By Senator Jimoh Ibrahim
Being University of Buckingham Convocation Lecture
Introduction
We gathered today to celebrate yesterday, and we certainly do not discuss today. We already know what today entails but do not know what tomorrow holds. We find solace in Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to Me, and I will answer you and reveal great and mighty things that you do not know.”
Introduction
The global economy is grappling with challenges stemming from America’s £35.4 trillion debt (121% debt-to-GDP ratio), raising concerns about inflation. The UK’s national debt reached £2.77 trillion in September 2024 (95% debt-to-GDP). Meanwhile, China’s debt totals $16,637.07 billion (90.1% debt-to-GDP). A changing world is inevitable, and high levels of debt hinder growth. Starting tomorrow morning, you will focus on planning your life and future within this global system. We eagerly anticipate your contributions in utilising your newfound knowledge to address pressing complexities, and we advise you to proceed with guidance. Education should be organised within this framework as swiftly as possible, and the university will provide the best solution for our development.
Body
Lesson 1: Vision?
The power of Vison
Is your vision well-conceived? How prepared are you for option B if option A is ineffective or constrained by the ecosystem? Is your knowledge capacity sufficient to support your vision? Is your vision rooted within the ecosystem, or will you reshape the ecosystem with your vision?
Lesson 2
Know yourself: Refrain from acting until you genuinely understand yourself!
I must emphasise that leadership begins with self-awareness! Who are you, and what are your predictable behaviours? From tomorrow morning, the foundation of your new life will rest on a vital self-assessment of your qualities.
(How do you position yourself about the five key taxonomies of leadership? Conscientiousness (being diligent, punctual, law-abiding, and hardworking); agreeableness (demonstrating reduced self-assertion while aligning with the majority); neuroticism (frequently experiencing negative emotions such as worry, anger, and sadness, and being sensitive in interpersonal situations); openness (valuing new ideas and personal feelings); and extraversion (tending to speak at length, enjoy social interactions, and be notably assertive). An employer in the regulatory industry may prefer a conscientious individual over someone with extroverted traits. If you apply for a position at the Bank of England, you may be asked during the interview, “Do you believe we should issue a warning rather than impose a sanction?”)
Lesson: 3
Knowledge: X causes Y? what if there are my x
I enjoy my postgraduate studies because they help me recognise the frustrations I encounter in life. When I reflect on my failures through the lens of my first degree, I recognise that X causes Y, which leads me to believe that Y represents my success in life and is influenced by X as an independent variable.
I felt much happier realising that my success or failure depends on many factors. I was taught that each factor has a different level of impact and that I should not overlook seemingly insignificant factors, as I can group them where necessary and apply a t-test for factorial analysis. I was advised to take any factor of X with a value above 0.005 and the R-squared very seriously. I realised people do not pay taxes due to inadequate economic power or corruption! They also do not receive any social benefits from the government, and the moral imperative of paying taxes is weak. As I progressed, I learned that X would only respond to an intervening factor of B, and we must keep B constant to observe what X would do! At the PhD. level, my supervisor at Buckingham advised me to look beyond causality. However, I will not disclose what he instructed me to do, which I followed, and we began tackling the military challenges posed by the Boko Haram crisis. Let me be honest: your return to university for further knowledge is inevitable unless you can provide alternatives to university education.
Knowledge Capacity? What about returning for more knowledge capacity.
In contemporary times, developing knowledge capacity must be an integral part of your strategic plan to return to university as soon as possible to complete your master’s and doctorate degrees. If you can not return now, do not wait until circumstances compel you. It is crucial to act urgently to master your subject area and foster more significant innovation. My supervisor at the University of Cambridge once made a rather costly joke in a coffee shop (Hot Numbers) during one of our early meetings, which were held weekly at 6 am! He remarked that undergraduates at the University of Cambridge are here to avoid disturbing their parents at home! It seems they do not truly comprehend what we are doing here at the University of Cambridge!
Things appear uncertain. Why don’t you retune to know more?
The scientific community dismisses the metaphysical African ‘science’, eager to assert that science aims to uncover the truth! They claim that non-scientific methodologies do not seek to reveal the truth.
Not long after, I encountered a scientific theory suggesting that after observing 50,000 swans, they theoretically concluded that all swans are black! However, I noted a brown swan at Churchill College in Cambridge and a white swan at Buckingham, as referenced in my PhD. thesis at the University of Buckingham. What, then, has become of the scientific experimental theory regarding swans? In investigating why companies fail in Europe, I wondered whether I could apply the scientific experimental methodology of group trials and treatments. Unfortunately, those companies are not laboratories for clinical trials. Science maintains that nothing can fly without support if its weight exceeds a balloon’s. I regret to inform you that we flew British Airways with over 300 people on board, and my weight is 90 kg. We flew for about six hours before landing!
Lesson: 4
The Eco system. Should the eco system decide for you, or you will be deciding for the eco system.
I strongly encourage you to consider how best to collaborate with everyone in light of your remarkable leadership qualities.
Furthermore, the ecosystem introduces new challenges for guiding organisations with AI. While it is not the case that AI will serve as an organisational leader, it is indeed challenging to forgo AI’s leadership when it plays such a significant role in operations management!
Tributes to my children.
Mr. Vice-Chancellor, I wish to recognise my children for their outstanding academic achievements: Seun, who has just submitted his PhD thesis; Bukky, who completed her British Bar exams; David, who graduated with First-Class honours in Law; Ayo, who also earned First-Class honours in the British Bar exams; Ademola, who is graduating today with First-Class honours in Law, as well as Oyidamola, who achieved a Distinction in her master’s degree in Banking. I have set a high expectation of three degrees for each child, including a PhD, in pursuit of their self-sufficiency. I believe my demands are reasonable, especially since I have acquired nine university degrees from institutions like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, LSE, Buckingham, and Ife. I apologise if my expectations seem excessive!
Conclusion.
Indeed, we must confront the moral weight of bidding farewell to colleagues and friends we have nurtured over many years. Our class has forged strong connections; we no longer wait for taxis or Ubers to attend lectures or enjoy our regular outings around town. The University of Buckingham will miss you, and its departments, faculty, and vision house, among many others, will undoubtedly feel your absence. However, what can unite us and ensure we never truly part ways is our social capital network. You will exchange this for your current university identity card as we continue cultivating a community through our SCN, where we share ideas and collaboratively plan for success.
Vice-Chancellor, Sir, I stand with you in presenting these remarkable ladies and gentlemen, distinguished in character and scholarship, not only as graduates of our esteemed University of Buckingham but also as individuals prepared to shape our ever-evolving world towards sustainable development, ready to thrive in their endeavours. Please accept my sincerest congratulations.
