Ezekwesili speaks on wealth and poverty of Nigeria at UNN Convocation Lecture

Former Vice President (Africa Region) of the World Bank Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili would Thursday January 23 dissect issues around the wealth and poverty of Nigeria as the lecturer of the 42nd Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigeria.

The former Minister of Solid Minerals as well as Education would speak on “The wealth and poverty of a nation: who shall restore the dignity of Nigeria?” at the lecture that forms part of the Convocation celebrations.

UNN Vice Chancellor Professor Bartholomew Okolo disclosed this Monday at a pre-convocation media briefing ahead of the four-day events.

Dr. Ezekwesili currently serves as Senior Economic Advisor at the Open Society Foundation as well as Director of Bharti Airtel, the fourth largest telecommunications company in the world. She is an alumna of the University of Nigeria.

UNN would give out certificates to 19, 880 graduands of first and higher degrees at the 42nd convocation, a 73 per cent increase on the 11, 496 of the 41st Convocation. First degree holders make up 18, 150 of the number while higher degree recipients number 1, 730.

There are 116 First Class Honours, 4, 405 Second Class Upper and 10, 048 Second Class Lower with 2, 633 Third Class and 154 Pass. A further 794 would earn Diplomas or unclassified qualifications.

A further 195 persons would be conferred with their Doctorate degrees while 1, 226 would earn Masters Degrees and 269 Postgraduate diplomas.

Prof Okolo said UNN had provided a strong foundation of knowledge for its graduands to equip them for the tasks ahead. He said the convocation ceremonies signify “fulfilment of our original mandate to produce the highly skilled manpower needed to build the Nigerian nation”. He affirmed, “Based on our tradition of continuously adapting our curriculum to changing times, these graduands have also been equipped with other relevant requisite skills such as Information Technology and Entrepreneurship. They have also taken courses in Peace and Conflict Resolution-a very useful skill in the Nigeria of today”.

UNN would also confer honorary Doctorates on four persons, the Vice Chancellor disclosed. They are the Secretary to the Government of Nigeria Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Prof Attahiru Jega as well as the chairman of Guaranty Trust Bank Mr. Fola Adeola and Group MD of Diamond Bank Dr. Alex Otti.