HIS EXCELLENCY SIR SIMINALAYI FUBARA GSSRS REMARKS AT THE 35th CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY

16TH DECEMBER 2023

Protocols

1. It is an honour to be here with you today as the Visitor to this great University. All I can say is to give thanks and glory to God for this rare opportunity.

2. We all know that today is one of the notable days in the history of this University as you host the university community, parents, and the public to the 35th convocation of this university.

3. And so, whichever way you look at it, today is indeed, a big day and a proud time for all of us who contributed in one way or the other to the academic success of these young people.

4. Let me, therefore, congratulate all the 6326 graduands on this significant milestone, which, for most of you, marks and celebrates the beginning of a new, and most important phase of your life's journey into the future.

5. I could remember the day I sat like you in this same arena thinking of what the future held for me, after the excitement of the graduation ceremonies. But there is nothing to worry about because God's miracles will never cease to happen.

6. I know that your degrees have equipped you with critical knowledge and skills to navigate your way to success in this ever-challenging world.

7. Therefore, what you need most is character, hard work, and setting yourself on the right path to actualize your life's goals with commitment and prayers.

8. From today, you will bear the responsibility to engage yourselves in such meaningful ventures that guarantee a life of fulfilment and enable you to contribute to the progress of society.

9. It is up to you to be focused, goal-oriented, and determined to make the world a better place than you found it with your education, skills, talents, voices, and ideas.

10. And so, as you enter the next phase of life's journey, please, note that there are opportunities everywhere to be tapped, some in the most unexpected parts of the country or world. You must proceed on this journey with courage and live by the life's principles you have imbibed from your parents, this University and society at large.

11. Permit me also to recognize and thank all the parents, guardians, family, and friends who supported you in one way or the other to enable you to achieve success and become what you are today. May God bless and reward them for all their sacrifices.

12. Similarly, I wish to appreciate the faculty, staff, management, and the immediate past Governing Council for their contributions to the academic success of these graduates and, also, for their efforts in driving Rivers State University to enviable heights.

13. The commencement of full academic programmes at the new campuses, the high accreditation status of your academic programmes, the productive collaborations and linkages with foreign universities, and the measures taken to improve safety and security across the university all point to the commitment and efforts of productive management.

14. Therefore, let me commend the Vice Chancellor for his innovations and result-oriented approach to the administration of this university and encourage you not to rest on your laurels. We need many more success stories from you.

15. I have noted the challenges facing the university as enumerated in your address, most of which you have privately discussed with me.

16. We all know inadequate funding is the bane of the nation's university system, and ours is not an exception.

17. But, as you all know, education is the cornerstone of a fair, equitable and prosperous society. The extent of our commitment to educational development is reflected in the 2024 budget where it received the 3rd highest capital allocation, after works and governance.

18. Let me, therefore, assure you that we will disburse a fair share of these resources to address the University's most critical challenges, including support for the full and effective development of the new campuses, the provision of a stable power supply, the building of student hostels, and effective CCTV coverage to enhance safety and security in the campuses.

19. Our commitment is to make Rivers State University one of the best State universities in the country with the intellectual capacity and resources to contribute to the development needs of society, but we cannot do it alone as a government.

20. Consequently, I appeal to corporate bodies, and public-spirited individuals to support the funding of this university for the benefit of mankind.

21. Finally, let me again congratulate the graduands, and the University for this convocation ceremony,

22. Thank you and God bless.