It is no mean feat that in a challenging environment such as ours, the founders of NUTM strove for excellence in envisioning an institution where excellence is its core curriculum. If we were to visualize a future citadel where model citizens were trained to be value contributors to society, NUTM would be right up there on our vision board. The infusion of STEM into every learning schema is a testament to the earth-shattering changes technology has had in our society. Scholars, your enrollment and your graduation today is coming at an opportune time. Timing, as they say, is everything.
In the 1880s, a bunch of scholars, intellectuals, and technologists gathered together in New York City to project the future. At the time, the primary mode of transportation was the horse-drawn carriage. The conclusion at the time was that in about 70 years, New York would be unlivable. The growth of the economy and hence the population would see New York city buried under a sea of horse dung. This projection would result in an unlivable city where a majority of the city might have to be evacuated. However, unbeknownst to the group, Karl Benz was developing the internal combustion engine, which would be later perfected by Henry Ford, who would go on to establish a manufacturing and management framework to sell the cars. Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management – 3 main pillars of NUTM. Scholars! What projections would your work change about Nigeria in the time to come? What impact will your work have on this nation?
Now I must inform this graduating class that there will be challenges. However, you must remember that part of the purpose of your being at NUTM was to understand that excellence is not the absence of problems but is, however, the distinction to interpret challenges and inconveniences in its proper context. It is the fortitude to create value from that context in a distinguished fashion. Mantras like tenacity, resilience, excellence and bravery have become quite trite in our modern lexicon today. We are proud that NUTM is dogged about making sure that these laudatory words are not in short supply and that our young people are apt and ready for whatever tomorrow may bring them.
Scholars, you have the hopes of an entire generation resting on you, no pressure! If there is a message we want you to leave with today, it is to; Understand who you are! Be cautious but be bold, be steadfast and be kind, be confident but humble, be aware, and at the same time be tunnel-visioned. Be open but stable on your godly convictions.
To this graduating class, we wish you strength for what lies ahead of you, we wish you well in every worthwhile endeavor, we pray for God’s blessings upon you.
Congratulations!