By Michael Ezenwata
The Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University has ended its 11th-15th combined Convocation Ceremonies with an epoch making novel awards of honorary degrees.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo and visitor to the University in a speech, appreciated the university for advancing under Prof. Kate Omenugha tenure and further uplifting its status in line with the policies of his administration.
The governor pledged to ensure that the Uli campus of the university is fully developed through the provision of infrastructure and other necessary assistance to bring it up to a world class standard campus.
He thanked the governing council and the management of the university for honouring his wife with an honorary doctorate degree which has further laid credence to her contributing to the growth of the society through her healthy living programme which is worthy of emulation.
Governor Soludo reiterated his resolve to enhance development in the state, expecting all hands to be on deck to support his administration to actualize its overall vision.
The wife of the governor in her acceptance speech after receiving her honorary doctorate degree,thanked the management of the university for honouring her and promised to sustain her zeal to assist the less privileged and humanity through her healthy living initiative.
The acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Kate Omenugha in a speech, thanked the state government and other stakeholders for the success so far recorded in the university.
Prof. Omenugha spoke of the vision of the university aimed at improving its profile and urged public spirited individuals in the society to assist it through funding and other endowment drives.
In a message to the occasion, the Chairman, Anambra North Traditional Rulers Council and Deputy Chairman Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Benjamin Okeji felicitated with the university on its 25 years anniversary celebration and urged its management not to rest on their oars.
Igwe Okeji, the Traditional Ruler of Omasi used the forum to congratulate the wife of the governor for bagging an honorary doctorate degree courtesy of the university.
One of the personalities that received an honorary doctorate degree and Chairman, Keystone Bank, Lady Ada Chukwudozie in a remark, also thanked the university management for adding another feather to her cap, and promised to leverage on the honour to do more for the less privileged, the youth, and the university.
At a reception after the convocation ceremonies, Dr. Lilian Eleanya who spoke to the press was full of joy over her accomplishments and thanked the university for breaking the 5-year jinx of convocation lacuna since 2019 till date.
According to Dr. Eleanya a native of Isseke Ihiala LGA, the acting Vice Chancellor of the university Prof. Omenugha has lifted the university to enviable heights.
She further expressed joy that under her watch, the Ojukwu Legacy Awards and accreditation of all courses in the university have become a reality.
In an another acceptance speech, a doctorate degree holder in Mass Communication and senior lecturer in the Paul University Awka Dr. Azubuike Nkala commended the university management for actualizing the convocation ceremonies and used the forum to announce that through the instrumentality of the state government and Prof. Omenugha, the infrastructural development of the university is noteworthy.
Dr. Nkala also disclosed that his efforts have occasioned the establishment of the doctorate, masters, postgraduate diploma and first degree courses in Mass Communication in the Paul University.
The academic further commended the university management for instituting the Ojukwu Legacy Awards and the accreditation of all the courses offered by the university.
Other doctorate degree holders Engr. Goodluck Utu with a speciality in Metallurgical/Materials option, Dr. Emma Otor with a speciality on the Electrical/Electronics option, Dr. Lilian Nwokolo of the Public health/Parasitology option, Dr. Nneka Akulue of the Education management option, and Dr. Juliana Iwuno of the human resources/management option all commended the university management for the historic event, and towards ensuring that the Ojukwu Legacy Awards and the accreditation of all the courses in the university were actualized.
Some dignitaries that graced the occasion included the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Iyom Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, the member representing Ihiala Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Right Honourable Dr Paschal Agbodike, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, the Anambra State Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council and the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka , among others.
- Ezenwata is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *
