GCU awards equity and community empowerment pioneer

Glasgow Caledonian University has awarded Enoch Adeyemi with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University in its concluding summer graduation ceremony at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall.

Enoch is a speaker, entrepreneur and financial services leader whose work focuses on equity, opportunity and community empowerment. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, he moved to the UK in 2003 and has built a career spanning major financial institutions including Lloyds Banking Group, RBS, Barclays and Aldermore Bank. A Fellow of ACCA and Harvard alumnus, Enoch founded Black Professionals UK in 2016, which has since expanded internationally to support thousands of members across Europe, Ireland and Australia. He is also the founder of The Black Scottish Awards and co-founder of initiatives supporting entrepreneurship, wellness and young people’s participation in sports.

Upon receiving his honorary degree, Enoch shared the following message with graduands on the importance in life of finding purpose: “What is the point of life? I had a teacher during my A-level days in Lagos, Mr Taiwo. He called me one day and said, ‘Enoch, you are going to fix lots of problems’. I remember walking away from that conversation thinking that was weird. Life continued, I travelled from Nigeria to the UK, completed my degree and Master’s, and started working. Since then, I have been on a simple journey of finding solutions to human problems.

“Remember this, you don’t find purpose by waiting. You find it by acting.

“I rejoice with you today, graduands. Because as you step out of here today, you have millions of possibilities. You can decide to be anything you want to be, here in Scotland, or around the world. You could have studied engineering and now decide you want to be the biggest football streamer. It is possible. Or you may want to serve your country as an MP. It’s possible. My wish for you is to find your purpose.”

Thank you to everyone who has worked hard to make our five summer graduation ceremonies such a success for students, their loved ones, and esteemed guests.