To be change agents, youths need education – Femi Falana

Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has said education is central to making youth become a change agent.

Falana made this submission at the fourth convocation ceremony of Augustine University, Epe, titled “Remaking Nigeria: The youth as change-agents”.

Falana stated that the first thing a youth owed himself and society was to be educated, saying this would enable them contribute to national transformation.

He said, “Education is central in the youth being a change agent. On this, I will make four submissions. The first thing a youth owes himself and society is to be educated. The second, is to ensure that his education is married with critical thinking. The third is that he should not be afraid of where his education, critical thought and social consciousness leads him provided that the ends are social justice.

“The fourth is that his education and knowledge should be put at the service of the people and for the greater good.”

In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Augustine University, Prof. Christopher Odetunde, said as the cost of education goes up, Nigerians should not be delusional about it, as the cost of ignorance was much higher.

He added that five new undergraduate programmes had been proposed for verification by the National Universities Commission. They are Human Anatomy, Computer Engineering, Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing, and Physiology.

In his remarks, the Visitor to the university, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr Adewale Martins, lauded the management for the high standard of discipline and education given to the students.

He charged the graduates to follow the path of honour and seek excellence in their careers in godly manners and not join the wagon of lazy youths seeking to make it in crooked manners.