Dr. David Oyedepo, Chancellor of Covenant University, has emphasized the importance of universities in addressing Nigeria’s leadership challenges by instilling character development in students.
In a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ota, Ogun State, Oyedepo underscored the role of educational institutions in equipping students with skills to become effective leaders, proposing that universities establish leadership development centers to cultivate these qualities.
Highlighting Covenant University’s proactive approach, Oyedepo noted that the institution has launched online diploma and certificate programs in leadership to tackle these pressing issues.
According to him, these courses are already making an impact, as evidenced by Covenant’s ranking as the Nigerian university with the highest number of employable graduates.
The leadership courses, he explained, aim to prepare graduates with the skills needed to confront and solve various societal problems.
“Covenant is addressing character problems among young people in unmistakable terms,” Oyedepo stated. He explained that the university’s leadership development center is helping reshape the behavior and mindset of youth, creating a positive influence on their personal and professional lives.
Oyedepo encouraged other universities to follow Covenant’s example by establishing similar centers that focus on leadership and character development, stressing that such initiatives would serve as effective solutions to the nation’s leadership gaps.
He believes that fostering these skills among students will contribute to building a generation of leaders capable of driving progress and integrity.
By investing in leadership studies and character-building programs, Oyedepo argued, universities can position themselves as catalysts for national development, fostering employability and ethical behavior among graduates across Nigeria.
