Veritas University of Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops Hailed for “producing well-rounded graduates, morally outstanding”

Abuja, 12 November, 2024 / 10:50 PM

Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Nigeria’s Abuja Archdiocese has hailed Veritas University that is under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), for graduating students with broad educational backgrounds, variety of experiences and abilities as well as fully developed personalities. 

In his address during the 13th convocation of the University in his Metropolitan See, Archbishop Kaigama lauded the leadership of faculty of the Catholic institution for fostering moral integrity among students. 

“We happily pride ourselves in Veritas University, as producing well-rounded graduates who are not only academically sound but are morally outstanding because of the virtues internalized by them,” he said in the address he published on his Facebook page on November 9.

The Nigerian Catholic Archbishop described the environment at Veritas University as “conducive”, creating “room for dedicated attention to study and a holistic formation programme.”

“Parents and guardians, from far and near, are eager to bring their children or wards here as admission becomes increasingly highly competitive,” he said.

Archbishop Kaigama went on to express confidence that that students graduating from the university have received “a well-rounded formation in the course of their studies.”

He urged the graduands to apply the knowledge acquired from the institution and to become “pacesetters” in their respective communities in Nigeria that he said are characterized by much information and a dearth of wisdom. 

“As graduates of Veritas University, you must strive to be pacesetters in our communities especially in this era when there is an abundance of Information, yet there is an acute shortage of wisdom,” Archbishop Kaigama said.

Education transcends mere acquisition of knowledge; it should have the ability to bring about transformation in the community, the Nigerian Catholic Archbishop, who has been at the helm of Abuja Archdiocese since November 2019 emphasized. 

The importance of education, he further said, “lies in its transformative ability for both the individual and the community.”

“You are not only educated; you are equally ethically well rooted, and the combination of these should provide you with the tools to impact the society positively,” Archbishop Kaigama told Veritas University graduands, expressing optimism that they will be “positive ambassadors of this great institution.”

He urged the graduands to “exude the Veritas confidence and the moral rectitude of Veritas,” in their endeavours after leaving the university.

“Those graduating today bring unquantifiable joy to us and a renewed hope that our young people who don't give into frustration and misguided behaviour, will turn out to be the hope of a rich harvest for Nigeria,” the Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Jalingo Catholic Diocese said.

He added, “We are aware of the tremendous sacrifices made by you, (your) parents and guardians, especially during these very tough economic times, to ensure that the students achieve their aims of being graduates of various disciplines.”

The Local Ordinary of Abuja lauded the leadership and faculty of Veritas University for guiding the graduands to the end of their studies. Those who cooperated fully, he said, “are today taking home the fruits of their labour.”

“No doubt, each of these students must have faced unique challenges that were personal to them but in these challenges, each of them learnt resilience, adaptability, and most importantly, critical thinking,” Archbishop Kaigama said.