ASE Vice Chancellor Emphasizes Time Management as Key to Student Success
The Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics, also known as The Pan-African University of Excellence in Abuja, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, has delivered a powerful charge to new students, urging them to make judicious use of their time. He emphasized that the present moment is fleeting and soon becomes the past, making it crucial for academic and personal development.
Matriculation Address Highlights the Present as a Gift
Prof. Adedimeji presented his address, titled "Your Present Is Your Present", during the university's second matriculation ceremony held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the University Auditorium. As a Fulbright scholar, he congratulated the students and their parents on this significant occasion, noting that their journey toward a desired future has just commenced.
"You are just starting, and before you are terrains to be explored, depths to be reached, and treasures to be discovered," he stated. "The opportunities are vast, and your responsibility is to utilize them by maximizing the use of your time. All you have is the present of the present to guarantee your future."
Clarifying the Semantic Nuance of "Present"
The Vice Chancellor clarified that his message was not repetitive but leveraged the semantic relation of homography, where the same spelling carries different meanings. "While the first present refers to a period of time, the moment we are in, the second refers to a gift," he explained. "In other words, the moment you have now or the opportunity of life you enjoy is your gift or present to transform your world."
He stressed that the students' presence at the university is a gift denied to others, urging them to use it well in their studies and preparation before it becomes past. "Commit yourselves fully to your primary assignment in the university as that is the key to your success, and avoid distractors or distractions," he advised.
Encouragement for Holistic Learning and Skill Development
Prof. Adedimeji welcomed the students to the university community and encouraged them to learn both vertically and horizontally every day, both within and outside the classroom. He highlighted that while a fool learns from his own mistakes, a wise person learns from the mistakes of others.
He also emphasized goal setting and skills acquisition as integral parts of their training, advising against complacency in comfort zones. "It is your responsibility to identify and harmonize what you love and what you are good at with what the world needs and what you can be paid for," he said. "You are welcome to the university, and I encourage you to never rest until you always become better than the best elsewhere."
Guest Speaker on University Education and Poverty Eradication
During the event, the Guest Speaker, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, who serves as the Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development and Chairman of the State Commissioners of Education in Nigeria, delivered a lecture titled "University Education as a Catalyst for Poverty Eradication." He commended the university for its innovative approach to education, noting he has followed its progress since its inception in Nigeria two years ago.
Dr. Olohungbebe encouraged students to leverage their unique institution by acquiring research skills to bridge societal gaps and vocational skills for income generation and poverty alleviation. To escape the poverty trap, he emphasized:
- The importance of hands-on competence
- Cultivating financial literacy early
- Living below one's means as a lifestyle
- Avoiding unnecessary debts
- Building strong professional networks from now
Goodwill Messages and Event Highlights
Goodwill messages were delivered by several dignitaries, including:
- Prof. Tunde Akanni of Lagos State University
- Alh. Najeem Jimoh, former editor of The Punch newspaper, representing the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Emeritus Is-haq Oloyede
- Prof. Leonard Wantcheckon, founder of ASE from Princeton University
- Dr. Foluke Aliyu-Ibrahim from the University of Ilorin
They all commended the ASE management for setting the university on a path of global excellence and urged students to be hardworking. Highlights of the occasion included the presentation of an award to Dr. Olohungbebe by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Obinna Obiwulu, and the swearing of the matriculation oath by the new students, administered by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adedimeji.
