Innocent Onoh
University certificates alone are no longer sufficient to guarantee a prosperous future — rather, skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship hold the key to success in today’s world.
This was the message of the Chief Imam of Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Amidu Sanni, as he addressed graduating students during a Students’ Career Talk held ahead of the institution’s 28th Convocation Ceremony.
The event, which took place at LASU’s main campus in Ojo, Lagos, was aimed at preparing students for life beyond the university.
Professor Sanni, while thanking Allah for the successful completion of the students’ academic journey, also expressed gratitude to parents, guardians, and sponsors for their unwavering support. He commended the university for producing graduates well-groomed for the future.
Highlighting the current realities in the global and local job markets, the cleric noted that academic certificates are fast becoming outdated as sole credentials.
“We are in a new era where certificates alone no longer hold weight. What truly matters now are practical skills, creative thinking, and entrepreneurial drive,” he said.
He urged the graduating students to shun negative shortcuts to success, such as cultism, internet fraud, and human trafficking, warning that such paths lead to destruction and long-term regret.
Instead, he encouraged the graduates to identify and develop their non-academic abilities, stressing the importance of becoming job creators rather than job seekers.
“The rise of Artificial Intelligence, just like the internet boom two decades ago, is set to further shrink job opportunities. Only those who can solve problems through digital literacy, innovation, and imagination will remain relevant,” he added.
Professor Sanni concluded by affirming that, regardless of academic discipline, it is skills and ingenuity that pay better in today’s job market.