Etigwe Uwa Chairs African University of Science & Technology’s 10th Convocation as Varsity Honours SGF, UBA GMD, Kashim, Others
Abia-born legal luminary, Etigwe Uwa, SAN, on Tuesday chaired the 10th convocation ceremony of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), a leading institution focused on advancing science, technology, and innovation in Africa.
Uwa, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the university, in his address, urged the graduating students to imbibe the spirit of patriotism and contribute to the accelerated growth of the country.
He said: “To the graduating class of 2024, congratulations!
We’ve had a very long day, and we’ve heard very, very wonderful speeches from our commencement speaker, from our mother, the DG of the WTO, and so there is nothing left for me to say to you.
“I am safe to say that our country requires accelerated growth and development. It is true that we’ve missed a lot of opportunities in the past. You only need to look at countries that started about the same time as we did.
“I came back from Singapore recently. I asked a friend of mine there when they got their independence. It was 1965, and you need to see the development that has occurred in that place.
“I want to charge you: every nation has something to be admired. Every nation that we see today with development, progress, and an increased standard of living did not achieve these by accident. These nations did not fall from the sky. They are products of sacrifice, deliberate efforts, and nation-building by their citizens, some of whom even gave their blood for their country.
“We live in a country that is still regarded as underdeveloped, and we also belong to a continent considered underdeveloped. There is a lot that needs to be done. We owe it to future generations to bequeath a better country than the one handed over to us.
“This responsibility is not solely for the government. Often, we blame the government, but there is a lot we can do as Nigerians. Let us pray that the renewed hope agenda of the current administration brings better development, hope, and acceleration in the standard of living for Nigerians.”
Convocation activities started on Monday, January 13, 2025, at the university’s campus in Galadimawa, Abuja. The event showcased academic excellence and groundbreaking innovation, featuring a Convocation Lecture delivered by Engr. Dr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, Ph.D., DIC, FNSE, FNIHTE, Director General and CEO of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). Dr. Agbasi, an expert in infrastructure management, spoke on the topic “Innovation and Sustainable Development in Public Works.”
Degrees were awarded to graduates in Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s (MSc), and Doctorate (PhD) programs. Honorary Doctorate Degrees were also conferred on distinguished personalities.
Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), delivered the Commencement Address.
The event also featured a Keynote Address by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), who was the Special Guest of Honour.
Notable recipients of honorary awards included Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Chairman of TETFund; George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; and Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director of UBA.
See photos below:
