A total of 114 students of the Covenant University, Ota, in Ogun State graduated with first class honours, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The first class students were among the 1,466 who were awarded various degrees at the institution’s 8th convocation ceremony.
The Chancellor of the University,Dr. David Oyedepo,
said at the event that 720 of the students made Second Class (Upper
Division), 565 Second Class (Lower Division), and 67 Third Class.
Mr.
Oyedepo said that 111 of the students were awarded Master’s Degrees
while 30 others obtained PhD. He said the university’s Board of
Regent had mandated it to become one of the best 10 universities in the
world in the next 10 years.
Mr. Oyedepo said that the mandate was
known as “Vision 1 of 10 in 10’’. He said that the board had also
approved the adjustment of the institution’s academic calendar in line
with best practices.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof.
Charles Ayo, advised the graduating students to strive for excellence in
all their endeavours.
The Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, who was the guest speaker, urged developing nations to embrace the principles of the “new economy’’.
He delivered a paper entitled: “Transformational Leadership and the Quest for Global Relevance.”
Nebo said: “The world economy is now global, highly competitive and driven by knowledge.
“The world has evolved into a global knowledge economy that has no patience for ignorance and indolence.
“In
this new economy, talent, entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation,
ability to network and capacity to develop, nuture and master complex
dynamics, drive personal economic success and success of nations.”
Mr.
Nebo said that, for the first time in documented history, Sub-Saharan
Africa was witnessing robust growth, and that Nigeria was one of the
growth leaders.
“Africa is being looked at as a ray of hope and
the bastion of growth. These opportunities promise to come if we are
able to bring about transformational change in the way we do business
and in our educational system,” he said.
He charged the students to be relevant in the new economy, where the individual was the knowledge worker.
Below is a letter written by Nigerians living in Kenya highlighting the harassment they face in the hands of police.
The harassment has taken a xenophobic dimension, Just 2 days ago a
Nigerian with Valid passport and entry Visa to Kenya was stopped by
plain clothes policemen, when they requested for his passport, he
promptly presented it to them. The passport was immediately seized and
he was asked to to leave Kenya, as Nigerians only come to Kenya to take
their woman, he resisted and insisted that he committed no offense, he
was immediately attacked and beaten to a pulp and he was bleeding
profusely.
The took him to the station and the OCS was so alarmed that he almost
got physical with the policemen and insisted the paid for the guys
treatment. He has taken pictures and also copies of his statement and
dropped at the embassy.
3 days ago, 27 Nigerians were refused entry without Valid reasons yet we
have a protocol of giving Visa's on entry by both countries
Embassy officials who visited the Nigerians in jails broke down in
tears when the found out that they were not only innocent but that they were tortured and brutalized .
The Nigerian community has also met with leading politicians in Kenya
who insist that our Ambassador has not only failed to do his Job, and
that if we remain silent about this harassment that it will only get
worse.
This case is only one of the many cases that is going on in Kenya.
We as an organization cannot afford to publish this letter on the pages
of the Newspapers in Nigeria, but we are appealing and counting on your
good graces to help us make our plight known.
National Association of Nigerians in Kenya
Jude 'Engees' Okoye is the elder brother, manager and director of Peter
and Paul Okoye, popularly known as P-Square. Excerpts from his interview
with Bayo Adetu of PM News
Peter and Paul already have kids; and we all know their heartthrobs. Can you tell us the one in your life?
Why
are you people always forcing me to come to the public? I don’t want to
be a celebrity and I am not one of them. I don’t sing, dance or act. I
love where I am now (hiding myself) and if I love to do that, how do
you expect me to introduce the lady I am dating? Back to your question, I
have somebody, yes but I won’t tell you her name.
Who is your ideal woman?
The most important
thing I look out for in a woman is understanding, aside physical beauty
because everybody wants to look at the person beside him and be amazed
and happy to have married a beautiful lady, not an ugly girl. Basically,
your wife should understand you, especially when both male and female
fans are swarming around you, wanting to take photographs with you and
the rest. She must understand when you’re at work and office. That is my
kind of woman.
Meaning that your lady has all these qualities?
Yes, she does. She’s beautiful and understanding.
So, when are you kicking bachelorhood?
When
I will kick bachelorhood, I will call you and my fans to come and eat
and drink. Already, I have purchased the bell, when it’s time, I will
ring it.
Why is it taking so long, on a more serious note?
It’s
taking so long because I am waiting for you people. Basically, why I am
not yet married is that I don’t want to get married because I have all
it takes to marry or because I am ripe. I want to get married and feel
married so that I will be committed to my wife.
Although, I am not
looking for a perfect person, but she must be a friend, partner,
everything and someone that understands what I do.
