Nation
Chancellor Urges UNN Graduates, Awardees To Be Good Ambassadors
His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife and Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has urged graduates and those conferred with honorary degrees to be good ambassadors of the institution.
The Ooni said this in Nsukka on Saturday, during the 51st Convocation Ceremony of the UNN for the award of Postgraduate degrees, Diplomas and conferment of honorary degrees.
He urged them not to relent as the ambassadors of the university in sustaining the good reputations the university had earned over the years.
“I urge all the graduates and honorary awardees never to relent in being good ambassadors of this great university wherever they found themselves.
“UNN as the first university in the country, our graduates are expected to live up to our name and reputation in restoring the dignity of man.
“To the honorary awardees, the recognition given to you today by the university should spur you to greater heights to do more to the university as well as render more selfless service to humanity”, he said.
The Chancellor urged Nigerians to see the task of uniting the country as everybody’s responsibility.
“It worries me and other patriotic Nigerians that our country can be said to be less united as it was at independence.
“From recent developments across the country, I wish to remind us that we are failing in our attempt to build a truly united nation.
“As graduates we are proud to have been in a school like this where you have classmates, roommates, and friends from different parts of the country and the world.
“You have a duty to teach others that we are the same people irrespective of the tiny differences in our culture, religious or mother tongue”, he said
He commended Prof. Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the UNN, and the management for their commitment and dedication in ensuring that they sustained the dreams and visions of the founding fathers of the university and urged them to keep it up.
Speaking, Igwe said this convocation ceremony was dedicated to the award of Postgraduate degrees and honorary degrees, which, according to him, marked the grand finale of the 51st convocation ceremony of the institution.
“Some 1,548 postgraduate degrees and Diplomas were awarded at the convocation.
“This is made up of 519 degrees, 934 Master’s degrees and 95 Postgraduate diplomas.
“I congratulate the graduates for earning the postgraduate degree or diploma of this great university, which have elevated you to the elite club of alumni who hold a postgraduate qualification of the University. It is an achievement that you should be proud of”, he said.
The VC, who used the ceremony to share some of the recent developments at the University, noted that the institution had remained competitive and had continued to re-invent itself in spite of the challenges of inadequate and ageing infrastructures facing the first generation university.
“We have continued to strive to retain the reputation of excellence for which we have been known over years. Our staff have been quite productive, not only in teaching, research and innovation, but also in community service.
“Our university is also a beneficiary of a good number of projects from capital allocation, NEEDS assessment and TETFund intervention.
“In spite of all these, UNN is in dire need of support from friends and alumni as the university is worse hit by the prevailing economic conditions in the country,” he said.
According to the VC, the Doctor of Public Administration degree would be conferred on Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, former Inspector General of Police, while Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, would be awarded the Doctor of Business Administration degree
Igwe also said that Prof Virginia Dike, Prof. Eunice Okeke of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Martin Aghaji of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Prof. Daniel Obikeze, Prof. Azuka Dike, Prof. Timothy Nwala, and Prof Emmanuel Chinwokwu of the Faculty of The Social Sciences were elevated to the status of Professor Emeritus of UNN.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt recently hosted a- 4 Day programme in conjunction with the 3rd United Nations Oceans Conference ( UNOC:3) to mark the World Environment Day, 2025.
The Programme which was supported by the Embassy of French in Nigeria was focused on ocean protection and held from 9 to 13 June, 2025 at the premises of the Alliance Franchise.
The Tide News reports that the week long event was inspired by the Educational booklet “Understand Ocean And Act” created by the French Development Agency (AFD),was free and open for all.
The exhibition adapts complex environmental challenges into engaging educational contents for learners of all ages. It also placed special focus on French Language Learners at the beginner level( A1-A2) and school students.
According to the Director of Alliance Française Mrs Marina Lacal, 130 pupils from six schools in Port Harcourt and additional 60 students from local Universities participated in the guided visit and interactive activities.
Schools that took part in the Programme include Cornerstone International school, Vine, International, Greenoak, Gold gate Montessori, Helm Bridge and Virgo Praedicanda International school.
Others are the University of Port Harcourt,(UNIPORT) Rivers State University (RSU)and the Ignatius AJuru University of Education (AUE)
Mrs Lacal further said that through this initiative Alliance Française Harcourt and its partners have reaffirmed their commitment to educating younger generations and promoting global awareness through language, culture and environmental engagement
However, the exhibition witnessed interactive tools such as French-Language game, quizzes, memory challenges, fill-in -the -blanks. It also provides a platform to explore major ocean issues including climate change,biomliversity loss, plastic pollution, sustainable fishing and climate induced migration all through a linguistic and civic lens.
In line with it’s eco conscious approach , all displayed banners used for the exhibition will be recycled into eco friendly souvenirs such as(key chains) that would be given to participants after the event, to further help reinforce the message that every action counts.
It would be recalled that all snacks and drinks provided during the visit were served with low plastic packaging in line with the environmental message of the event.
The Deputy Commandant General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) Anti- Bunkering Agency, Amb Wachukwu Adah, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing into law the Nigeria Forest Security Service Bill, describing the gesture as a right step in the right direction. The operatives of the NFSS are known as forest guards.
Amb Adah, who made the commendation during the official structuring of the Nigeria Forest Security Service Anti-Bunkering team and induction of legionnaires in Omoku Town, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday, described President Tinubu as the best President of Nigeria following his monumental achievements in office.
He said the Local Government Autonomy Bill recently signed into law by the President Tinubu administration has tremendous impacts on the lives of the average Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots level.
He noted that by this singular gesture, the President had hit the ground running, for the meaningful development of the country.
Amb Adah reiterated that Rivers youths would utilise the opportunity to serve the country to the best of their ability, acknowledging their readiness to do the needful by ensuring that the forests across the nation are adequately secured.
The Deputy Commandant General also applauded the transformation of the Federal Capital Territory by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, saying, the Minister has turned Abuja to London.
He, however, appealed to the Minister to assist Rivers youths to get sensitive positions in the new Nigeria Forest Security Service ,saying, there is need for him and other leaders to assist the youths who are interested in jobs at the NFSS to secure them, as it is done elsewhere.
“ We need your backing on securing the jobs at NFSS”, he said.
Amb.Adah, who represented the National Commandant, Amb Joshua Osatimehia, said the youths are fully ready to contribute to the security, progress and growth of the nation, and emphasised the essence of character, professionalism and quality service delivery at the NFSS.
In his address, the Administrator of Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Council, Dr Ndu Ajie assured the security outfit of the total support of the council.
Dr Ajie, who was represented by the Secretary of the council ,Mr.Onyedibia Ndulaka, praised the determination and sacrifices made by the security operatives in ensuring and fostering the peace and security of the State.
On their part, heads of security agencies in the local government area, including the Joint Task Force(JTF); the Police; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC); and the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), commended the efforts of the security outfit in the security of national assets, assuring them of collaboration to achieve common goals.
During the event, the 23 LGA commanders and other ranking officers were commissioned.
Recall that President Tinubu had commissioned the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and a committee to work out modalities on the operations of the NFSS.
The former State Commander of NFSS, Chief Will Wegwu showered encomiums on the Deputy Commandant General for his sacrifices and untiring efforts to keep the flag flying.
Chief Wegwu assured the participants that the officers and men would continue to support the Deputy Commandant General to succeed in his assignment.
The Omoku Police Area Commander, ACP Mahe Mohammed; and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Omoku Police Division, CSP John Landan, were among a host of other security chiefs and personalities that graced the occasion.
