Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, has conferred an honorary degree (Honoris Causa) on the wife of Anambra Governor, Nonye Soludo, for her contributions to public health and nutrition.
The university management awarded the degree to Soludo during the institution’s 11th to 15th Convocation Ceremony, held in celebration of its 25th anniversary at Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area on Saturday.
Other honorees were chief Christopher Ndubuisi, Alex Onyido of Ogidi, Chidozie Mbanefo, Ada Chukwudizie and Emma Okonkwo for their contributions in their various endeavours.
Speaking on the conferment, Governor Charles Soludo described the honour as well-deserved, noting that the recipients had excelled in their respective fields.
Soludo expressed gratitude for their contributions to the growth of the university and the advancement of academia as a whole.
He called on other well-meaning individuals who see education as the foundation of the future to invest in the university and help elevate its status.
“Government alone cannot drive the kind of development we envision for our university and state.
“I encourage well-meaning Nigerians to support and invest in education,” he said.
The governor also emphasised the need to honour the legacy of the university’s founder, Late Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju, by finding a meaningful way to immortalise him.
He praised the university management for developing a 25-year strategic roadmap to guide the institution’s future.
Soludo also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising the education sector, emphasising that without education, there could be no future.
Earlier, the acting vice chancellor of the institution, Kate Omenugha, announced that 58 students were awarded first degrees across various disciplines in the undergraduate programme.
She also revealed that 1,677 graduates received postgraduate degrees in different fields.
“The breakdown of the undergraduate programme is as follows: 58 first-class graduates, 3,369 second-class upper, 7,771 second-class lower, 2,860 third-class, and 31 with pass degrees.
“For the postgraduate programme, there are 818 PhD recipients, 1,150 master’s degree holders, and 817 postgraduate diploma awardees.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the graduates and encourage them to uphold the university’s values and represent us with pride,” she said.
Omenugha also pledged that the university would continue to deliver globally competitive education and strive to elevate its national and international rankings into the top 10.
In a remark, Mrs. Soludo, expressed joy over the conferment, adding, that “this conferment is a call to do more”
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the management of the university for accepting me and fellow honorees into the academic community,” she said.
