By Lucky Osaigbovo Agie (Edo State Editor)
The Visioner and Chancellor of Igbinedion University Okada, His Excellency, Sir Chief (Dr) Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, has thanked the trio of convocation guest speakers who delivered lectures at the 22nd convocation ceremony of the University.
The guest speakers included the acting executive secretary of National Universities Commission, Mr Chris Jibreel Maiyaki, Professor Egle Lastauskiene, Director of Vilnius University LSC Institute of Biosciences, Chairperson of the Senate of Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania and Abigail Marshal Katung, Lord Mayor of Leeds City, United Kingdom.
The Chancellor also expressed his gratitude to the executive governor of Edo State, for finding time to grace the special convocation of Nigeria’s first Private University. He appreciated the governor’s support for the university and the state’s education sector as a whole.
Additionally, the Chancellor congratulated and thanked the honorary degree awardee, Dr Theresa Freeman-Wang, Consultant Gynaecologist at Whittington Health NHS Trust, who came all the way from London to receive the award.
He also urged the class of 2024 to carry forward the values of integrity, self-worth, and dedicated service which define the University. “You should strive to make a difference in your communities, be agents of positive change, and let your thoughts, words and actions reflect the principles you have learned here”, the Chancellor emphasized to the graduands.
The Chancellor who said he was full of joy and boundless gratitude to Almighty God to be part of the 22nd edition of the convocation ceremony of the University which he reiterated that apart from clocking a Silver Jubilee – twenty five years of dedication to academic excellence, it also comes in the same year that he clocked the age of 90, on September, 11th 2024.
“You will therefore appreciate my immeasurable joy at today’s triple celebratory event”, he said in an emotion laden voice.
Chief Igbinedion also noted that while the Leeds City Mayor delivered the first convocation lecture on Tuesday, thereby kick-starting the 2024 convocation ceremonies, the acting executive secretary of NUC, delivered the 2nd convocation lecture in honour of the first degree graduands, Professor Lastauskiene delivered the 3rd Convocation Lecture in honour of the honorary degree recipient and higher degree graduands.
