Umuahia — The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo; and Governor. Mu'Azu Babangida Alui of Niger State were both conferred with the honouary Doctorate degree on Public administration of the Abia State University Uturu (ABSU) at its 20th Convocation Ceremony last Saturday.

This is as a total of 5109 students including four first class materials, 35 Doctorate degree (PhD) holders, 115 master's degree holders, 96 post-graduate Diploma holders and 4866 Bachelor's degree holders formerly joined the already stuffed labour market at the colourful convocation that almost metamorphosed into a political really.

Speaking at the occasion, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mkpa Agu Mkpa, said the Niger state first citizen was honoured in recognition of the able way he has pragmatically advanced the socio-economic and political life of his State.

"He has consistently demonstrated large heartedness, generosity and support for our university... The support he gives to education generally is worthy of commendation needless to stress of the formidadable protection which non-indigenes enjoy in Niger State under his regime" Mkpa noted.

On the IGP, the VC said the honour was to appreciate his incredible patience, unequivocal loyalty, dedication and rewarding professional versatility; and enjoined other high-ranking officers of the Nigerian Police Force to borrow a leaf from the IGP.

While reeling out some of the achievements of the institution as a centre of excellence, Professor Mkpa noted with joy that one of the grandaunts in first class category, Efeoma Meshack Oghenekaro was among the best six Nigerian graduates who won the post-graduate scholarship of the Japanese government, and would soon leave for the university of Tokyo for his Ph.D in Architecture.

In the same vein, in the 2009/10 edition of the Legal Aid Clinic Competition by all the Law Faculties in all Nigerian Universities, held recently in Enugu, the VC informed that ABSU came first while 2nd and 3rd positions were clinched by University of Nigeria Nsukka and Ebonyi State University respectively.

He attributed the brilliant performances of ABSU students to the efficacy of the institutions new examination system, the much- criticized Multiple Choice Question type (MCQ); and the role of its centre for Quality Assurance.

The VC also disclosed that the academic programmes of the school have risen to 55 as

against 44 when he assumed office in 2005, adding that they all enjoy both "NUC and professional accreditation status".

Professor Mkpa further said that as part of its rebranding efforts, the university senate had outlawed the imposition of hand-outs and other reading materials on students by lectures as a basis for passing their examinations.

He also used the opportunity to clear the university's management of the allegation of embezzlement of N10 billion as leveled by the Alumni Association, saying that the report of government's appointed external auditors had given the management a clean bill of health.

He accused a faction of the Alumni Association of a campaign of calumny against the management of the institution because of the latter's stoppage of the unacceptable practice of squandering funds by the Alumni leadership.

"Over N5 million would have been squandered this year if we have not queried the illegal practice" Mkpa said.

He therefore, charged the grandaunts to be worthy ambassadors of their alma-meta.

In his remarks, Gov. Orji represented by His Deputy Comrade Chris Akomas, said the state government was poised to take the university to an enviable height but regretted that the efforts had been greatly hampered by paucity of funds.

He frowned at the way and manner the university authorities handled the last students disturbances in the school which led to loss of lives and the closure of the institution, and warned that his government would not tolerate such laxity again.

The governor also charged the university management to show zero tolerance on cultism and to evolve better ways of eradication the monster from the campus.

In his own speech, the IGP represented by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of Operations, Mr. John Hamza Amadu, said the Nigerian Police would continue to constructively engage students and young people to discourage their involvement in violent crimes.

He said the award was appreciated both as a challenge and source of encouragement to excel in his profession, and his friends later donated a brand new 26- seater bus to the institution.

Similarly, Gov. Aliu announced the endowment of a professional chair on servant leadership at ABSU, for the promotion of research, teaching, and overall schooling activities in effective governance.

Highlight of the event was the award of automatic employment to the overall best grandaunt, Miss Dara Chinyere Ijeoma who made 4.80 Overall Grade Point Average.

The wife of Abia State governor, Mrs. Odochi Orji also made a cash donation of N2 million for the rehabilitation of the 62 victims of December 2009 fire disaster at Ike Nwachukwu Hostel; and fire tricycles to ease internal transport on the campus.