A beneficiary of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Mr. Ebiwari Shadrach, has emerged overall best graduating student at the 11th to 13th convocation of graduands of Western Delta University (WDU).
The ceremony, held at the WDU Main Auditorium at the weekend, saw 18 of the 426 graduating students from the 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023 sessions getting first class honours.
Ebiwari bagged First Class degree in Computer Science.
In his valedictory speech, he thanked the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and his successors, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for continuing with the programme, whose scholarship, he pointed out, opened the door for him to achieve his academic and career goals.
He challenged his fellow 2022/2023 graduands to “work on their weaknesses and provide solutions for societal problems as they embark on a new journey.”
Two persons who received honorary doctoral degrees, Mr. Oritsedere Otubu, chairman, Eko Disco, (Business Administration) and Mr. Igho Okotete, chairman of Pioneer Global Resource and Integrated Energy Ltd, (International Affairs and Diplomacy), pledged to build an auditorium and a science laboratory.
The Emir of Zazzau, Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamballi, Dr Ajoritsedere Awosika and Ambassador Kim Young Chae were conferred with honorary degrees of Doctor of Public Affairs, Science, International Affairs and Diplomacy and Business Administration.
The University Visitor, Chief Onanefe Ibori, appreciated the Emir of Zazzau for physically attending the convocation despite his busy schedule, noting: “Your humility is worth emulating”.
He urged the graduands to improve themselves in the face of adversity and called on the management to stick to its academic and educational plan to be a model for other institutions.
In her lecture titled, “A People – Centred Governance Process in Nigeria: The Role of the Youth”, Prof. Antonia Okoosi-Simbine, Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), called
on the graduands to make good choices that will shape their lives.
According to her, “the challenges facing youths are multifaceted but interrelated. They include limited access to quality education, unemployment, underemployment, poverty, corruption, insecurity, a poor health system, culture, cultism, and drug abuse”, stating that the average youth seek refuge in drugs to weather the challenge.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Augustine Ikelegbe noted that the institution was proud to be a player in the private university system, which was leading the trail in quality education.
He said the university had expanded its academic college from three to six, while expanding degree programmes and enrolment.
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, represented by his deputy, Phillip Shaibu, hailed the institution for adding “depth to the education system in Nigeria”.
The lawmaker representing Ethiope-West Federal Constituency, Mrs. Erhitake Ibori-Suenu, urged the graduands to be good products of the institution by contributing to the growth of the society.
