Degree Alone Not Enough, Ex-NCDC Boss, Ihekweazu, Tells New Miva Varsity Students
By Sunday Etuka
A degree alone rarely guarantees employment, former Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has told fresh university students, urging them to build practical skills and a clear value proposition before they graduate.
Ihekweazu, who is also the Assistant Director at the World Health Organisation (WHO), spoke on Saturday in Abuja at the 2026 matriculation ceremony of Miva Open University, which drew 12, 260 new students from Nigeria and other countries.
He said knowledge in a single area will rarely be enough, adding that students must learn to communicate, collaborate, adapt and solve problems.
According to him, a person’s network, languages, digital competence and technical skills will matter more than many of them could imagine.
“The more you develop yourself, the more valuable you will become, not only to your employers, but also to your communities, your countries and yourself,” he said.
Speaking frankly, he noted that many students expect a job to follow naturally after years of study, but said this is not usually the case.
He cited his wife, Vivienne, who runs an organisation called Nigerian Health and often raises the issue when recruiting.
He encouraged students of public health to get to know the organisation.
Ihekweazu said candidates stand a better chance when they can explain how their skills fit into an organisation’s work and what problem they could help solve.
At the entry level, he said, very few employers are after knowledge alone, and the degree itself will not mean as much as students might think.
“Employers are looking for problem solvers. Use your time here to become one of those people,” he said.
He urged the students to take an active role in preparing for the future while still in school.
He advised them to seek internships whenever possible, give one another the chance to apply what they have learned, and attend conferences and events in their areas of interest.
He also encouraged them to ask questions and build relationships, saying such experiences can uncover opportunities and give an employer a reason to take a chance on them.
Ihekweazu expressed hope that the students would leave the institution in four years with more than an excellent degree.
He said he wished them to graduate with knowledge they can apply, questions they are unafraid to ask, values they will not compromise and the confidence to make a difference wherever they find themselves.
“Ultimately, the purpose of education is not simply to change what you know. It is to expand what you are capable of doing with your life and in the lives of others,” he said.
He added that a degree may open doors for the students, but their education should give them the courage, knowledge and conviction to open doors for others.
Turning to parents and families, he commended them for the sacrifice, encouragement and belief that brought the students to this point, but said the journey was now changing.
He urged them to keep supporting their children while giving them room to discover who they are, make mistakes, change their minds and find their own path.
To the faculty, he said their responsibility goes beyond teaching a syllabus or preparing students for examinations.
He said they must nurture curiosity, demand excellence, model integrity and help students discover what they are truly capable of.
Years from now, he said, students may forget much of what was taught in class, but will always remember how their teachers challenged them, believed in them and opened their minds to new possibilities.
“I wish you all the success possible on the journey ahead, but don’t forget also to enjoy the journey,” he concluded, to a standing ovation from the audience.
