The School of Politics Policy and Governance has graduated the first set of students, charging them to embrace the call to service and utilise the skills acquired to transform politics in Africa.
The maiden convocation, themed ‘Emergence of the Unconventionals’, held on Saturday in Abuja, according to a statement on Sunday by the Media Director of SPPG, Mr Ozioma Ubabukoh.
In a remark, the Founder of SPPG, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, called on the graduands to use the leadership skills acquired to transform the African society, as they prepare to launch their positive disruptive power into politics.
Lamenting the way politics is played in Africa and the distortions it had caused in the society, Ezekwesili added that the leaders took the pain so that others could enjoy.
“The society must be contested for and you should pioneer the space for that leadership,” she said, hinting that SPPG would be replicated in six other African countries to liberate the continent from extractive colonialism.
On her part, the Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chancellor of SPPG, Alero Ayida-Otobo, charged the graduands to have an “unquenchable thirst” to raise standards that would help them kick out injustice, religious intolerance and lawlessness from the system.
In a keynote speech, entitled ‘The Purpose and Price of Disruptive Change’, the Anambra State governor-elect, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, while congratulating the graduands, urged them to go out and make the difference.
His words, “Be the change you have offered to see. Africa is waiting for you. Africa is watching you. Do not let us down. I understand that SPPG was founded to radically and deliberately transform the quality of political and public leadership in Nigeria and Africa.”
Pointing out that there are daunting tasks ahead of the graduands, Soludo said, with some 140 multi-disciplinary topics covered in the past eight months, the graduands should have the implements to get into the farm of politics, policy and governance, and ensure higher productivity.
“I am sure you carefully studied the nature of that farm in Nigeria and Africa, and I wish you good luck as you try to navigate through it to leave the society better than you met it.
“So, my first charge to my new friends and graduates is to profess their purpose in the political farmland and actively participate to actualise it,” the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor added.
According to him, the SPPG graduates must literally inculcate and profess a messianic philosophy as the driving force behind their network.
On her part, the Dean of SPPG, Dr Amina Salihu, told the graduands to keep to the mantra of being “bold, optimistic and involved.”
She said, “As you ‘segue’ your ‘scintillating’ selves into ‘stellar’ new opportunities and challenges, it will always be an honour to be your dean and to watch you soar- and roar.”
Among other dignitaries that joined the event virtually were former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku, and the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, who joined from Washington DC.
“Fabulous event. Such eager faces on your graduands, heart-melting. Again, mega congrats all around. I have been mesmerised by the morning’s proceedings!” Leonard commented.
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