Dear graduates,

Let me first begin by saying how deeply I regret being unable to join you today as envisaged. And let me also say a huge congratulations to the class of 2023.

You have proven your academic prowess, as among the best in your generation.

This institution has the potential to be one of Africa’s leading institutions. A training ground for the leaders of tomorrow. And you should be proud of what you have accomplished.

In applauding your hard work and achievement, let us also thank those who made it possible - the distinguished faculty and administrators as well as our parents, families and loved ones who have supported you on this journey.

Many of you began your studies with the world in the grip of a pandemic. A pandemic that pushed a massive one in six Nigerians into depression and caused hardship here at NUTM.

You have shown resilience, grit, and a drive to excel, to survive. I know at times it has been tough.

But these qualities will prepare you well for the next chapters in your life, as your generation steps up and takes its turn to shape the world.

Climate change is bringing record temperatures and extreme weather around the world.

During your years at NUTM, conflicts have surged, democracies in our region overthrown, inequalities have increased, and continue to grow, and women's rights are increasingly under assault.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the rate of extreme poverty is projected to continue rising through to 2030. Here in Nigeria, the government estimates that 90% of rural children experience poverty.

Sadly, today, the world faces unprecedented challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, and currently the war in Ukraine.

Many countries in the region are now deeper in debt, further increasing economic vulnerability. Today, 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on interest payments than on education or health services.

This debt crisis has had a significant impact on the ability of developing countries to react to emergencies, finance their food and energy needs, tackle climate change, and invest in their people and the future.

That is why the United Nations Secretary-General formed the Global Crisis Response Group to facilitate decision-making and global consensus on actions to prevent and respond to the impacts of these interlinked crises.

But the World’s shared vision for a brighter future – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – is on its knees.

 Just 12 percent of the 140 Sustainable Development Goal targets, are on track.

This statistic is not just a number on a page. It has real-world consequences that are being felt across the globe by billions of people.

For example, hunger has increased, pulling the world back to 2005 levels. Two-thirds of the world’s population use the Internet, but 2.7 billion people still remain offline.

Meanwhile, the revolution in technology and artificial intelligence is moving ever faster.

Already, technology and AI have revolutionized industries, economies, and societies across the globe. And they can be powerful forces in generating a brighter future for Nigeria, Africa, and the world – fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and enhancing the quality of the life of millions of people.

Yet they also bring challenges.

The digital divide threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities, leaving some communities, even countries further behind.

With technology permeating every aspect of our lives, the need for thoughtful regulation and safeguarding of privacy is paramount.

And we must give serious consideration to the ethical issues surrounding AI and technology to ensure it is harnessed for the greater good.

And that is why the United Nations is working to set international AI standards to ensure that technology has a strong ethical base, which encompasses the rule of law and the promotion of human rights.

We need to bring more diversity in the field to reduce bias, racial and gender stereotyping. We must ensure that the biases in our societies are not reproduced in AI applications.

We must put in place policies that guarantee a secure environment for our children online and ensure that applications are age appropriate.

The United Nations has offered a solution in the Global Digital Compact which will be negotiated by Member States to ensure that we have the necessary guard rails to protect our people, the world over.

Dear Graduates,

You are part of Africa’s most educated generation – ever.

You are also the most connected.

You are uniquely qualified and equipped to address the interlocking challenges that are facing the continent and the world at large. 

And make no mistake – they can be addressed, though some may be complex, and some may be grave.

Trends can be reversed. Disasters can be averted. And problems can be solved. And injustices can be rectified.

We can still avoid the worst of climate change, if we massively accelerate action to cut emissions through just and equitable transitions to green and blue economies.

We can protect ourselves from extreme weather, ensuring we have requisite early warning systems. And of course the investments in adaptation.

And we can deliver climate justice through the means of implementation. More finance, trade, technology.

We can create the world of peace and prosperity by implementing the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

We can turn the current crisis into an opportunity to invest; both in human capital – to unlock the potential of our continent’s young population – and in building a greener and more resilient infrastructure and industry.

We can better mobilize domestic financial resources, improve our tax system and invest African wealth into African solutions underpinned by strong national and sub-national institutions.

And we can work to ensure the benefits of technologies are felt by everyone. And that they serve rather than undermine the common good.

We saw this at the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, when there was a surge in the adoption of digital solutions that transformed access to finance and in some cases education. For example, 39% of adults in low- and middle-income countries opened their first bank accounts. 

Here at home, the Government has taken steps to unleash the benefits of technology across the country. A good example is the National Identification Number initiative, a secure database that provides solutions for issues such as identity verification, security and social welfare.

So dear friends and graduates,

Today will be the first day of the rest of your life’s journey. You need to make each step count.

The friends that you have made in the past few years will be the first of your networks. And each of you will find a path here in Nigeria, maybe even the region, and the world.

The sky is your limit.

Let me leave you with three short reflections to carry with you:

First, remember the knowledge you have acquired cannot be taken away from you; use it, invest in it, and remember that education is a lifelong journey.

Second, seize the opportunities ahead. This doesn’t necessarily mean being an employee – you could also be an employer. The potential in the tech world is boundless, and there are plenty of trailblazers right here at home to draw motivation from. You have the skills, so apply them.

And third, be prepared. The world is not perfect. It is full of challenges and broken systems. Leverage your connections to create partnerships for innovative solutions that can change the status quo. 

 Your role in nation building should not be one as a bystander or a social media spectator/warrior/crusader. They are all important. You must use your education, your voice and conviction to shape your future.

This means engaging government in all its three dimensions – the Executive, the Judiciary, the Parliament and in all three tiers of government.

The future of Nigeria is for you to lose or win.

As China Achibe said:

Every generation must recognize and embrace the task it is peculiarly designed by history and by providence to perform.

This is your time. Go out and leave your footprints in the sands of time.

Thank you and congratulations to you all once again!