By Esther Onyegbula

The Chancellor and General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, has charged the 355 graduands of Mountain Top University (MTU), during its 7th Convocation and 10th anniversary,

to uphold integrity, godly character and purposeful leadership as they step into the wider society.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony, Dr. Olukoya described the university’s decade-long journey as evidence that vision backed by prayer, discipline and sacrifice yields impact, stressing that MTU’s growing recognition beyond Nigeria, particularly in global conversations around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reflects the quality of its academic and moral foundations.

“Ten years is not just a number; it is a statement. God is faithful. It is proof that when vision is backed by prayers, discipline and sacrifice, impact follows,” he said, while noting that despite the milestones recorded, the institution “has not arrived.”

Addressing the graduands, the chancellor said convocation marked not an end but a commissioning to higher responsibility, urging them not to trade integrity for opportunity or sacrifice destiny on the altar of impatience.

“Do not join the crowd; be a standard. Be solution-minded, because Nigeria and the world reward value, not noise. Let your certificate become a tool, but let your character become your crown,” Olukoya said, while also calling on the new alumni to remain committed to the growth and sustainability of their alma mater.

Earlier in his convocation address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elijah Adebowale Ayolabi, charged the graduates to carry the MTU DNA of excellence wherever they go, urging them to lead with vision, create solutions and transform societies.

“Carry with you integrity as your compass, innovation as your engine, diligence as your strategy, godliness as your foundation and excellence as your identity. You represent the fruit of a 10-year dream,” he said.

Ayolabi disclosed that the university graduated 282 undergraduates, including 42 First Class degree holders, as well as 64 postgraduate diploma and master’s degree students, alongside nine doctoral graduates, described as the institution’s first hooded cohort.

He announced Miss Akinyemi Omolola Faith, a B.Sc. Mathematics graduate with a CGPA of 4.94, as the overall best graduating student for the 2024/2025 academic year, while also recognising Pastor (Dr.) Abiodun Ladejola, an Assistant General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, who completed a Ph.D. in Public Administration.

In her valedictory speech, Miss Akinyemi said the graduating class arrived on campus in October 2021 as dreamers, faced challenges that tested their strength and faith, and emerged stronger in character and purpose.

She paid special tribute to the university leadership and the DK Olukoya Foundation for supporting her throughout her four years of study, noting that the foundation’s intervention went beyond financial aid to providing food and a supportive environment that transformed her life.

Delivering the convocation lecture, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, commended MTU for its commitment to raising morally upright, intellectually sound and visionary nation-builders, describing the institution’s first 10 years as a period of faithful adherence to its founding principles.

He noted that the university’s emphasis on critical thinking, resilience and responsibility, as well as vocational training through its Centre for Education and Development Services (CEDGS), aligns with the demands of contemporary society and the need for graduates to combine academic knowledge with practical skills.

The governor urged the university community to continue dreaming big while building steadily, adding that institutions like MTU remain vital to national development and global relevance.