Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has urged the Abia State University (ABSU) to seek possible ways of adjusting its curriculum to address present-day challenges confronting the society.
Governor Ikpeazu made the call while speaking at the 27th and 28th combined convocation ceremonies of the Abia State University held at the institution’s Convocation Pavilion at the main campus, Uturu.
Ikpeazu who said there was the need to seek current knowledge in areas such as Agriculture to address the current food shortage prevalent in the country, challenged the institution’s Faculty of Agriculture to embark on more research on ways of grooming local goats as an alternative to cow meat.
He commended the lecturers of the institution for their resilience and requested them to continue to hold on even as he assured that he will meet with their leaders before the end of the year to discuss how best to address the challenges confronting the university.
The governor pledged the continuous support of his administration to the institution and congratulated the graduands on the milestones they have attained.
While expressing confidence that the graduands would make a great impact in the outside world, he reminded them that while their certificates are keys that would open the doors, he reminded them that they still required humility, doggedness and resilience to succeed.
In their separate addresses, the Chancellor of the University, Tor Tiv and Chairman Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers, Professor James Ortese Ayatse and the Pro-Chancellor Senator Adolphus Wabara thanked Governor Ikpeazu and visitor for his tremendous support to the institution.
They called on all stakeholders to support the new Vice-Chancellor and management to move the University to greater heights.
In an address, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Onyemachi Maxwell Ogbulu, thanked Governor Ikpeazu for his untiring efforts in keeping the university afloat since the inception of his administration and ensuring that the university enjoys an uninterrupted academic calendar.
Professor Ogbulu promised to adopt the time tested the business model in driving the affairs of the university by creating and expanding value for staff and students and other stakeholders in harnessing resources and installing key processes and procedures befitting a 21st century university and announced automatic employment for the overall best graduating students of 27th and 28th convocation, Ezeigbo Chukwuemeka, from the Department of Architecture and Dike Emmanuel, from the Department of Biochemistry.
In a valedictory speech on behalf of other graduating students, Dike Emmanuel, who made a First Class, from the Department of Biochemistry, thanked the education-friendly disposition of Governor Ikpeazu to Abia students and their lecturers for nurturing them to greatness and pledged to uphold Excellence and Service which the university is known for.
The ceremony featured the convocation of a total of 5,712 graduands including the Wife of the Governor, Dr Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu who bagged Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management, the Clerk and Permanent Secretary of the Abia State House of Assembly Sir Johnpedro Irokansi.
The occasion also featured the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees on deserving members of society including a former INEC Commissioner in charge of the East and widow of the late former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Dame Gladys Nwafor, Chief Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace and Dr Nnamdi Ezeigbo, the CEO of SLOT.
Similarly, the event featured the conferment of the award of Emeritus Professor on three distinguished Academics, Professor S O Igwe, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor G I Nwaka, an eminent professor of History and a posthumous award on the Late Professor A I Nwabughogu who was buried a day before the convocation. While the other Emeritus Professors were physically present, Late Professor Nwabughogu’s posthumous award was received by his daughter.
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