For Jane Ejiaku Adim, the best thing that happened to her on the day of her graduation from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, was the conferment of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Management Technology (D.MTech) on Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on the same day.
Ekere, in his acceptance speech, awarded her an NDDC postgraduate scholarship tenable “anywhere in the world”. Adim bagged a first class degree in Forestry and Wild Life Technology. A relative who never expected such a surprise kept screamed “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!” for the remaining part of Ekere’s speech. Ekere also announced the donation of an auditorium for the University.
Ekere’s conferment was the highpoint of the 30th convocation of the institution, which saw 2358 graduands obtaining degrees from the institution’s schools of Engineering Technology; Health Technology; Management Technology; Agricultural Technology, Biological Sciences; Physical Sciences and Environmental Sciences, 30 graduands, including Adim, made First Class.
For NDDC, it was double celebration as its Executive Director, Projects, Engr. Samuel Adjogbe, bagged a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Postgraduate School of the institution.
Aside Ekere, Chief Tony Ezenwa, Chairman of Orange Drugs Limited, and Mr Andrew Ejayeriese, General Manager, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria/Mobil Producing Nigeria, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil, were also honoured with honorary Doctorate degrees-Ezenwa, with a Doctor of Management Technology (D. MTech), and Ejuyeriese with a Doctor of Technology (D. Tech respectively).
Ekere said the award of scholarship on Adimu was to reward her for standing out as a model for youths in a nation, plagued by cultism, criminality and militancy. He said the education of youths in the Niger Delta region must be given top priority since education is the best weapon against militancy, cultism and unemployment and reiterated NDDC’s commitment in this regard.
In a citation by the University, Ekere was praised for “implementing the 4R Strategy that has translated into the board’s decision to allocate 70% of its budget for the completion of ongoing projects than starting new ones; and for carrying out “a comprehensive audit of all NDDC projects accross the Nine states that has enabled the board to have full visibility of NDDC Performance on a State by State basis” The citation also stated that Ekere’s “unstated philanthropic gesture including a strong investment in people’s development through regular award of scholarships and educational grants; provision of infrastructure and medical outreaches to rural communities; his donation of an accident ward and trauma centre to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in 2012 as a private person stands him out”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francis Eze; the Pro-Chancellor, Prof John Offem and the visitor, President Muhamadu Buhari, represented by Minister of State for Education, Prof Anthony Anwuka, in their separate speeches, said education remained the bed rock of development of the society, with the President specifically calling on specialised institutions like FUTO to return to their core mandate in producing specialised manpower for the nation’s industrial needs.
A reception held for Ekere at the Imo Trade and Investment Centre turned out a carnival of some sort where support groups advocating his entry into the 2019 Gubernatorial race in Akwa Ibom State, including Project ONE for Good Governance, APC Women Forum, Abak 5 Development Association, ADDA, Akwa Ibom Grassroot Movement for Buhari’s/Osinbajo (AKGM) and others, sang and danced around the Imo State Trade and Investment Centre, where guests were treated to a buffet.
Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo, former member of the House of Representatives, and Leader of ADDA, said Ekere was a harbinger of development in Akwa Ibom State and deserved to be honoured.
Benard Ekpotu, Project Director of Project ONE said the group was proud to be associated “with a man who likes to scale great heights, and who is always committed and dedicated to a cause he believes in,” while a FUTO Student Leader, Nnaemeka Akano said the students of the institution were “happy at the donation of the auditorium and equally appreciate the MD of NDDC for all his achievements in the education sector, including scholarship awards, donation of desk, chairs and hostel to schools across the region”
- Efo, a journalist, contributed this piece from Owerri
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