Arole Oodua and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II has charged the graduating students of the University of Nigeria(UNN) Nsuka 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.
The African foremost monarch who doubles as Chancellor of the prestigious university made this admonition in his opening speech on Saturday while he was declaring The 49th Convocation Ceremony of The University of Nigeria Nsuka open.
“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.” Ooni said.
The Co-chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN) who is also the natural father of the entire Oduduwa Race worldwide congratuled the Honorary Degrees Awardees and Professors Emeritus for various awards and recognitions conferred on them by the university.
Represented by Minister of State for Education, Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, the visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari asked the University to do more to address the needs and challenges of the country for the desired attainment of National development goals. He expressed confidence in the ability of the Nigerian universities to find a lasting solution to problems being faced by the country.
“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 the Nigerian universities are very much able to find a lasting solution to problems faced by the country.” President Buhari said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Charles Igwe stated that the event was for the higher degrees and postgraduate diplomas climaxing the 49th school’s convocation ceremony which had earlier witnessed award of Bachelors ‘degrees and Diplomas.
He put the total number of the graduands for the Bachelors Degrees and Diplomas at Eleven Thousand and Ten(11,010) while Doctorate degrees, Masters degrees and Post-graduate Diplomas were announced to be Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Nine Seven(3,497).
Professor Jacob Olupona, a professor of African American studies at Harvard University, USA, Alhaji (Dr) Mohammed Indimi, Chairman/CEO of Oriental Energy and Mrs Nnenna MaryAnn Obiejesi the Group Executive Director of ObiJackson Group of Companies and Nest Oil were among the awardees for various categories of Honorary Doctorate Degrees at the 49th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Nigeria(UNN) Nsuka decorated the Chancellor, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife.