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Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, the foremost University owned by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) recently hosted eminent personalities during the institution’s 12th and 13th combined convocation ceremony, held in its premises, where the school conferred both academic and honorary degrees on some personalities, including the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev Henry Ndukuba; former Bishop of Lagos/Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province and Dean Emeritus of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev Ephraim Ademowo and Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, who were recipients of honorary doctorate degrees.
This is the first award Primate Ndukuba is accepting, as he has turned down many of such offers, based on personal convictions. The Primate’s family members, who were excited about this award, were surprised he had finally agreed to accept such an offer. However, the Primate did not mince words in clarifying that he had to accept the offer from Ajayi Crowther University because the university belongs to the Church of Nigeria and the need for him to support what belongs to the church. His words as captured by Alvan Ewuzie in ACU Heritage, Vol. 2, No. 1 reads: “I have always turned down such awards… But in this case, I said this is our own so I can’t say no. The best way to affirm what you own is to be part of it …”
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The wife of the Primate, Mrs. Angela Ndukuba, some Bishops and clergy of the Church of Nigeria attended the epoch-making occasion to celebrate with the Primate, other honourees, and the graduands.
It was also a day of joy for the General Secretary of the Church of Nigeria, The Ven Dr Gershinen Paul Dajur, who bagged another doctorate degree in Christian Religious Studies at Ajayi Crowther University. While presenting their separate addresses during the convocation, representative of the Proprietors, The Most Rev Dr Joseph Akinfenwa; Chancellor, Dr Tunde Afolabi; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Vice Chancellor, Professor Timothy Adebayo congratulated the honourees and graduands. He called on good spirited individuals to support the university’s great work. The immediate former Vice Chancellor, The Rt. Rev Professor Dapo Asaju, also celebrated with the university, the honourees, and graduates, especially the Doctorate graduates, many of whom he supervised their doctoral theses.
The church rejoices with the Primate, the Most Rev Doctor Henry Ndukuba (Doctor of Divinity (DD), Honoris Causa); the Most Rev Doctor Ephraim Ademowo (Doctor of Letters (D. Litt) and Arakunrin Doctor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) (Doctor of Laws (LL.D) and all graduands on their individual achievements, conferment of honorary and academic degrees.
(The Venerable Gershinen Paul Dajur, PhD is the General Secretary, Church of Nigeria)
