Emeka Ibemere
It
was a cold and blustery Saturday November 23, but the granduands were bursting
with pride and good cheer.
The
event was a special convocation ceremony of students of Green Hill University
Denmark, African Campus held at the Grill Room of the Wheat Baker Hotel, on
Lawrence Road Ikoyi, Lagos State.
As
at 12noon, the entire university Senate, Council and Board members, including
families of the convocation students of the Lagos State Campus had emptied
themselves into the Grill Room, venue of the convocation to honour their
students who had graduated on in their different areas of study.
Also
two staffers of the university were given honorary degrees in different
categories while two students graduated with First-class degree and second
class upper division.
Professor Nwajei Chuks Nwajei, the African
Regional President of the Green Hills University, Denmark, and a traditional
ruler in Ogwashi Uku kingdom in his convocation speech said the university is
honouring four Nigerians, two with honorary doctorate degrees and another two
with academic degrees of the university. The traditional ruler cum academics
stated that the grandaunds have done well. According to him, Green Hills University
as an international university is operating in good standing in Greenland
Denmark. “We are non-governmental and a chartered degree granting institution
with International degree accreditation and we have affiliate and exchange
campuses in over 40 countries of the world”, Professor Nwajei stated.
“We have one of the biggest schools amongst
the private education organization in the world, with an annual student intake
of more than 8,000 students in 2012/2013, inclusive of our on-line and Distance
Learning programme”. He further stated that the university is strategic in the
development of able leaders and organizations adding that the school’s
ingenuity has ensured a place in the top 100 executive development provider
with the other affiliate schools and organizations worldwide. The school offers
more than 40 programms ranging from Bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.
The degrees have been launched in the areas of specializations in
entrepreneurship, international Business, banking and finance to meet the needs
of the working professionals who yearn to learn in order to stay relevant with
the changes in their career development strategies. “Green Hill University has
helped many to climb the corporate ladder and aims to groom leaders who will
make a difference in the world. We help scholars to understand the dynamism of
corporate organization, evolutionary changes and constant necessity to remain
competitive will often sustain fulfilled corporate goals and objectives”, the
African Regional President, stated. Nwajei also said the university train
scholars to become unique as leaders who must possess remarkable skill of
foresight that anticipate, evaluate, and provide proactive solution to both
internal and external shifts of organizations. “Brilliant students could obtain
their degrees if they work hard and follow their mentors with 12 calendar
months or less”. Professor Nwajei, the African Regional President of the Green
Hills University, urged both the graduating students and the honorary degree
recipients to rededicate their lives and continue to exhibit trust-worthiness,
sacrifices and loyalty to the university. “To our blessed and beloved
distinguished Dr. Priscilla Udodili Nwajei and Dr Thomas Okpuisi, who are being
honoured here today with a Honorary Doctorate Degree, we urge you to rededicate
your lives and continue to exhibit trust-worthiness, sacrifice and loyalty to
this great university”, he stated. To our academic recipients, Dr Nwankwo
Wilson Chidozie, who I am very proud of, who for the second time in the history
of this university, is the second African who made a First-class in his degree,
we are proud of you and you must know what this means-first class is a great
challenge to those who got them”. Continuing,
he said. We are proud of Mr. Basil Omofuma for making a second class upper and
his thesis is also a masterpiece. The African Campus is proud that you are our
candidate before you became the candidate of Green Hills International”. He
urged them to be good ambassadors of the Green Hills University. Nwajei called
on prominent Nigerians to have professorial chairs at the university. According
to him, the university in Africa calls for sponsorship of any program adding
that they are still at their temporary site.
Asked
how he feels bagging first class honours in building technology from the
University of Green Hills, Dr Nwankwo Wilson Chidozie, said every knowledge
belong to God. “Well I thank God, I mean it is God that gives knowledge and we
cannot do anything except it is given from above. I thank God for today. I
looking forward for better achievements and finding a way of improving our
building society and putting things right because a lot of things have gone
wrong in the past, we have to keep on finding ways and manners to correct the
wrongs”, he quipped.
On
the challenges of studying and doing business, he said. “Challenges of studying
and doing business? I don’t think it’s a big challenge studying and doing
business because, I read building technology which is more tougher course than
this one in my first degree because it has to do with more practical and its
about 20 years I had my first degree in building so, it was that much
challenges”.
In
his own acceptance speech on his award, Dr Thamos Okpuisi said he feels humbled
and honoured with the award from the university. I have accepted it with the
greatest thanks and appreciation to the International Board who saw me fit to
wear this enviable cap”, he said. “To further show my appreciation, I am
following the tradition by donating the sum of $5,000 to the educational
Research Fund for Medical Technology of this university and I further affirm my
resolve to give more to humanity”. He stated that the University decided to
honour him having worked for the school in the last three years as deputy
registrar administration. “So I feel very great for have been rewarded in
recognition of my effort as a research engineer in energy medicine, and as a
scientist. The future is a huge challenge and I need to work harder and beside,
doctorate award is more of challenges and in going further I have to proof
service to humanity to Nigerians and my neighbours”, he added. “I will use the
skills I have to improve humanity. I am into energy medicine research and I
work for the university as, so the ball is on our court to use it help
humanity”.
He
said the ASUU strike is a reflection of general Nigeria system and that the
strike was people’s reaction but that both government and the lecturers should
be serious by keeping their promises.
He
urged both to de-emphasize selfishness in the tango and stopped wasting the
talents and time of the Nigerian youths. He cautioned on the way the youths are
being exposed to criminalities because of the strike and said parents are
concerned. He defined the strike as unfortunate.
For Dr Priscilla Udodili Nwajei, her award is
from God. She stated that she was humbled by the award from a big university in
Denmark adding that God is wonderful. According to her, the greatest thing in
life wasn’t to make money but to raise the bar of life to the greatest
opportunity that life has provided for mankind. Therefore, she said that to
make success in life is to help others do the same thing by gaining a fair
share of life abundant harvests which God has given to man. “To make our mark
upon this little place we are, we have to achieve and help others do the same
thing, to gain a fair share of life abundant harvests which God has given to us
all. We need to take many with us along that road that leads to success and
that is the only way we can be successful after we might have left this little
space in the world”. She queried, “Who has ever been buried with his fleet of
cars or in a private jet? None and none will ever be?
In all, Dr Nwajei gave kudos to her husband
who she said gave her support. According to her, the husband has in the days of
toil, gave her encouragement and said she owed much to him in helping her
achieve what she has achieved in her life. Dr Mrs Nwajei later donated $8,000
to Green Hills University coffer to be given to the Philippine Typhoon tragedy
victims. She said she feels great and
thank God for lifting her higher up in life through the award. “Behind every
successful woman; there is a man, a man that really encourages me, a man who
has never late me down, who has been my pillar in all I have achieved”.
No comments:
Post a Comment