Nigerian musician David Adeleke professionally known as Davido: “Standing before the graduating class of Clifford University today giving the commencement speech, I felt something bigger than music. I saw a generation ready to change everything.
“When I looked into their faces, I saw the same fire that built me, that hunger to be seen, to make something out of nothing, to turn pain into power. I told them that talent might open the door, but purpose gives it meaning.
“We live in a time where young people carry the future of Africa in their hands. It’s our time, but it’s also our test, to use our platforms, our influence, and our voices to build, not just for ourselves, but for the next ones coming after us. As artists, as dreamers, as believers, we must lead by example. We must show that true greatness is not measured only in numbers, but in impact.
“My mother, Dr. Veronica Adeleke, understood that long before I did. She was a teacher, a giver, a woman who believed that education and compassion could change lives. Everything I am, the music, the drive, the heart, came from her.
“Today, I had the honor of inaugurating a hostel at Clifford University named after her. Walking through that building, seeing the smiles of the students who will live there, I realized this was more than a tribute. It was a continuation of her purpose, turning love into legacy, one life at a time.
“This moment reminded me that even when our parents are gone, their lessons remain alive in what we build, in who we lift, and in how we love.
“This one’s for her, for every young African chasing their dream, and for everyone who believes we can rise higher, together. 💙
We Rise By Lifting Others