Highstone Global University, PPSLA Africa Honour Juliet Chijioke-Churuba, Others

In a ceremony celebrating excellence and leadership, Highstone Global University, Texas, in collaboration with the Professional Public Speaking and Leadership Academy (PPSLA Africa), awarded honorary doctorate degrees to distinguished Nigerians at the African Changemakers Accelerator Lecture Series and Honorary Doctorate Investiture. The event took place on June 14 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Airport Road, Lagos, with Prof. Valentine Iheukwumere, African Vice Chancellor of Highstone Global University, presiding. 

Among the honorees was Juliet Chijioke-Churuba, who received a Doctorate in Business Administration for her outstanding contributions to government relations, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Currently serving as Deputy Manager of Government Relations at Antan Producing Limited, she has played a key role in securing project approvals and fostering sustainable policy dialogues. 

Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Chijioke-Churuba said, “This honour is deeply humbling and reinforces my belief in service, collaboration, and effective engagement for national progress.” She holds an MBA from Business School Netherlands, along with certifications in Project Management and ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditing, and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and Nigerian Institute of Management. 

Other award recipients included Judith Esele Usiholo (Doctor of Computer Science), Patience Uchechi Ogbeide (Doctor of Political Science), Obiora Patrick Umegbolu (Doctor of Transformational Leadership), and Lydia Tobechukwu Okpara, who received the Excellent Leadership Award in Health and Medical Service. 

Dr. Lotanna Okoye, Director-General of PPSLA Africa, delivered the keynote lecture titled “Executive Presence: Driving Outstanding Results through Effective Public Speaking,” highlighting the importance of strategic communication in leadership. 

Prof. Iheukwumere praised the honorees, stating, “These recognitions are earned through a rigorous, evidence-based process. We celebrate individuals making real change.” The ACAP initiative aims to inspire transformational leadership across Africa, encouraging professionals to leverage their expertise for sustainable development.