Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has conferred a Doctor of Laws degree (Honoris Causa) on the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of quality education in the state.
Dr. Mbah, who bagged the highest degree in Law at the 53rd convocation ceremony of the university in Nsukka at the weekend, reaffirmed his commitment to transforming the education sector in order to ensure that the younger generations are able to compete among their contemporaries globally.
“The recognition is a nod to the values driving the modest achievements we have recorded in the last 18 months. Those values are shaped, particularly, by the conviction that education is the best legacy to bequeath to the emerging generation.
“Also, this award is an inspiration to double down on our commitment to serve the people and put Enugu State on a growth trajectory that reflects its true potential.
“It is a point we have demonstrated, no less, in two budget cycles by committing one-third of our entire budget sum to the education sector. We are giving our children an education that will make them truly competitive in a fast evolving global work space,” he added.
While expressing gratitude to the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Polycarp Chigbu, the chairman and members of the governing council, the university senate and the management of the institution for the prestigious award, Mbah commended the acting VC for leading a team committed to restoring the dignity of man in line with the university’s motto.
He assured his administration’s continuous support to the university to strengthen its capacity to deliver and attain the goals and dreams of the founders of the institution.
In his convocation address, the Acting Vice Chancellor announced that the university graduated 11,143 students, including over 1,000 postgraduates, and would additionally confer two recipients with the title of Emeritus Professor as well as another two recipients with honorary doctorate degrees.
He recalled the successes of the institution under his leadership to include the recording of the highest ranking in SCOPUS database for scholarly output among Nigerian universities with over 7,025 publications from 5,813 authors; advancement of critical infrastructure, strengthening of alumni relations; innovation in resolving the energy crisis that bedeviled the university before his emergence.
Prof Chigbu enjoined the graduating students to remain good ambassadors of the university as they traversed the world, pursuing their ambitions.
“Be the leading lights everywhere you go. Never cease in letting your actions reflect your ultimate mission to ‘Restore the Dignity of Man,’” he charged them.
By PATIENCE OGBODO @TheIndependent
