The Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, Dr. David Oyedepo, on Friday identified covetousness as the bane of most African leaders.
Oyedepo said at the 11th matriculation of the institution that unless a new generation of leaders takes the stage in the art of governance, Africa might "risk total collapse."
He explained that covetousness amongst African leaders had become "a cancer of the leadership structure" across the length and breathe of the continent, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
"We believe there is a dearth of leadership in our nation today and many other African nations as we equally have quite an army of able men but mostly godless individuals.
"They have every kind of academic degrees but lack of integrity has become the norm rather than the exception amongst the vast majority of them.
"The conscience of many has been seared with hot iron and this has remained our awful situation today.
"It will take only discipline to turn around this verdict because it is the only fundamental price for all positive achievements," he said.
Oyedepo said that authorities of the university had embarked on the task of raising new generation of leaders in various fields of human endeavours.
"We have a strong passion to see this change take place in our land and in our time. We believe that until something changes within us, nothing changes around us.
"The requirement of character and learning in preparing solution-providing leadership for our continent and our nation is a task," he added.
Oyedepo assured of the institution's commitment of shielding its students from the social and environmental pollution that had destroyed the fabric of the society.
"I want to appeal to every one of us here, especially our students that we must arise as one man to salvage the image of our great nation, and indeed, our beloved continent," he added.
The newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Ayo, said that the under-development of Africa today could be attributed to the influx of the colonial masters.
Ayo said that African nations had bemoaned the state of under-development of the continent long enough, adding that it was high time they began to face reality.
"Some of these countries became independent several decades back with little or no tangible development across the socio-economic and political landscapes.
"Africa relies on foreign solutions to its local problems in the areas of health, food scarcity, environment, energy and ICT," he stated.
He urged the matriculating students to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the institution by ensuring that they eschew vices that were capable of compromising their future.
NAN reports that no fewer than 1,620 fresh students and 137 post graduate students, were formally admitted during the ceremony.
- Punch Newspapers
