From Lecture Halls to Boardrooms: Dr. Chima Anyaso Shares Inspiring Journey of Grace, Grit, and Growth at Ebonyi State University

In a momentous gathering that blended nostalgia, inspiration, and purpose, students, faculty members, and alumni filled the auditorium of Ebonyi State University to witness what many called a defining milestone in the institution’s legacy—the keynote address by one of its most distinguished alumni, Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso. Delivering the inaugural lecture of the university’s Maiden Alumni Lecture Series, Dr. Anyaso spoke on the theme, “From Classroom to Boardroom – A Journey of Grace and Growth.”

Dr. Anyaso’s speech was deeply personal yet profoundly universal, resonating with every listener in the hall. With sincerity and passion, he took the audience on a journey through his formative years in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, and the bustling city of Aba, where many of his early life lessons were shaped. He recounted with vulnerability and pride his time as a student at Ebonyi State University, where he earned a degree in English and Literature in 2003.

But perhaps the most striking part of his narrative was the honesty with which he addressed his academic struggles. “I didn’t graduate with distinctions,” he confessed. “My degree didn’t earn applause—but it ignited something in me. Determination.” He challenged the audience to rethink academic performance as a reflection of future potential, urging them to understand that success is more about resilience and mindset than a result on paper.

“Your certificate is not your destiny,” Dr. Anyaso declared. “What you do with your education—how you adapt, how you grow, how you bounce back—matters more than the grades you leave with.” His message was not only inspirational; it was a powerful disruption of the traditional mindset that sees academic honors as the only gateway to success.

He described education as a functional tool—not a ceremonial achievement. “It’s not the certificate that changes lives, it’s the competence and character it builds,” he said. According to him, true education begins after the classroom, in the arenas of real life where theory meets challenge. He spoke about his return to formal learning after his first degree, pursuing a master’s in Management from the University of Lagos and earning an executive certificate in Business Strategy from St. John’s University, New York. “I went back to school not to impress the world, but to retool myself for the journey ahead,” he said.

Dr. Anyaso’s speech soon shifted from personal reflection to a national imperative. He urged students to see themselves not only as future professionals but as builders of society. He called on institutions to move beyond titles and accolades and focus on impact-driven education that produces thinkers, doers, and problem solvers. “We cannot build a new Nigeria with outdated mindsets. We must reimagine education as a platform for leadership, innovation, and service.”

He passionately emphasized the need for youths to embrace entrepreneurship not merely as a career choice, but as a training ground for nation-building. “Build something. Fail, learn, and try again. Solve a problem. Serve a community. That’s how you prepare for leadership. That’s how you earn the right to lead.” His call to action echoed deeply across the hall as students leaned into every word, scribbling notes and reflecting on their own journeys.

Dr. Chimaobi Anyaso is not just an entrepreneur—he is a living testament to perseverance, vision, and the power of second chances. As Founder and Group Managing Director of The CAADES Group, he has grown a multi-sectoral business conglomerate with strategic interests in oil and gas, real estate, hospitality, construction, and healthcare. Under his leadership, the Group has created thousands of jobs and facilitated transactions worth over $1 billion in the energy sector, partnering with industry giants like Vitol, Total, and Mobil.

Beyond boardroom success, Dr. Anyaso has remained grounded in impact. Through his educational foundation, he has provided scholarships, mentorship, and hope to hundreds of underprivileged children across Nigeria. His commitment to human capital development and inclusive progress has positioned him as a torchbearer for purposeful leadership in the country.

His journey from the classrooms of Ebonyi State University to boardrooms across the globe is not just a success story—it is a blueprint. A blueprint built on grace, shaped by grit, and sustained by growth. As he closed his speech, Dr. Anyaso left the audience with a charge that will echo long after the applause faded: “It is not where you start that defines you, but how much you’re willing to grow. Don’t wait for permission to lead—earn it. Build yourself. Then build your nation.”