ABSU appoints first emeritus professor, graduates 4,447

The Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu has appointed its pioneer Emeritus Professor Francis Chinedu Akpuaka.Akpuaka, a professor of Plastic Surgery, was appointed at the 25th convocation ceremony of the 36 years ABSU during which the graduates were issued their certificates for the first time.

A total of 4,447 graduated with first, masters, doctorate degrees and post-graduate diplomas comprising 89 post-graduate diplomas, 297 masters and 102 doctorate degrees.

Also, 15 graduated with first class, 653 in second class upper, 2503 in second class lower, 558 in third class, 44 pass divisions while 72 and 114 graduated from Medicine and Surgery and Optometry whose degrees are normally unclassified.

Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Cosmos Ndukwe, bagged a doctorate degree in Mass Communication.Two Nigerians who had excelled in their areas Uchenna Emelonye an ABSU alumnus and international scholar in Human Rights Studies and Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, who represented Kano North in the Senate from 1999-2015 were awarded honourary doctorate degrees.

Vice Chancellor of ABSU, Professor Uche Ikonne, in his address said the greatest challenge facing tertiary education managers in the country today was “how to manage the dwindling scare resources arising from a documented ailing economy to maintain acceptable standard of education whose products are equipped to be competitive in the global labour market.”

Describing the situation as not only dangerous for the economy but also for the security of lives and property in the environment, Ikonne stated that case ABSU was fortunate because at this period, we have a Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who, as a product of sound academic system and a natural scholar, has pursued vigorously policies that have prioritised functional education.

Governor Ikpeazu who is also the visitor the institution, charged the graduates to remain worthy in character and learning, stressing that they have their future in their hands and that many others from the institution who have made it in life started with humble beginnings.

“You have been found worthy in learning and character, but the most essential is character, as there are many people out there with learning but without character. The world is looking for people with character,” he stated.

He announced that his administration was establishing industrial clusters to help solve the problem of unemployment, adding that three major companies capable of offering thousands of employment opportunities to Abia youths would soon start business in the state.

Chancellor of ABSU, Chief Francis Orji charged groups and individuals to assist the university while the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Adolph Wabara, described the graduates as those who worked hard in the past years and found to be worthy in character and learning for their degrees.