In what could be referred to as a rendition of the scorecard of the university, the Vice-Chancellor Abia State University, Professor E. Uche Ikonne’s Convocation Address on the 19th August, 2017 will remain indelible in the minds of Staff, Students, Alumni and Friends of the university.
The Vice Chancellor amidst loud ovations from staff and students, sounding obviously fulfilled, congratulated the graduands, for making the day a happy and glorious one.
Professor Ikonne informed the convocation gathering that Abia State University has continued to discharge it’s mandate of teaching, research, innovation and community services to the best of its ability, adding that the University has from inception continued to train men and women who has contributed immensely to the development of the country and the world at large. ABSU he said, remains the most cosmopolitan University amongst all Nigerian state universities.
According to him, the university was celebrating an academic tradition which has impacted not only on the Nigerian environment but globally. He also mentioned that the 25th Convocation ceremony was very unique having commenced earlier with a Pre-Convocation Lecture titled “Nigerian and the Dynamics of Global Education” delivered by the Honorable Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Gozie Anwuka.
The Vice-Chancellor extended the university’s appreciation to some national and international donor agencies, organizations, philanthropist who have contributed enormously in uplifting the University. Notable among them are:
Her Excellency, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, wife of Abia State Governor, for furnishing the conference Room of the Department of Management;
Abia State University Women Association, under the leadership of Barr. Lady Uzoamaka Uche-Ikonne, through the pursuit and execution of various pious and charity activities that sow seeds of love amongst Staff and Students, thereby enhancing the congenial profile of ABSU.
Professor Ikonne particularly commended the Executive Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D for his firm support to the university.
The Vice Chancellor further advised the graduands to uphold the positive values they imbibed while in the university wherever they find themselves; just as he commended the University Management, Senate, Teaching and Non-teaching staff for enforcing academic standard in the institution.
The Governor and Visitor to the University, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D on arrival commissioned the University Electricity Transformer as well as laid the foundation of the ABSU-ASUU Secretariat.
Governor Ikpeazu, while congratulating the graduands, advised them to be true ambassadors of their institution. He emphasized the need for graduates to be role models in the society as to prove their learning. He said that his administration is establishing industrial clusters in the three senatorial zone of the state, to solve the problem of unemployment adding that graduates of ABSU will benefit from the project.
Earlier in their respective address, the Chancellor Sir Francis Oji and the Pro-Chancellor Senator Adolphus Wabara, thanked Governor Ikpeazu for his dogged effort to make ABSU the best state owned university in Nigeria, and called on well-meaning individuals, cooperate bodies to assist in the growth of the university.
High point of the ceremony was the installation of pioneer professor Emeritus on Professor Frank Akpuaka; Conferment of First Degrees, Higher Degrees to graduates as well as Honorary Doctorate Degrees to Dr.Uchenna Emelonye who is an alumnus of Abia State Universty & a Representative of the United Nations in Kampala, Uganda; and Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, CON.
To God be the glory!
