In view of the increasing exodus of young Nigerian professionals to other countries, the Vice-Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Ibadan, Prof. Timothy Adejumo, has urged Nigerian leaders to urgently address the nation’s deepening socioeconomic challenges to stem the tide.
Prof. Adejumo, who spoke at a press conference to unveil activities for the university’s fourth convocation ceremony and seventh Founder’s Day celebration slated for November 7 to 11, 2025, bemoaned the deteriorating security, weak infrastructure and inconsistent governance in the land.
These factors, according to him, had been forcing many young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad, posing grave implications for national development.
The Vice-Chancellor stated: “People always look for greener pastures. If one gets better opportunities, he or she will leave. Most young people are looking for ways out of this country. If everybody goes away, who will develop this country? There is no place as good as home. Our leaders must make this place comfortable for us in terms of security, infrastructure, and other essentials.”
Also in his address, Prof. Adejumo described the forthcoming convocation, tagged: “The Trailblazer Set,” as a celebration of resilience and outstanding achievement, just as he highlighted PCU’s strides in academic excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship.
A total of 143 students will become graduates, bringing the university’s alumni base to 456.
Out of the 143 students, 14 earned First-Class Honours; 65 got Second-Class Upper; 47 had Second-Class Lower and 17 Third-Class degrees.
The Best Graduating Student, Mr. Lawal Eniola Kolawole of the Department of Computer Science, finished with a CGPA of 4.84 on a 5.0 scale.
The Vice-Chancellor said that each graduand will receive an entrepreneurship certification alongside their degree, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to nurturing innovators and job creators.
He said: “They are change-makers being released to be blessings, not burdens. At PCU, our students are trained to be employers of labour, not job seekers.”
The week-long convocation activities include a Foundation Day thanksgiving service on Sunday, November 9, to be led by the Chancellor, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, who will also anoint the graduands.
The grand finale, which comes up on Tuesday, November 11, will feature the Award of Degrees and Prizes and the conferment of honorary doctorates (Honoris Causa).
At the convocation, Precious Cornerstone University, founded and owned by The Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Ibadan, will confer honorary doctorate degrees on Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, Pastor Jerry Eze, Pastor Poju Oyemade, Apostle Joshua Selman, and Pastor Sola Osunmakinde.
The convocation lecture, titled, “Beyond Certificates: Preparing Graduates for Relevance in a Knowledge-Driven Economy,” will be delivered by Apostle Joshua Selman.
On the university’s recent accomplishments, Adejumo disclosed that it has secured full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for all its existing programmes.
He added that seven new programmes – Nursing Science, Public Health, Medical Laboratory Science, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Music, and Creative and Performing Arts – are currently undergoing NUC resource verification.
He stated further that the institution has launched postgraduate programmes in Microbiology, Accounting, and Business Administration (M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D.), as well as a Part-Time MBA.
PCU has also expanded its entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives.
The 2025 Entrepreneurship Week, themed “Spark Innovation; Ignite Entrepreneurship,” led to the registration of 47 student-led enterprises with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), further showing the university’s drive to equip students with real-world business skills.
“Our goal is to equip graduates with the mindset and tools to create jobs, drive innovation, and positively impact their communities,” Adejumo noted.
He stressed that PCU’s holistic model – anchored on excellence, faith, moral integrity, and community service – remains vital in raising a new generation of national change-makers.
“We are raising a generation of visionary leaders whose education is rooted in excellence, faith, and character,” he added.
