Former Minister of Aviation and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Osita Chidoka, has called on Nigerian universities to transform into hubs of continuous excellence, curiosity, and innovation — a philosophy he terms the “Mekaria Spirit”, meaning doing more and doing better.
Chidoka made the call while delivering the convocation lecture at the fifth combined convocation ceremony of Paul University, Awka, where he challenged African universities to redefine their role in the Intelligence Age by producing leaders driven by curiosity, grit, and ethical values to build inclusive, data-driven societies.
“The future belongs to the curious, the courageous, and continuously improving. Mekaria is not a slogan; it is a mindset of disciplined curiosity, moral courage, and unrelenting excellence — the spirit that built civilisations, discovered continents, and transformed institutions,” he said.
Reflecting on his humble beginnings during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), where he arrived in Abuja with only N20 and later earned the NYSC Honours Award, Chidoka said the experience shaped his belief in the Mekaria philosophy of hard work and integrity.
He emphasized that Africa must leapfrog the Industrial Age and fully embrace the opportunities of the Artificial Intelligence era, insisting that universities must serve as “the infrastructure of innovation and civilisation.”
Addressing the graduands, Chidoka reminded them that the 21st century rewards creators of change, not those who wait for it.
“Be curious enough to ask new questions, be courageous enough to take new risks, and be disciplined enough to do more and do better,” he urged.