GRADUATES WITHOUT CHARACTER ARE INCOMPLETE, SAYS AUGUSTINE UNIVERSITY VC

The Vice-Chancellor of Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Alaba Akinwale, has emphasised the importance of moral integrity in higher education, declaring that graduates who lack character are “incomplete,” regardless of their academic qualifications.

Speaking ahead of the university’s convocation ceremony, Prof. Akinwale said education must rest on three essential pillars — intellectual formation, technical competence, and ethical integrity — for it to be truly effective.

“If one of these pillars is missing, the others cannot stand properly, and that will have a negative impact on society,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed concern over what he described as a growing moral gap among graduates in Nigeria, warning that the trend could undermine national development.

“We train technocrats with ethical competence. Our goal is not just to produce degree holders but citizens who can contribute positively to society,” he stated.

Prof. Akinwale also called on the government and relevant stakeholders to increase investment in education. He advised that resources saved from reducing excessive public sector spending should be redirected towards improving educational infrastructure and funding.

“If the government can cut down on unnecessary costs and channel those savings into education, the sector will be stronger, and the country will benefit in the long run,” he added.

The VC lamented that private universities are often excluded from public funding interventions such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), despite playing a crucial role in national human capital development.

“Private universities educate citizens who contribute to national growth. They should not be neglected in educational funding and support,” he said.

He explained that Augustine University remains committed to building well-rounded graduates who combine academic excellence with sound moral values.

“Intellectual and technical abilities are important, but they must go hand in hand with character. A graduate without integrity is incomplete,” he said.

The convocation ceremony, according to him, would celebrate the achievements of the university’s graduating students and reaffirm its mission to produce competent, ethical, and service-oriented leaders for Nigeria and beyond.

Prof. Akinwale’s remarks come amid growing public concern about the quality of graduates emerging from Nigerian universities, particularly in terms of employability and ethical behaviour. His call reinforces the need for universities to blend knowledge with values to produce citizens capable of transforming society.