Skyline Varsity Honours Obasanjo, Rasheed, Indian Philanthropist

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, and Indian philanthropist, Mrs. Vandana Luthra, have been honoured with honorary doctorate degrees by Skyline University Nigeria, Kano.

The trio received the awards during the institution’s fifth convocation ceremony, where 237 students graduated with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Speaking in a recorded address after receiving the honour, Obasanjo urged Nigerian youths to reject campaigns of division, discrimination, segregation and marginalisation, saying they must take responsibility for shaping the country’s future.

The former president challenged young Nigerians to be positively disruptive in pushing for the changes needed to move the country forward, warning that their education would be wasted if they failed to contribute to national development.

He cited former political leaders, including Aminu Kano and Anthony Enahoro, as examples of young Nigerians who championed change during the pre-independence and post-independence eras.

Obasanjo also named former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, and himself as young military officers who spearheaded change during their time in service.

“Young people have to be positively disruptive to bring about the change. If there is no change, your education will go to waste, your life will gather nothing, and you will remain in frustration,” he said.

He urged youths across the country to recognise their common aspirations for security, peace, employment and a better society, rather than allow themselves to be divided along ethnic, religious and regional lines.

Earlier, the vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Ajith Kumar, announced the National Universities Commission’s approval of three new academic programmes, namely B.Sc. Artificial Intelligence, B.Sc. Public Health and B.Sc. Islamic Economics and Finance.

Kumar said Skyline University was the first institution in the North-West to receive NUC approval for a B.Sc. Artificial Intelligence programme.

He also announced that the university had offered 50 per cent postgraduate scholarships to its best-performing graduating students.

The convocation marked the first time the institution, established in 2018, awarded doctoral degrees, with 13 scholars graduating from its School of Postgraduate Studies.

The 237 graduands comprised 183 bachelor’s degree holders, 41 higher degree recipients and 13 doctoral graduates.

Of the graduands, 30 obtained first-class honours, 89 graduated with second-class upper division, while 64 obtained second-class lower division.

In his remarks, Rasheed described the honorary doctorate as both an affirmation of service and a renewed obligation to contribute to society.

He commended the university’s academic standards, noting that the graduation of its first 13 doctoral scholars marked a significant milestone in its development.

Former Anambra State Governor and NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, called for greater investment in human capital, describing education as the foundation of national development.

Obi urged the government to support young entrepreneurs, arguing that investment in small businesses could create millions of jobs and help address unemployment.

Similarly, former Kano State governor and 2027 NDC Vice presidential aspirant, Rabiu Kwankwaso, also congratulated the university, pledging continued support for private and public universities in Kano and across the country.