Duke urges Veritas University graduating students to be change agents

Mr Donald Duke, Former Cross River Governor, on Tuesday urged graduating students of Veritas University, Abuja, to always be the change agents that would transform the country.
Duke said this in Abuja at a Public Lecture to mark the fourth and fifth convocation lecture of the university with the theme: “We the Creatures and the Lord of All Creation”.
According to him, arouse yourselves to be the great being that you ought to be, do not trifle this great work of creation by being onlookers.
He commended the Catholic Diocese of Nigeria for the tested work in bridging the social divide in the country.
Duke called on Nigerian leaders to reestablish the society for a better future.
“It behooves on leaders of the faith to recalibrate the society.
“If you see what is happening to religion today globally and in Nigeria, there is need for the youth to be agents of change.
“Globally, there is a competition between the two major religions.
“God is neither a Christian nor Muslim but religion is a vehicle that takes you to God so leaders must be humble and recognise that God place them in position,” he said.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Catholic Bishop of Abuja, urged the graduating students to resist any temptation that could make them cut corners.
Onaiyekan called on the students to always do the right thing as means of succeeding in their career.
Also, Prof. Michael Kwanashie, Vice-Chancellor of the university, urged Nigerians to turn to God in order for the country to move forward.
Kwanashie said to foster love and unity in the country, Nigerians should recognise God in all things.
“We need to understand that we will account for our deeds, this country cannot move on if we don’t contribute to the salvation of men and women,” he said.
He, however, said that the university was willing to contribute to the development of education by subsidising the cost of education.
He said the university was working toward producing men and women who would produce the change the country needed.
“What we are doing is to make our students combine academic training with moral, spiritual, cultural and social formation,” he said.
The vice-chancellor urged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the institution and the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the university will on March 8 award degrees 180 students out of which six came out with first class honours. (NAN)