Oluremi Tinubu, Uzodimma, Zulum Bag Honorary Degrees at FUTO

•First Lady donates N50m for best female graduating student

Three eminent Nigerians – First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma and Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum – were yesterday awarded honorary Doctorates by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) at its 36th Convocation ceremony in recognition of their immense contributions to the development of education, the country and humanity.

 While Mrs Tinubu and Uzodimma were conferred with the honorary Doctor of Management, Honoris Causa, Governor Zulum got the honorary Doctor of Technology, Honoris Causa.

Mrs Tinubu donated N50 million as an endowment for the best female graduating student.

 In her remarks, Senator Tinubu said she was dedicating the award to the girl child and thanked the university on behalf of other awardees. She pledged to continue to support the university, noting that the award will inspire them to do more.

 The First Lady congratulated the graduands and charged them to own Nigeria in such a way that it will be a worthy inheritance for the future generation. According to her “Nigerians will reap what they invest in Nigeria.”

She proceeded to announce her plan to launch the Green Environment Club where all Nigerians will participate in keeping our environments clean and ensuring proper disposal of waste.

 In his welcome address, the Chancellor of the university, His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, appreciated the efforts of the university management in dealing with multiple challenges and appealed to the federal government to step up the funding of universities, especially that of FUTO to enable her to cope with the prevailing debilitating and near-crippling financial throes.

 The chancellor whose address was read by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nnenna Oti called on stakeholders like the alumni, corporate bodies, captains of industry, multinational agencies and multilateral linkages to assist the university in achieving her mandate in manpower and skills development to drive our national economic development.

 In his message, the Visitor to the University, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated the graduands and the awardees for their meritorious successes and service to the society that merited them the honour.

 Represented by the Vice Chancellor University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, the president urged them to harness the potential in the agricultural, vocational and information technology skills to add value to themselves and the nation at large.

In her welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oti welcomed all to the 36th convocation ceremony and called for the reawakening of the patriotic zeal to attend the critical mass required to join the league of developed nations.

 In their responses after the conferment of the honour, Uzodimma, Zulum and Tinubu appreciated the award and pledged their support for the university.

 Governor Uzodimma thanked FUTO for the wisdom in selecting the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, himself and the Governor of Borno State for the award.

 Governor Zulum said that in “partnership with the Governor of Imo State” he will “support the University to grow and develop.”