UNN To Honour Late Ikemba With Honourary Doctorate Degree

The late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, will on Saturday receive a posthumous honorary doctorate degree in law from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Bartho Okolo, announced the gesture in Enugu on Monday while briefing newsmen on the activities to mark the 43rd convocation of the university slated for March 28 and March 29.

Okolo listed other dignitaries to be conferred with honorary doctorate degrees to include an industrialist, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, the Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies and Mr Samuel Onyishi, the Chief Executive Officer of Peace Mass Transit.

He said that 7,989 degrees and diplomas comprising 5,121 first degrees and diplomas and 2,868 higher degrees would be awarded at the convocation.

He said the convocation would be preceded by three days of activities, including arts exhibition, sporting competitions and drama as well as a convocation lecture to be delivered by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Hassan Kukah.

Okolo said the new Pro-chancellor of the university, Mr Emmanuel Ukala, had instituted an annual scholarship scheme of N3 million for indigent students of the institution.

He said that 50 students who scaled through the interview would be the first set of beneficiaries of the scheme.

Okolo, who is leaving office in June, said he had placed the university at the forefront of research, human resource and infrastructure development.

“When I assumed office, I identified human resource development and infrastructure upgrade as the main priorities of the university,’’ he said.

The VC said he rebuilt the municipal infrastructure, improved living and working conditions of staff and students in the Nsukka and Enugu campuses of the university.

Okolo said he would complete most of the ongoing projects before leaving office, adding that funds would be available for his successor to complete them. (NAN)