File photo: University of Ibadan entrance.
The Chief Executive Officer of Edutechportal Solutions, Folajimi Fakoya, has urged graduating students of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State to build meaningful relationships, embrace artificial intelligence and uphold integrity as essential ingredients for success in their professional and personal lives.
Fakoya, who delivered the final commencement address on the third day of the UI 2026 convocation ceremonies, advised while addressing graduands in the Faculties of Education and Environmental Design and Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, on Friday.
Speaking on “The Architecture of Success: Planning, Relationships, Technology, Execution and Humility,” Fakoya, an alumnus of the university’s 2009 graduating class, said obtaining a university degree should not mark the end of learning but the beginning of a lifelong journey of knowledge acquisition, innovation and personal development.
“Your ability to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive world would depend on how effectively you apply the knowledge acquired in the university to solve practical problems,” he said.
Recounting his experiences as a student leader, the speaker urged “the graduates to build on existing knowledge, learn from the experience of others and develop practical solutions rather than attempt to reinvent what others had already achieved.”
On the importance of relationships, Fakoya further advised them “to seek guidance from experienced people, maintain productive relationships with their contemporaries and support younger people coming behind them,” noting that “meaningful relationships could open opportunities beyond what academic qualifications alone could provide.”
Addressing the growing influence of artificial intelligence, Fakoya urged the graduates to acquire the skills required to deploy emerging technologies to conduct research, improve productivity and develop innovative solutions.
He said, “AI will not replace you. But a person using AI will replace a person who is not. That is the truth of this era.
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“I want to encourage you to build meaningful relationships, embrace artificial intelligence and uphold integrity as essential ingredients for success in your professional and personal lives.”
He, however, cautioned against excessive dependence on artificial intelligence, describing it “as a tool for enhancing human intelligence rather than replacing independent thinking, sound judgment and personal character.”
Fakoya also urged them to pursue sustainable success without compromising their health, integrity and relationships, saying “humility and the willingness to accept correction are essential to achieving enduring professional success.”
Earlier, the UI Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olamakinde Olapegba, urged the graduates to uphold academic excellence, integrity and innovation as they begin the next phase of their lives.
Olapegba also charged them “to embrace technology responsibly, contribute meaningfully to society and give back to their alma mater.”
He particularly urged those entering the teaching profession to regard teaching as a calling to shape minds and build the future of the nation.
The University of Ibadan’s 2026 convocation and 78th Foundation Day ceremonies are scheduled to run from November 3 to November 17, 2026.
Source: Punch · Ademola Adegbite
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