It is noteworthy that hosting of convocations on the second Tuesdays of December annually, has become a tradition in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State and one of the legacies of the Professor Chinedum Uzoma Nwajiuba led administration as Vice-Chancellor since 2016 when he assumed office.
In keeping with “the image of seriousness which our university has earned…’’, trade mark of the young and fast growing university under the leadership of Prof. Nwajiuba, AE-FUNAI consistently held five convocations on Tuesday 20th December, 2016, Tuesday 19th December, 2017, Tuesday 15th December, 2018, Tuesday 17th December, 2019 and the 5th Special Convocation of Tuesday 15th December, 2020, to crown it all.
Despite COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown, and the lingered ASUU strike, the university succeeded in holding the Special 5th Convocation in grand style, the last in the series of convocations hosted by the visionary Prof. Nwajiuba. The convocation was indeed historic with large turnout of members of the university community including students who came from their homes to witness the event and especially the last appearance of their beloved VC as Chief Executive of the institution and chief host of the convocation.
The convocation had the Visitor of the university, President and Commander- In- Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Mohammadu Buhari, ably represented by the Honourable Minister of Education for State, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Engr. Dave Nweze Umahi, represented by his Deputy, His Excellency Barr Kelechi Igwe, Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Rt. Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Former Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency , Mr. Peter Obi and other top dignitaries from across the country including the three renown Nigerians, Asiwaju Dr. Khamis Badmus, Dr. Sir Engr. Anayo Beffford Onwuegbu and Dr. Sir Michael Chidiebere Okoroafor, who were conferred with Doctorate Degrees honoris causa.
To kick start the special event was the convocation lecture delivered by His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, who did justice to the topic “Nigeria’s Economic Growth Will Depend On Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, providing sufficient reliable and useable information and road map towards aggressive turn around in the Nigerian economic development through small scale enterprising and innovation.
In his speech, the visitor, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, iterated that despite the economic challenges, the government is utilizing the scarce resources to position the economy in massive infrastructural development in agriculture, urging Nigerians to support his administration to achieve the massive turn around in our economy and the overall national development.
The Chancellor of the University, HRM Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, CFR, on his part, appreciated the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba and his team, for their irrevocable commitment to excellence and integrity in all the activities of the University in the past 4 years, which has made the institution a recognized and respected citadel of learning in Nigeria and beyond. He stated that the Vice-Chancellor’s determination and commitment has taken the University to greater heights in all ramifications, especially in its robust and expansive academic activities and massive infrastructural development. He added that looking back from where the University was when Prof. Nwajiuba assumed office in 2016 and where it is now, it is no doubt that a lot has been achieved in his tenure.
The Oba sincerely appreciated the effort of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration in the Government’s bold steps in trying to resolve the intractable issues bedeviling the Nigerian University system. He further appealed to all Nigerians, especially the members of the academia, to support the Government in ensuring a smooth academic environment and better town and gown relationship.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Prof. Nimi Briggs, applauded the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, for the breathtaking work he has done in the university. ‘’The most serious public university, the university in a garden and all other good names the university has won, are all due to his diligence, incredible foresight and unrelenting hard work. He also extended his gratitude to the management of the university for the harmony, cooperation and support it gave the Vice-Chancellor which contributed in no small way to all the good things that happened in the university.
Prof. Briggs maintained that Council, in the New Year and beyond, intends to do everything in its power to ensure that this university continues its disciplined and orderly growth in all aspects of academia and community participation.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba himself, thanked Mr. President who appointed him to the position in 2016, stating that the Federal Government and her agencies have been kind to the institution as AE-FUNAI is the first university in Nigeria to have the solar plant under the Energize Education Programme, and by that the only public university in the country with 24-hour electricity supply. He thanked the University Governing Councils, the past and the present for their continued support and loyalty to the university. He did not forget to express his gratitude to staff, teaching and non-teaching, for their support and commitment towards the growth of the university.
In his parting words, Prof. Nwajiuba had this to say,”…I urge you to please continue to respect the agreed mechanism for assessing quality of books and recommending their use by our students. It is close to one decade of existence., our university has consistently distinguished itself as one in which staff do not constitute themselves into vendors of books and handouts-acts that desecrate our temple of knowledge and demean us in the eyes of our products. Do not let the dream die”
Prof. Nwajiuba used the opportunity to convey that the university had agreed to name the main auditorium Abubakar Adamu Rasheed Auditorium, in appreciation of the privilege of love and guidance the Executive Secretary of NUC has shown him, which he said has been the major strength in the course of his service as VC of AE-FUNAI.
Highlight of the special event was the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees on Asiwaju Olatunde Khamis Badmus, an accomplished agriculturist, businessman and compassionate philanthropist, Sir Engr. Anayo Befford Onwuegbu, first Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the university and Sir Michael Chidiebere Okoroafor, a business mogul in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
