The presiding Chancellor of Divinity Seminary of Theology and Management, Port Harcourt, Prof, Rev Stephen Nwankwo has charged persons in leadership positions to always ensure that they live a life that will testify for them during their life time and even after they are gone.
The Chancellor made this charge at the weekend during the conferment of an honorary doctorate degree on His Royal Highness, Sir, King Atkinson Big Tom Tom (VIII) JP, the Amayanabo of Abalama in Asalga Rivers State. Speaking at the conferment of the honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Honoris Causa), Prof Nwankwo noted that the Amanyanabo has lived an impactful life that has lifted people within and beyond his immediate environment.
He said that the Amanyanabo was found worthy for the conferment of the Prestigious Honorary Doctorate Degree because of his great support and upliftment of education, not only in his community; but in Rivers State as a whole, as a way to better humanity and Society in general.
The Presiding Chancellor, said that the King (Amayanabo’s) background as a qualified trained teacher and Journalist, must have positioned and prepared him to love education and know the importance of education to fight poverty and against societal-ills for advancement of humanity.
“Infact, it’s on record, that King Big Tom Tom (VIII), the Amanyanabo of Abalama, has in the past years, given a lot of Scholarships to indigent students from his community to tertiary institutions, both in and outside the country as his modest way of contributing back to the society; yet, he does not make noise about it. Even at 94 years as a pensioner; he still supports some indigent students in their educational pursuit in their various institutions of learning”
Therefore, the Governing Council and the Board of Management of the Institution, having painstakingly realized the quantum of contributions to the upliftment of education by the king, came to the conclusion that such a “Lover of Education” ought to be encouraged with an Award of honorary Doctorate Degree to spur him to continue his great works to humanity.
Prof. Nwankwo however, used the occasion to pray for longevity and strength for the aging Amanyanabo, who is 94yrs this year and have graciously been on the throne for 34yrs.
In his speech, the Rector of the Seminary Institute, Dr. (Rev.) Francis NwamaziChinagrom, said the Award Conferred on the Amayanabo would go a long way to enhance his credibility, increase his leadership influence and serve as a capacity endorsement and shall equally provide him a platform to advocate for initiatives in his domain and beyond.
“Therefore, it is our strong believe that today’s occasion will give birth to a new beginning of greater attainment, which shall inspire the prospective Awardee for earnest pursuit of more peculiar goals that will further announce him to his generation and imprint his name on marbles of future remembrance”.
In his acceptance speech after the conferment of the Doctorate Degree, HRH King (Dr), Big Tom Tom (VII), thanked the Management of Divinity seminary of Theology and Management, Port Harcourt for the honor done to him and promised to continue to support the advancement of education for upliftment and betterment of the society.
He noted that he would also continue to uphold justice, equity and fairness in his kingdom as a panacea for human and capital development, “I am highly delighted and elated for this singular honour and graciously dedicate the award to God Almighty for his grace”