Renowned industrialist Ibeto, Ex-gov. Elechi, 4 others bag Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Ebonyi Varsity
Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
Renowned industrialist Cletus Ibeto, immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi and four other distinguished personalities have been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degrees by the authorities of the Ebonyi Varsity, Abakaliki during its 7th -11th Convocation ceremony.
The event held on Saturday marked the climax of activities of the combined convocation ceremony of the institution witnessed the award of First Class Honours Division to 90 graduands of various disciplines of the 2015-2019 academic session.
Addressing the graduands and awardees, the Vice -Chancellor of the institution Professor Chigozie Ogbu, said that the awardees were selected based on their pedigrees and excellent contributions in human development in addition to economic emancipation of the down-trodden.
The vice Chancellor named other awardees conferred with Honorary degrees to include pioneer Governor of Old Anambra State in the 2nd Republic Chief Jim Ifeanyi Chukwu Nwobodo, Chief Arthur Eze, Major General Obi Umahi (Rtd), and Professor Charles Attah.
Professor Ogbu urged proprietors (Private, State and Federal) of Nigerian Universities to give full support to university Managements to restore discipline, obedience to rules and dignity of labour in the nation’s ivory towers.
“It is imperative that our leaders pay attention to what is happening within the universities with a view to creating conducive environment for good academic work”
Earlier in an address, Governor David Umahi disclosed that the State government has concluded arrangements to commence the production of dilyzers used for the treatment of renal diseases.
“In order to stem the rising tide of medical tourism in the country and its attendant capital flights, Ebonyi State Government has taken proactive measures to mitigate and cushion the challenges associated with accessing quality healthcare.”
“We have completed modalities for the production of dialyzers used for the treatment of renal diseases, the reagent if locally produced will reduce the cost of dialysis for kidney patients.
Umahi said the state government was building ultramodern University Teaching Hospital at Uburu for the Ebonyi State University which will be commissioned in no distant time.
Delivering a Convocation lecture titled “Entrepreneurship as a Tool for Enhancing Economic Growth in a Depressed Economy” a former Minister of Power Professor Chinedu Nebo, urged the three tiers of government namely Local, States and Federal Government to intensify efforts in the promotion of Entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
In an acceptance speech on behalf of the awardees, Chief Jim Nwobodo commended the universities authorities for finding them worthy for the conferment of Honorary Degrees, insisting that the honour would spur them to continue rendering humanitarian services that accelerate the well being and growth of the society.
Highlights of the occasion was the award of First Degrees, Postgraduate Degrees, Higher Degrees and award of Honorary Degrees and the launching of Endowment Funds for Development Projects in the institution.
