…Charges Graduands To Add Value To Society
The Arole Oodua and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has charged graduating students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, to go into the world as good ambassadors and add great values to the society by proudly making use of the knowledge impacted on them by the university.
Africa’s foremost traditional ruler, who doubles as the Chancellor of the prestigious university, gave this admonition in his opening speech on Saturday, June 12, while declaring open the 49th convocation ceremony of UNN.
Ooni Ogunwusi said, “We have come to confer the degrees of this institution on you and I challenge you all to be good ambassadors in any endeavor you may be in the world.
“You always rise and contribute to the development of our society and humanity in general as we now live in the era of knowledge-based economies and our country is looking up to our graduates like you to enable us compete favourably in the global stage.”
The Co-Chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, NCTRN, who is also the natural father of the entire Oduduwa race worldwide, also congratulated honorary degrees’ awardees and Professors Emeritus for various awards and recognitions conferred on them by the university.
The visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, asked the university to do more to address the needs and challenges of the country for the desired attainment of national development goals.
Expressing confidence in the ability of Nigerian universities to find lasting solution to problems being faced by the country, Ooni Ogunwusi added, “I also challenge our universities to continue to emphasize trainings in entrepreneurship so that these graduates are able to become job creators, instead of perennial job seekers, as I have no doubt that Nigerian universities are very much able to find a lasting solution to problems faced by the country.”
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Professor Charles Igwe, stated that the event, which was the climax of the 49th convocation of the university, was award of higher degrees, adding that the event had earlier witnessed the award of Bachelors ‘degrees and diplomas.
He put the total number of the graduands for Bachelor’s Degrees and Diplomas at 11,010, while, Doctorate, Masters and Post-Graduate degrees stood at 3,497.
A professor of African-American Studies, Havard University, USA, Professor Jacob Olupona; Chairman/CEO of Oriental Energy, Alhaji (Dr) Mohammed Indimi; and the Group Executive Director of ObiJackson Group of Companies and Nest Oil, Mrs Nnenna MaryAnn Obiejesi, were among the awardees for various categories of honorary Doctorate degrees at the 49th convocation ceremony of the UNN, decorated by the Chancellor, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
