Bingham VC urges faith, dedicated service and excellence in action

By Blessing Ibegbu

Prof. Haruna Ayuba, Vice-Chancellor of Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, says vision has a better chance of becoming reality when faith motivates service and excellence guides action.

Ayuba stated this at the seventh convocation lecture of the institution, on Friday in Karu.

The lecture delivered by Prof. Steve Michael, Rector and Chief Executive Officer, Danusius International University, Galati, Romania

The convocation lecture was titled: “Vision to Reality: The Role of Faith and Excellence in Nation Building”.

He noted that the lecture would offer an opportunity for everyone to reflect on the foundations of sustainable development, adding that Nigeria needs ambitious ideas.

According to him, Nigeria also needs excellent institutions, responsible leadership, an educated citizenry and a shared commitment to integrity.

“Today’s lecture invites us to consider how a worthy vision can move beyond aspiration and become a force for national transformation.

“Vision helps us imagine possibilities; faith gives us courage and perseverance to pursue what we imagined.

“Excellence provides the discipline, competence and integrity needed to make it real,” he emphasised.

Ayuba acknowledged that the nation’s progress depended not only on its resources, but also on the character, creativity and commitment of its people to excellence.

He urged participants to turn vision into reality and fulfil Nigeria’s great potential, and to strive together for a nation where unity and faith, peace and progress are assured.

Ayuba further said the lecture marked an important milestone in their journey as they celebrate the seventh convocation ceremony of Bingham University.

“A convocation or commencement lecture is an address delivered as part of a graduation ceremony. It marks the graduates’ transition from university study to new responsibilities and opportunities.

“It also offers graduating students, the university community and wider society an opportunity to reflect on a topic of national or global importance, and gain insight from an experienced speaker.

“To our graduating students, beyond the certificates we are giving you, may you also carry the knowledge, skills and the responsibility to apply them in service to others.

“Your success will be measured not only by what you achieve, but also by the positive difference you make.

“To the Church, our challenge is to translate our convictions into service and values into action for the good of the Church and society,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor said Prof. Michael has helped advance the university’s international engagement and his scholarly contributions have extended beyond Romania through his commitment to building international academic partnerships.

He added: “He is someone who envisions a global higher-education community in which African scholars and students can participate more fully in global learning and research,.

”This is while developing solutions suited to the needs of their own societies and communities.”

Prof. Michael, the lecturer, who spoke on “Vision to Reality: The Role of Faith and Excellence in Nation Building”, said the theme for the year was innocuous and it was hard to find anything controversial in its exposition.

According to him, vision alone is never enough, but the link between vision and reality is faith.

He said vision was not merely a dream, an idea or an ambition, adding that faith is the bridge between vision and reality.

“Vision requires clarity of focus, faith requires endurance, and excellence requires daily discipline.

“Vision reveals an extraordinary future, faith is the process of attaining that future and excellence demonstrates the quality of our commitment and discipline,” he said.

Speaking about nation building and crisis of confidence in Nigeria’s future, Michael said the desire of Nigerian youths to leave Nigeria by any means possible reflects a profound crisis of confidence in the nation’s future.

According to him, the major challenges facing Nigeria today are government’s failure to fulfil its responsibilities, persistent corruption and violence perpetrated by extremist groups and armed criminal networks.

“Nigerians are called upon to respond with unity, courage and steadfast commitment to peaceful, accountable governance.” (NAN

Edited by Dorcas Jonah