UNIABUJA honours Odili, Ali, Issa as 17,300 students graduate
Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) on Saturday awarded degrees to 17,300 students during its combined 29th and 30th convocation. At the ceremony, which took place at the main
Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) on Saturday awarded degrees to 17,300 students during its combined 29th and 30th convocation.
At the ceremony, which took place at the main campus on Saturday, the university bestowed an honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Business Administration, on Paul Odili, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Paulo Group of Companies; Prof. Yusuf Ali SAN, and Emmanuel Issa.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, disclosed that Dr Odili, Prof Ali SAN, and Issa had satisfied the university's requirements in both character and learning to be honoured.
"I doff my hat for you for this well-deserved honour and great achievement," Prof. Fawehinmi stated.
The vice-chancellor urged the graduates to use the training and experience acquired in the institution to contribute to Nigeria's socio-economic development.
He said: "As you graduate and move into the next phase of your lives, know that nobody will ask you what you studied, but what you can contribute to the development of this country.
"Certificates can open doors, but your character, discipline, integrity, and steadfastness will determine how far you go.
"Wherever you go, and where your paths lead you, remember to guard the reputation of this university jealously.”
Prof. Fawehinmi advised the graduands to let their integrity and discipline shine and guide them, and to make service to the nation and humanity their watchwords.
The vice-chancellor disclosed that the 29th Convocation was for the 2022/2023 academic session, while the 30th Convocation was for the 2023/2024 session.
Giving a breakdown of the combined convocation, Prof Fawehinmi said for the 2022/2023 session (First Degree), 48 persons bagged First Class; 2,048 made Second Class Upper, 4,418 graduated with Second Class Lower, while 644 had Third Class.
For the 2023/2024 session, 29 graduated with First Class, Second Class Upper 1395, and Second Class Lower 3091.
Similarly, in the category of Post Graduate Students covering March 2024 to March 2026, 815 got Post Graduate Diploma; 1724 Academic Masters Degree; Professional Masters Degree 1244; Doctors of Philosophy 729, and Professional Doctorate 64.
In his remarks after being conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Business Administration, Dr Odili, who is also the Founder/Pro-Chancellor of Margaret Lawrence University Delta/Abuja, thanked the institution for finding him worthy of recognition.
Read Also: UNIABUJA to graduate 12,624 students at combined convocation
Dr Odili, who hails from Delta State, urged Nigerians not to despair, stressing that it pays to pursue one's dream.
He said: "I want to dedicate this honour to all Nigerians who dare to dream, because I have seen the power of belief and dream. When you dream, believe it is possible.
"For a village boy like me to stand before you today to be honoured, I want to tell Nigerians, irrespective of where you come from or what you do, to keep dreaming.
"It is possible, I am a living testimony that dreams can come true.”
Speaking on the challenges facing the institution, Dr Odili, who is also the Founder/Chairman of Paulo Homes Ltd, owners of River Park Estate Abuja, assured that he would partner with the university.
He added, "I will do all within my power to see that this University is not where it used to be again. I am going to work with the Governing Council, the Vice Chancellor, and the Management of the University, so that in the next two years, most of these challenges I have heard today will be tackled.
"Thank you very much, as I implore you all to keep dreaming. It is possible that you can be anything you want to be.”
