An AddressPresented by the Vice-Chancellor of the University
of Nigeria, Professor Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba at the Flag-Off Ceremony of the 47TH Convocation of the
University of Nigeria.
Protocol;
I
heartily welcome all of you to the flag-off ceremony of activities lined up for
the 47th Convocation of the University of Nigeria. It is remarkable
that the university is holding its 47th convocation barely 10 months
after the 46th convocation which was held in February this year.
This is one of the results of our resolve to do the right thing and set a
record of excellence in university administration.
Highlight
of major events of the convocation include;
- Convocation lecture by Dr
Godwin Emefiele, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday, November 30,
2017 at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Nsukka Campus by 11.00am.
- Conferment of First degrees,
Diplomas and Certificates on Friday, December 1, 2017, at Margaret Ekpo
Convocation Arena, Nsukka Campus by 9.00am.
- Conferment of Postgraduate
Diplomas, Higher Degrees, Title of Professor Emeritus and Award of
Honorary Degrees on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at Margaret Ekpo
Convocation Arena, Nsukka Campus by 10.00am.
I
invite you to attend the events as scheduled.
It
gives me pleasure to announce to you that the University of Nigeria will
release a total of about 9,298 in the 47th convocation. The graduands
are in the following categories;
- First Degree, Diploma and
Certificate 7,830 including a total of 132 first Class
graduands.
- Postgraduate Degrees and
Diploma 1,468 including 331 Doctor of Philosophy Degrees, 982
Masters Degree and 155 Postgraduate Diplomas.
- Three eminent Nigerians who
have distinguished themselves in public service will be awarded honorary
Doctorate Degrees of our University. They include, His Eminence Alhaji
Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto; Chairman of Slok Group,
His Excellency, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu and the Chairman, Zenith Bank, Mr Jim
Ovia.
- We will also confer the title
of Professor Emeritus on eight of our renowned Professors who had served
the university meritoriously and are still making invaluable contributions
to our academics.
Distinguished
gentlemen men of the Press, I do not intend to bore you with recount of all the
achievements of my administration which many of you had reported in your
various media. However, it is appropriate that I use this occasion to bring you
update on some activities of my administration in the past one year.
Recall
that I briefed you of our plans to produce made-in-UNN laptops early this year,
I am glad to announce to you that during our 57th Founders’ Day
celebration in October; we commissioned a Laptop Assembly Plant in our Nsukka
campus. The commissioned a Laptop Assembly plant in our Nsukka campus. The
commissioning exercise was performed by the Sultan of Sokoto and witnessed by
the Governors of Enugu and Delta states. The first set of Lion brand
Laptops were rolled out.
Barely
one year after we launched Roar Nigeria Hub, a pilot version of our dream
Science Park, are five innovation groups already under its mentorship. We are
determined to take it further by mapping out about 45.9 hectares of land for
the full fledged Science Park Project which is expected to attract over 400
companies scouting for research and innovations from the university. The park
will be Nigeria’s version of Silicon Valley, where innovations will be hatched
nurtured and commercialized. The University of Nigeria has once again
demonstrated its capacity to provide solution to national questions by setting
the pace for the much coveted knowledge-based economy in Nigeria.
At
the international front, we have been able to strengthen our strategic
collaborations and linkages with renowned universities in different continents.
One of the milestones in the collaboration is the arrangement to train our
medical students four years in UNN and two years in Israel under a
International Management Institute. It is also notable that in less than eight
months we signed a memorandum of understanding with Guangxi Academy of
Sciences, China, the academy has accepted to take over 30 doctoral students
from our university. It is also remarkable that Michigan State University,
which left our Institution at the wake of the civil war, is back. Our faculties
are currently benefiting from their collaborations in the areas of agriculture
and pharmaceutical sciences.
We
have continued to attract goodwill from our alumni and other well meaning
Nigerians who have made significant donations to improve the state of
infrastructure in our campuses. Few months ago, the minister of state for
Petroleum commissioned a multi-million Naira Augustine Avuru building donated
to our Department of Geology by Platform Petroleum.
Distinguished
gentlemen of the press, let me also use this opportunity to acknowledge with
gratitude your favourable reports on our efforts to revamp moribund agri-farms
in our university. I am happy to announce to you that many of the farms are up
and running leading to the production of cassava flour, poultry, fish, cash
crops, including improved variety of breadfruits, in commercial quantities. I
also appreciate your concern in promoting the priority my administration has
given to the development of infrastructure in all our campuses.
Significantly,
our consistent apex position in the Webometric ranking of Nigerian
universities, based on creative output, has not been faulted. Our commitment to
staff welfare has resulted to prompt promotion our staff, including
unprecedented number of professors ever promoted by a single administration in
the history of our university. We have equally not relented on our unwavering
dedication to the propagation of sound academic doctrine which is the hallmark
of the University of Nigeria.
Distinguished
members of the press, there is no gainsaying that the University of Nigeria has
experienced remarkable growth and development in the past three years under my
watch. Through our open and inclusive administration, we were able to restore
the confidence of staff and students on the university administration. We have
also been able to engender trust and mutual respect between the university and
its host communities. The University of Nigeria is making progress today
because there is peace and love between the university administration and our
various stakeholders.
We
were able to record those significant achievements due to our prudent
management of available resources and the efforts of dedicated men and women
who have shown passion to the realisation to our vision.
Let
me therefore use this opportunity to thank members of the Governing Council for
their commitment to the progress of our university. I also appreciate the
Principal Officers for their dedication to the dream of my administration. To
the Deans and Directors, I cherish the efforts you have been making in your
respective areas of authority. I commend my staff and students for their
understanding especially in times of challenges.
I
appreciate, in a special way, members of the press for being wonderful partners
in our journey to excellence. The years ahead hold greater prospect for our
university. Let’s do more!
Thank
you for your attention.
Prof.
Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba
Vice-Chancellor
