaging centre.
Exchange Programs:In tandem with the Administration’s 2011-2010 strategic plan, the University signed and ensures the implementation of the various MOUs on international student/faculty exchange program. Sixteen Computer Science students will, at the end of June complete their sophomore year abroad in Poland for computer skills exchange programme in line with Babcock’s MoU with the University of Computer Science and Skills. The program is being expanded to thirty students in September and will include other countries and disciplines. Likewise, 5th year students of Babcock University’s Benjamin S. Carson School of Medicine will later this month begin their global track Clerkships program at the METAS Trust Hospital in Surat, India and early 2016 to Florida and Delaware, USA. The initial agreement with Northumbria University was further given life with the visit of a team of the University to Babcock. The Partnership with International Vision Institute Mexico is targeted at making Nigeria and the whole of Africa a cataract-free zone. Discussions are still ongoing with the financiers with the aim of establishing the best Eye Hospital with specialist referral consultants and equipment in the sub-region to improve on the quality of life people on the African continent. The collaboration withLancaster University includes student and staff exchange programmes as well as research for graduate programs in law, international relations and diplomacy.
The office of Research and Internationalcollaboration has continued to provide and enhance the quality of research work in the university. It also has continued to link up with external bodies and strengthen the Babcock brand across different climates.
Under this administration the University haswon many awards from different international bodies, associations andinstitutes. Some of these awards are:
1) Best University with Nursing programme: Last year Babcock University was internationally recognized by Sigma Theta Tau International, the first and the onlyUniversity school of Nursing in Nigeria, and second in Africa, to have achieved the feat.
2) Best Private University in Nigeria: awarded in 2014 by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
3) Best Private University: This award was given to Babcock by one of the nation’s leading newspapers, News Direct, in recognition of the landmark achievement of the university in physical development and engaging management style.
4) Best Private University in Africa: This was awarded by the All Africa Students Union, 2011.
5) Most Effective University Administrator in Africa: This was awarded to the President/Vice Chancellor by the All Africa Students Union, 2011.
6) Third Best University in research: This was awarded by NUC in 2010.
7) Three times First Position: In the Nigeria Private Universities Debate (2013, 2014, 2015).
2. ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING AND ENROLMENT
The administration’s committment to the university’s crystal vision of providing quality academic experience to our students remained resolute in face of some of the most critical socio-economic challenges ever known by the country in recent times. Below are some of the key highlights in our academic programmes.
Accreditations: Similar to the the accreditation of our Law, Medicine, Medical Laboratory Science programs, many of our other programs have enjoyed the approval of statutory professional bodies as well as the National Universities Commission.
Currently there 17 fully accredited, 9 interim accredited, 12 mature program awaiting accreditation, and 2 newly approved programs. Twenty-eight postgraduate programmes: Masters (18), PhD (10) awaiting accreditation.
Enrolment: We dare not be indifferent to our operating environment, we continued to overhaul our strategy and seek God’s blessings on them on a daily basis so as to ensure that our vision for Adventist education remained aflame inspite of all the daunting challenges. Within the last decade, we have witnessed an immense growth in physicalcapacity building, research and intellectual advancement. Our active enrolment statistics (not counting unregistered students not yet graduated) is as follows:
Undergraduate
Year Figure
2010/2011 6,743
20112012 7,470
2012/2013 7,562
2013/2014 8,090
2014/2015 8,734
Postgraduate
Year Figure
2010/2011 359
20112012 513
2012/2013 446
2013/2014 637
2014/2015 692
Pre-Degree
Year Figure
2010/2011 401
20112012 240
2012/2013 176
2013/2014 140
2014/2015 142
GRADUATION TREND
The number of undergraduate students who have graduated from 2011- 2014 is as follow: In 2011, the University graduated 47 first class, 866 second class upper, 111 second class lower, zero third class. Total that year was 1,024. In 2012, there were 61 first class; 1,100-second class upper; 212 second class lower; no third class. Total number of students who graduated from Babcock that year was 1,373. In 2013 the University graduated 48 first class; 1,116-second class upper; and 263 second class lower, no third class. The total number of graduates that year was 1,427. In 2014 there were 43 first class; 1,232 second class upper; 273 second classes lower. There was no third class. Total graduates for that year was 1,548.
INAUGURAL LECTURES SERIES:
In the spirit of sustaining academic excellence, the University has sustained its traditionof inaugural lecture delivered on monthly basis by academics in the University. Professor David O. Babalola delivered the First Inaugural lecture, while Professor Ademola S. Tayo, Dean of Post Graduate School, delivered the second one in February 2015.The third lecture on April 02, 2015 was delivered by Prof. (Mrs) Yetunde O. Makinde, Professor of Nutrition and the Group Managing Director of Babcock Investments Group. Prof. Stephen O. Fapohunda, Dean of the School of Basic & Applied Sciences delivered his on May 7, 2015 while the fifth in the series is Prof. Iheanyichukwu O. Okoro, Senior Vice President and Provost of the College of Health & Medical Sciences is scheduled for June 10, 2015.
ADVANCEMENT SERVICES
Career Prospect for Alumni
Two major factors that give competitive edge to the Ivy league institutions are:
• High impact employment and positive ratings and employers of their graduates, and
• The ability of their graduates to create jobs and positively impact the society.
Preparing our graduates for the world of work thereby, Babcock continues to engage employers and industry leaders in a conversation to determine needs and assessments. This helps us to craft and sustain the Employability Skills Program which hones the graduate with interview training skills and job fair opportunities for our final year students as a strategy to ensure ease of entry into industry as high value employees or job creating entrepreneurs. Job fairs arranged between 2010-2015 have exposed our graduates to industry leaders of labor and job opportunities. The 2014 job fair recorded the presence of 15 corporate organizagradus which number increased to 20 participating companies in 2015. This has increased the chances of our graduates gaining employment on leaving school. Babcock places special emphasis on balancing classroom time with active learning and application of knowledge. Our internship program provides a firm foundation in both academic and practical achievement. As a research and leadership-centered university, Babcock’s rigorous curriculum challenges you to combine serious theoretical study with meaningful, real-world learning experiences. Students are encouraged to learn in every imaginable way- across disciplines, departments, and schools.
Alumni engagement: The University’s alumni office has been the driving force for alumni partnership with the institution. This is to create a wholesome sense of belonging with their alma mater, and get necessary feedback on progress impact on the society with the right education they have received.
Partnership with industry
Students travel to different major cities each year to visit top companies. This unique program offers them the opportunity to meet with executives, visit corporate sites, network with local Babcock alumni- and get on the inside track. They also get some free time to explore.
The Unilever campus activation programme, launched on our campus in 2012 has continued to yield great dividends. Many of our students have benefitted tremendously from this initiative.
The Access Bank leadership programme evolved as a fall out of our intensive classroom exercises that has led to our students emerging tops in banking and finance exams and competitions outside the university campus.The bank has provided opportunities for Babcock students to do their one year national youths service and be retained on the successful completion of the programme; it also grants automatic opportunity for our first class students to be considered for the bank’s interview when the students completes their academic programme before proceeding for their Youths Service scheme. In 2013 the bank invited 10 of our students to attend the company’s end of year session andin 2012 the bank gave a monetary award to the best graduating student of Banking and Finance.
Physical Development:The nature and state of infrastructure across the tiers of education in the nation today is worrisome. It has not only impacted negatively on the quality of teaching and research, it has resulted in a dramatic decline in the quality of graduates from the nation’s educational system. Conscious of this, the Babcock University Administration decided to confront this situation head-on by constructing modern offices, lecture theatres and residential buildings for students, faculty and staff. This is complemented by study aids, equipment, and other facilities provided to make learning and training enjoyable, interesting and fascinating.
The Laz Otti Library:
This state-of -the- art library donated by Dr. Alex C. Otti and his friends, is now fully functional. It is a forest of wisdom boasting hundreds of thousands of books, journal and reference works.. The project remains in progress with continuous upgrade and updating of its facilities.
Central Cafeteria: The second and final phase of this project (cafeteria offices and warehouse) has been fully completed and occupied.
The demolition of the old cafeteria structure has also been completed, and the construction of the University campus square on the vacated lot is in progress, jointly funded by the Graduating Class and the Babcock University Students Association (BUSA). Babcock students build up rather than break down. They are learning today what the country expects of them tomorrow.
Bakery:The University’s bakery has undergone a series of transformations to meet the increasing demands of its growing clientele, and improve service delivery to customers in line with modern trends. Consequently, a new bakery house has just been completed awaiting the installation of its fully automated equipment which have been delivered to site. Service in the new bakery house is scheduled to increase production capacity by 400% before the end of September 2015.
Babcock SuperStore: The nearly completed Babcock SuperStore responds to an acute shortage on campus of ddiverse aspic needs consumer products and services which are indispensable to aalign income captive market of 12,000 and a daytime population of 15,000 people comprising visitors, community residents, parents, contractors, etc.. The SuperStore fills both a social service and commercial internally generated revenue needed to provide on-campus employment to enable needy students earn part of their fees and keep the cost of education down for students and parents.
Road Network: For easy accessibility of the University facilities, the road network across the campuses has been expanded and well paved. A long stretch of newly completed road network running through the water factory opposite the Babcock Business School to Nyberg Hall, connects the Platinum Hall to Crystal, the Sports Stadium, White Hall and the front of Havilla Gold Hall. This offers a seamless movement across the area both for human and vehicular movements.
Campus Heritage Square: The need for a befitting center that will serve as a social “melting pot” for the university multi-faced audience has warranted the construction of a campus square. The campus square on completion will boast of a mini amphitheatre, a car par, a fountain, offices, worship centre, and preserve the oldest building on campus as a relic of our history and humble beginning as an institution.
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT
To maintain a disciplined and serene hall environment, the following measures have been maintained since 2014:
Increase in the ratio of Resident Hall Assistants to resident students.
Redemption disciplinary strategy to encourage constructive behavior and acquisition of positive social skills by students
Inter-hall cross inspection
Collaboration with hall senators for effective hall management
Vigilance with room check
Student Support Center
This center offers comprehensive, readily accessible and responsive services that promote an academic, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all our students. In order to drastically cut down the incidence of behavioral violations, the psycho-social counseling unit was established. Other initiatives in this unit include Babcock University Academic Empowerment Program (BUAEP) for students with academic challenges, usually those whose CGPA is below 2.50. The Babcock Behavioral Empowerment Program has helped students with chronic behavioral issues and teaches them how to manage their emotions.
CONCLUSION
As a team, this administration has worked with a common vision, purpose and mission. This team spirit is “the ability to direct individual accomplishments towards organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”
Indeed, our God has been faithful and we have every reason to be thankful for His leading. My dear parents, family members and sponsors, thank you for believing in us, thank you for choosing Babcock. We are certain that God in His infinite mercies, has already prepared another Joshua who will take over from this Moses to lead God’s people into the promised land. We are not there yet, for there are still many rivers to cross, mountains to climb and giants to subdue before settling down to enjoy the land flowing with milk and honey. No, it is not yet Uhuru. But one thing is sure – We have come a looooooooooooong way from where we used to be.
To God Alone Be the Glory.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I the wonderful students God has given us over the years and the incredible parents who sired them. We fully appreciate the wonderful army of workers sent by God as workers in His vineyard to tame the land and plow the fields. I have no words sufficiently eloquent to eulogize my fellow administrators and management team who have kept me on my toes with critical ideas and creative challenges these manyyears to arrive at this terminus. There is unarguably no succession of Governing Councils and Board of Trustees in all of Nigeria, indeed Africa, that could beat those that have ensured accountability of governance and management at Babcock since 1999 to date. I am thankful for the conducive operational environment thst has enabled me to think and act, to be myself even when you were not really sure who I really was. For whatever achievements are here ttoday’s give all the glory to God and appreciation to all. But one remains that I need to stand up and publicly acknowledge. A mother, sister, friend, companion, critic, cheerleader, entrepreneur par excellence, and an Inaugrated Professor of no mean repute: Yetunde Olawunmi Makinde, my lover. Thank God for you. With what I know of God and His plans for us even after 35 year of blissful, fruitful and trusting partnership in marriage, the best is yet2com.
The future is bright!
The future is Babcock University !!
The Future is You !!!
….. Forever Babcock
I thank you all, and God bless.
James Kayode Makinde, Ph.D
President/Vice Chancellor
