VOTE OF THANKS ON BEHALF OF THE PHD GRADUATING CLASS BY RT. HON.
BENJAMIN OKEZIE KALU, PHD, CFR
[Protocol]
I stand before you today, deeply honoured to be part of this class and to have shared in this demanding, humbling, and transformative journey.
In the words of Aristotle; "The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."
For each of us, this journey has been marked by long sleepless nights; by moments of clarity and seasons of doubt; by the rigorous discipline of research and the persistent pursuit of knowledge. Behind every thesis submitted lies not just intellectual labour, but sacrifice of time, of comfort, and of resources.
It is, for me, especially meaningful that this moment is taking place at the University of Calabar; the same institution that awarded me my first law degree, my Master’s in Law, and now this doctorate. I have returned to this university at different stages of my life, and each time, I have left changed, better formed, more grounded, and more aware of the responsibility that comes with knowledge. It is in that spirit of gratitude that I join my fellow graduands in acknowledging
those who made this milestone possible: our lecturers and supervisors, whose rigour sharpened our thinking; our families, whose patience sustained us; and this great University of Calabar, which has provided the environment in which inquiry can thrive and excellence can take root. On behalf of the PhD graduating class, we say, thank you.
But beyond gratitude, today invites reflection. A doctoral degree is not merely the highest academic qualification; it is an initiation into responsibility. It signals not only that we have mastered a body of knowledge but that we are now entrusted with its use. For what is knowledge, if it does not serve? What is research if it does not reach beyond the pages on which it is written? As Nelson Mandela
once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”
Globally, fewer than 1% of the world's adult population holds a doctoral degree.
In developing nations, that figure falls below 0.1%. Here in Nigeria, the National
Bureau of Statistics has estimated that the number of doctoral holders is fewer
than 100,000 in a country of over 220 million people. This places us within a very narrow community, not of privilege alone, but of obligation. The burden of thought, of innovation, and of intellectual leadership rests, in no small measure, on our shoulders.
Yet we must be honest: the distance between knowledge and impact remains one of the defining challenges of our time. Across many developing societies, including ours, research output has not always translated into policy, and
scholarship has not consistently shaped systems. UNESCO estimates that Africa generates only about 1% of global scientific research output, despite being home to 12.5% of the world's population. The continent has approximately 198
scientists per million people, compared to 4,500 per million in the United States. Sub-Saharan Africa employs only 96 researchers per million inhabitants, against a global average of over 1,300. These are not merely statistics; they are a call to ensure that what we have produced does not end in archives but finds expression in action.
As someone privileged to serve in governance, I have seen firsthand how the absence, or presence, of evidence shapes outcomes. Policy that is not informed by knowledge is often reactive; policy grounded in research is deliberate, sustainable, and just. The future we seek to build as a nation will depend, in large
part, on our ability to bridge this gap: to move knowledge from thesis to
transformation.
It is in recognition of this that we have, within the House of Representatives, continued to champion legislation that expands access to education. I speak from personal conviction, having had the privilege to sponsor and support several legislative efforts aimed at expanding access to education, including the
establishment of the Federal College of Education, Bende; the Federal University
of Medical and Health Sciences, Item Bende; and the Federal University, Okigwe, now signed into law by President Tinubu. These are not merely legislative outcomes. They are investments in the intellectual future of our nation.
This, then, is the meaning of today. We do not merely receive degrees; we inherit a duty to act responsibly, and to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of society. Whether in academia, in industry, in public service, or in enterprise, the true measure of our scholarship will not be in citations alone, but in the lives that are improved because we chose to apply what we know.
My dear colleagues, we are now part of a tradition that stretches across generations; a tradition of inquiry, courage, and service. But tradition, if it is to remain alive, must also evolve. We must be scholars who do not only question, but also build; who do not only analyse, but also solve; who do not only understand the world, but actively shape it. We must be the bridge between what Nigeria knows and what Nigeria becomes.
And so, as we step forward from this moment, let us carry with us the simple conviction that knowledge must be useful, that learning must be purposeful, and that education must ultimately serve humanity.
On behalf of my fellow convocants, I once again express our deepest appreciation to the Governing Council, the Vice Chancellor, the Senate, and the entire academic community for sustaining a culture of excellence, innovation, and integrity. We are profoundly grateful to our distinguished lecturers and supervisors, the exceptional architects of our success, who challenged our thinking, stretched our imagination, and guided us toward intellectual discovery.
I must also express my personal gratitude to this great institution for the honour bestowed upon my research, which was selected as one of the most outstanding research projects and showcased at the University’s Achievement Exhibition on Contribution to Knowledge.
To our parents, families, and loved ones, we thank you for your sacrifices, encouragement, and unwavering belief in us, even when the journey seemed uncertain.
Finally, we thank everyone who contributed to the successful organisation of this convocation ceremony. Your dedication has made this occasion memorable and befitting of the excellence this institution represents.
I conclude with the words of Albert Einstein: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value”. As we step into the future, may we remember that the true measure of education is not in the titles we hold, but in the impact we make. May we all become men and women of value to our nation, our continent, and humanity.
On behalf of all convocants, I say thank you, and congratulations to us all.
Thank you for listening and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
