Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator Anyim Pius Anyim Saturday commended the rising profile of the University of Nigeria Nsukka in scholarship and infrastructural development and pledged personal support for its continued growth.
Speaking on behalf of recipients of honorary degrees of the University at its 42nd Convocation of UNN, Anyim said the university has a secured future given the premium the University Management placed on building the future by recruiting its First Class graduates into its fol.
Said the former Senate President, “I agree that the profile of UNN is rising beyond the imagination of many. The university is on the right path to growth, development and excellence.”
UNN conferred on Senator Anyim an honorary doctorate degree in Law while INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega received an honorary doctorate in Public Administration.
It also conferred honorary PhD in Business Administration on two bankers, Dr Alex Otti, group managing director of Diamond Bank, and Mr Fola Adeola, chairman of Main One Cable and founding managing director of Guaranty Trust Bank plc.
Anyim pledged that he and the other honorary alumnus of the university would support the University Management in its pursuit of excellence through scholarship and research, infrastructure and enabling environment and development of human capacity.
During a two-day Convocation ceremonies, UNN awarded its first and higher degrees to 19, 880 graduands. There were 18, 150 First degree holders and 1, 730 post graduate degrees.
One hundred and sixteen students made First Class honours while 195 others bagged Doctorate degrees.
Ahead of the Convocation, UNN also commissioned a400-PC digital laboratory within the Nnamdi Azikiwe Library of the university. One hundred units of the expected 400 units of laptops are already in place at the digital laboratory, with support from Fidelity Bank plc, which donated N10m counterpart funding for the project at the commissioning.
UNN Vice Chancellor Prof Bartholomew Okolo said at the commissioning that the project is one of several in line with the institutional advancement vision to provide an excellent learning environment. He said UNN seeks to benchmark itself against the best across the world in terms of learning environment, infrastructure and support services as well as scholarship.
Okolo said UNN seeks partnerships with various organisations to realise the vision of institutional transformation and welcomed the participation of Fidelity Bank plc in sponsoring the equipment. The vice chancellor noted that the over 40 projects either completed or on going at the institution draw on strong collaboration between the university and public and private sector organisations.
Fidelity Bank plc presented a cheque for N10m representing counterpart funding for the computers with a pledge to ensure it provides all 400 units needed in the digital laboratory.
The Digital lab provides facilities for e-conferencing, touch screen display boards and digital audio facilities.
Executive Director of Fidelity Bank plc Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo cut the tape to commission the facility. Okonkwo said Fidelity Bank was glad to collaborate with the University of Nigeria and current administration because of the remarkable strides in changing the outlook of the institution in all ramifications. The project fits in with the Corporate Social Responsibility programme of the bank, he added.
