David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
The management of Paul University, Awka has honoured late former vice president of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme with a posthumous honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Late Ekwueme was among four persons honoured with the university’s doctorate degree during its 3rd convocation ceremony recently.
Others who were honoured alongside the recently demised statesman are: Sir Daniel Chukwudozie, who was honoured with Doctor of Business Management; Mr. Daniel Erinne who was also honoured posthumously with Doctor of Science, and Most Revd Maxwell Anikwenwa; Doctor of Divinity.
Late Ekwueme, THISDAY gathered, was the chairman board of trustees of the institution until his demise about three weeks ago.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Uche Isiugo-Abanihe revealed that the management of the institution has also finalised arrangements to name its admin building, which was donated by the late former vice President to Dr Alex Ekwueme building.
Barrister Chidi Onyemelukwe, daughter of late Dr Alex Ekwueme who received the award on behalf of her late father, thanked the university for honouring his father.
She described her late father as a selfless man who lived his life for others. She stated that she was aware of the several efforts of his father to attract linkages between the university and some Caribbean universities, to facilitate exchange programme for Paul University students.
Earlier, Chancellor of the university and Primate of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev Nicholas Okoh decried the segregation against private owned universities. He said the ownership of university should not be the basis for grading, rather their quality should be taken into consideration.
He charged the management of the university to work towards making her a renowned university, saying that leaving her as an average institution would make her a dumping ground for all manner of people.
“The process of selection must be high. If we produce 10 graduates, they should be 10 that should bring recognition to the institution. We have quality as our watch word and we should not be more concerned about how many people we graduated. We must work on the footsteps of our forefathers who emphasised quality.
“Federal government cannot afford to ignore private varsity completely. Anyone who has training is an asset to the national, and I am not only asking for support for private varsity, but let us return the adult education. If we do, we would have an educated society, and that will make governance easyâ€, he added.
