Prof. Adebanji Akintoye of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Thursday urged Nigerian graduates to stop migrating out, saying the country’s challenges were surmountable.
Akintoye gave the advice in his convocation lecture for the 32 and 33 graduating sets of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
The Professor of History urged Nigerian graduates not to listen to those who say there are no opportunities in Nigeria.
“ There are countless opportunities in Nigeria though the challenges are severe; do not listen to any person who might want you to believe that the challenges are not surmountable.
“Open your eyes, there are a lot of opportunities in this country.
“As you step out of the institution into the country and the wide world, you will confront enormous challenges and have access to enormous opportunities.
“The nature of life and the nature of the world is that opportunities and challenges inevitably co-exist and are often intertwined.
“Many Nigerians tend to think that there are no opportunities at all, but that is not; there are multiple opportunities in Nigeria,” he said.
Akintoye urged Nigerian graduates who are yet to get a job not to think that their paths are blocked.
Earlier, the Rector of the polytechnic, Prof. Olatunji Fawole, had said the lecture was very significant in the life of the graduates, especially now that the unemployment rate was high in the country.
Fawole urged the graduates to use their knowledge to help boost growth and development in the country.
