PRESS RELEASE
Chief Chekwas Okorie Bags Doctorate Degree In America
The University of America, Murrieta, California, has nominated Chief Chekwas Okorie the National Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance for the award of the degree of Doctor of Humanities and Leadership (Honoris Causa). Chief Okorie’s nomination was conveyed to him in a letter dated 7th July, 2011, and signed by Professor T.E Vanbuskirk, the Vice President of the University. The letter stated inter alia: “This is to inform you that you have been selected as one of the FEW out of our numerous nominees for an honorary doctorate degree of the prestigious University of America”
Chief Chekwas Okorie has accepted his nomination for the award with immense pleasure and profound gratitude to the Almighty God. The University considered the pioneering effort of the National Chairman in initiating the formation of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, which grew rapidly to become one of the foremost political parties in Nigeria.
As the founder of APGA, Chief Okorie has stood firm in accordance with his convictions and vision that propelled and strengthened him in the three attempts he made at party registration in 1996, 1998 and 2002 which culminated in the ultimate registration of APGA by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a political party in Nigeria. As a credible opposition political party leader, Chief Chekwas Okorie has remained consistent and constructive in his interventions. As a human rights crusader/activist which has spanned over a period of 35 years from 1976 when he was an undergraduate at the University of Nigeria (Enugu Campus) till date, Chief Chekwas Okorie has been uncompromising and relentless in spite of all the vicissitudes of life which he has undergone as a result of his involvement.
It is a pleasant irony that while some of the highest beneficiaries of Chekwas Okorie’s initiatives, blood and sweat on the platform of APGA have engaged the founder of the party in an unprovoked and gruesome leadership tussle that has threatened the very existence of the party and retarded its growth and expansion, the prestigious American University in California selected him for the award of a doctorate degree in Humanities and Leadership (Honoris Causa) for his contributions in deepening democracy in Nigeria.
Chief Chekwas Okorie has completed all arrangements to personally receive the award at the University’s convocation ceremony scheduled to hold on, Saturday 5th November, 2011, at the University Campus in Murrieta, California. APGA Leaders in various States of America and Canada have indicated interest to join him at the ceremony.
