28th May, 2023
By Olukayode Babalola
Nasarawa University, Keffi, has conferred an Honorary Degree (Honoris Causa) on President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, CFR, for his contributions to the country in his fields of endeavour.
The management of the university conferred the degree on Gambari at the Institution’s 7th Convocation ceremony held in Keffi Local Government Area on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the varsity also conferred another Honorary Degree on a 93-year-old renowned Polish Scholar, Prof. Brunon Holyst.
Gambari was conferred with the Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt), while Holyst was conferred with the Honorary Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil).
Speaking on the conferment, Gov. Abdullahi Sule described the honour as well deserved, adding that the duo have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour.
He thanked them for their contributions to the development of the university and the academia in general.
Sule also assured that his administration would continue to prioritise the education sector as education remains the most endearing legacy parents can bequeath to their children.
He said: “I make bold to say that no amount of investment and sacrifice is too much to provide quality education considering its importance in tackling insecurity and other vices.
“It is for this reason that we have sustained our commitment to the education sector since our assumption of office.”
The Vice-Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Suleiman Bala-Mohammed said that the gestures were due to the significant contributions made by both awardees to human endeavours.
He also said the duo have contributed in various ways to improving educational standards at the university, hence the approval of the university’s Senate to award them the degrees.
“Prof. Ibrahim Gambari is being conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree for his tremendous role in Nigeria’s foreign policy, being one of Nigeria’s longest-serving Ambassadors to the United Nations.
“Prof. Holyst Brunon is a renowned Professor of Criminology, Victimology and Criminalistic Psychology at the Management Academy of Applied Science in Warsaw, Poland.
“He is being conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in recognition of his immense contributions to the academic community especially in the field of criminology and Criminalistics Psychology,” he said.
The vice-chancellor said that for the undergraduate programme, 5,984 graduands were found worthy to be awarded first degree in various disciplines.
According to Bala-Mohammed, for the postgraduate programme, 1,677 graduands were awarded various postgraduate degrees.
“The breakdown of the undergraduate programme is as follows: First Class 33, Second Class Upper 1,598. Second Class Lower 3,906, with Third Class graduands numbering 447.
“For the postgraduate programme, PhD graduands are 134, Academic Masters 633, Professional Masters 357 and Postgraduate Diploma graduands numbering 553. I congratulate all the graduands.”
In a remark, Gambari, who described his presence at the university as a homecoming expressed joy over the conferment, adding, “I accepted the honour with a great sense of privilege.
“I will dedicate the rest of my life to the service of the Institution, Nigeria and the international community as a whole.”
In his own remarks, Holyst, who described the conferment on him as a surprise said it was a dream come true.
“I will always relish the honour bestowed on me by the school.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to management of the university for accepting me into their academic community. The degree granted me has brought me immense pride,” he said.
Holyst also delivered the Pre-Convocation lecture titled: A New Approach to Criminology: A Global Perspective”.