• COOU to graduate 3,315 students
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University in Anambra State is set to hold its 16th Convocation ceremony to confer degrees on 3,315 students.  Of the total, about 800 are postgraduates. The five-day event will kick off today with a Founder’s Day and Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Lecture by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, followed by Students Day/Interdenominational Service at its Igbariam Campus, Oyi Local Council Area of the state.  
 
The Convocation Ceremony, to be held this weekend, will be preceded by a Convocation Lecture by the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Cygan.  

The Vice-Chancellor of COOU, Prof. Kate Onenugha, told reporters yesterday that the convocation was a testament to Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s dream, after whom the institution was named.
 
Meanwhile, the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, has said that universities must continue to serve as think tanks, generating ideas and research that can inform government policies, particularly in foreign relations, economic diplomacy, and national development strategies.
 
She assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would remain open to such collaborations as it works to project Nigeria’s image positively on the global stage.
 
The minister stated this yesterday at the 4th Annual Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Memorial Lecture organised by the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, on its Founders’ Day as part activities to mark its 16th convocation ceremony.
 
She said the event was not a mere ceremony but a convergence of history, intellect, and legacy, just as she added that the ex-Biafra leader, Odumegwu Ojukwu, was not just synonymous with the fight for justice but also a strong believer in the power of knowledge.
 
“We gather to honour and reflect on the life of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a towering figure whose contributions to Nigeria’s political evolution and whose unwavering commitment to the dignity of his people remain indelible. He was not only a soldier and statesman, but also a man of ideas, a leader who believed in the power of knowledge, justice, and principled leadership.
 
“Dim Ojukwu’s legacy compels us to ask difficult questions about nationhood, equity, inclusion, and the responsibilities of leadership. His life reminds us that leadership is not defined by convenience, but by courage, sacrifice, and the willingness to stand for what is just, even in the face of overwhelming odds,” she said.
 
The minister thanked the university for promoting climate resilience, as Odumegwu-Ojukwu did.