University Of Nigeria (UNN) Confers Honorary Doctorate On Former IGP, Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has conferred a honourary doctoral degree on former Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo (Rtd.), for his astute leadership in public policing and safety.
The conferment ceremony, which was held at the last UNN Graduation ceremony in November 2023, was led by His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife, the UNN’s Pro Chancellor, who conferred the honourary degree on the awardee.
While reading his citation, the institution noted that the highest university's degree was conferred on the former IGP for the significant role he played in innovative law enforcement and maintenance of public safety.
“Because your steadfastness in faith, possessed by moral courage, manifested in your relentlessness in the pursuit of excellence in the Nigerian Police; because your sound judgment, organizational ability, and moral clarity resulted in major contributions to the national security; and because you are an exemplar of the values underpinning the business of policing,” the university noted.
L-R:Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi CFR (Ooni Of Ife) and IGP Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo (Rtd.
The Nigerian Voice reports that Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo (OON, CFR) who was a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was born in Enugu, Nigeria on February 7, 1953.
As a highly decorated and accomplished police officer and administrator with a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo, has held such positions as Assistant Superintendent of Police, Divisional Crime Officer, Administrative Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Chief Superintendent of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Police, Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Acting Inspector-General of Police, Commandant of the Police Academy, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
He also served as the Force Secretary, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, and as the head of the Force Criminal Investigation Bureau at the Force Headquarters.
The distinguished former IGP, also a fomer NDLEA Chairman has received several awards for his work—including a Commendation Award from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency for his contribution to the war against drugs in 2000, a Commendation from Her Majesty's Custom Services in the United Kingdom for his tremendous contribution to anti-narcotic smuggling, and a Commendation from the Yorkshire Constabulary in the United Kingdom for the arrest and prosecution of a fugitive offender (drug baron) for murder in 2000.
In Addition, he received the “Spirit of Detroit” medallion from the Mayor of Detroit, Andy Coleman, at City Hall Detroit, USA, in 1992. He has also published and authored several books on policing and crime prevention— including Policing in the 21st Century (2003), Combating Drug Trafficking: The Nigerian Experience (2005), and Effective Crime Prevention Strategies (2007).
Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo, the 14th indigenous Inspector-General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria sterred the affairs of the Nigeria Police from July 2009 to September 2010.
