Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has urged African countries to deepen regional cooperation, saying the continent would advance faster through collaboration than by retreating behind national borders.

Mahama also challenged pioneer graduates of the University of Offa, Kwara State, to build businesses, develop innovative solutions and create opportunities that would contribute to Africa's economic development.

He spoke on Monday at the university's maiden convocation ceremony, where he delivered an address titled "From Certificate to Enterprise: Africa's Graduates as Architects of the Continent's Economic Future."

Represented by Ghana's High Commissioner-designate to Nigeria, Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu, the president said Africa's future depended on stronger cooperation among its countries, universities and businesses.

"Africa will advance faster when its countries cooperate rather than retreat behind their borders," he said.

Noting that the continent's future was interconnected, Mahama said universities must collaborate, while businesses should seek partners across Africa. He added that innovators needed patient capital to turn their ideas into viable enterprises.

"Our young people must see opportunity not only nationally but also regionally and continentally. That is how we give African integration practical meaning," he said.

Mahama said Ghana and Nigeria shared historical, commercial, cultural and family ties that provided a strong foundation for closer cooperation.

"For Ghana and Nigeria, the broader challenge before us is also shared. Our countries are bound together by history, commerce, culture, family ties and countless human relationships.

"Our young people study in each other's institutions, build businesses across our borders, share music and culture," he said.

Addressing the pioneer graduates, the Ghanaian president urged them to translate their education into practical contributions to society.

"Build businesses. Build institutions. Build solutions. Build bridges between people and ideas. Create opportunities. Serve your communities. Lead with integrity," he charged.

He added: "And wherever life takes you, remember that you were the first. Your certificate tells the world what you studied. What you build with what you have learned will help determine the Africa you inherit, and the Africa you leave behind."

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Offa, Professor Kazeem Alagbe Gbolagade, disclosed that the institution produced eight First Class graduates out of 140 first-degree graduates at its maiden convocation.

He said 54 graduates obtained Second Class Upper degrees, 76 earned Second Class Lower degrees, while two graduated with Third Class honours.

Gbolagade said the university, licensed in 2021, commenced academic activities in 2022 with two faculties and 10 programmes but had since expanded to four faculties and 17 academic programmes.

He listed the faculties as Science and Computing; Management and Social Sciences; Education; and Health Sciences.

The Vice-Chancellor said the institution planned to introduce Law, Theatre Arts and Public Health programmes as part of its next phase of academic expansion.

On student enrolment, he said the university's population had grown from 81 students in the 2022/2023 academic session to 640 newly admitted students in the 2026/2027 session.

He added that more than 1,000 prospective students had applied for admission in the current session, with the process still ongoing.

"Our quota for this year is 1,166 and once we fill up our quota, 2026/2027 admission will close," he said.

Gbolagade attributed the growth to the institution's commitment to academic excellence, strict adherence to its academic calendar, investment in information technology and emphasis on entrepreneurship.

He said the university had engaged visiting lecturers and established partnerships with institutions within and outside Nigeria to expose students to practical learning and international academic experiences.

According to him, the university signed memoranda of understanding with Highstone International University, United States, and INTI International University, Malaysia, to promote staff and student exchanges, research collaboration, grant acquisition and resource sharing.

He added that the institution had partnered with New Horizon to provide practical information technology training for students across all disciplines, enabling them to obtain additional professional certifications alongside their degrees.

The Vice-Chancellor said the university had made progress in research and grant acquisition, with some academics securing research grants and international opportunities.

He disclosed that the University of Offa Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies was launched in March 2026, while its first volume, containing 19 articles, was published in June.

On entrepreneurship, Gbolagade said the university was assisting students to register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission, adding that plans were underway to introduce start-up grants for graduates.

He said the initiative was aimed at equipping graduates to become job creators rather than job seekers.

The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that all the university's initial 10 academic programmes had received accreditation from the National Universities Commission.

He said four programmes in the Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Science, Doctor of Physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Science and Community Health Science recorded 100 per cent success during the NUC resource verification exercise conducted in April 2026.

Despite the institution's growth, Gbolagade identified inadequate infrastructure as one of its major challenges and appealed for support to provide additional on-campus accommodation, a modern Senate building, a Faculty of Health Sciences building, a Faculty of Law building, a 1,000-capacity lecture theatre, a modern mosque, a library complex, a sports complex and a computer-based testing centre.

He expressed appreciation to the university's founder, Dr Rasak Omoniyi Oyewale, for his vision and support for the institution's development.

The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the university had introduced a 50 per cent salary increase for staff, effective October 1, 2026, as part of its welfare package.

He pledged that the institution would continue to strengthen its relationship with the media and other stakeholders as it pursued its ambition of becoming a leading institution of higher learning.

Speaking through a representative at the event, the founder said the establishment of the university was driven by perseverance, commitment and personal sacrifice.