Okonkwo pledges scholarships, jobs at ABUAD 14th convocation
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From Priscilla Ediare
Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree on the Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo.
Okonkwo, a business mogul, academic, investor, philanthropist and erudite public speaker, was recognised for his huge contributions to education, business, humanity and national development.
The honour was bestowed on him during the university’s 17th Founder’s Day celebration and 14th convocation ceremonies, held on Wednesday at the university’s campus in Ado-Ekiti, which featured the graduation of 2,194 students of the institution.
The airline chairman pledged scholarships, employment opportunities, student sponsorships and strategic investments, among other incentives for the university as part of efforts to strengthen industry-academia collaboration, promote youth development and accelerate human capital development in Nigeria.
The ceremonies also witnessed the conferment of an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree on the Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Mr John Olajide, for his contributions to business, agriculture and national development.
Also, a business mogul and philanthropist, Princess Dr Rosemary Osula Mku-Atu, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree for her investments in the welfare of the less privileged, education and human development.
Okonkwo said he would work with the management of ABUAD to establish a sustainable partnership framework that would provide students with opportunities for academic advancement, professional development and employment after graduation.
The event had an array of prominent personalities from the political, legal, aviation, academic and traditional institutions who graced the occasion, including the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe; the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Adu Adejimi; and the Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III.
Others were the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN); Dr Wole Oluyede, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State; Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN); former Governor of Ekiti State, Engr Segun Oni; regents and traditional rulers; vice-chancellors from various universities; among others.
The airline boss, who delivered the convocation lecture titled “Functional Education and the Nigerian Project: Strategic Human Capital Development for National Renewal”, disclosed that the proposed partnership would cover scholarships, sponsorships, annual awards for outstanding students, employment opportunities and investments in infrastructure, technology and knowledge transfer.
The aviation expert said the initiative would be designed to ensure that the relationship between United Nigeria Airlines, ABUAD and the Ekiti State Government translated into tangible benefits for students, the university and the wider society.
Expressing admiration for the university’s founder and Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), the UNA chairman described the renowned legal luminary as one of the most hardworking individuals he had encountered.
“I want to thank Baba Afe, whom I describe as the most hardworking man I have ever met. I once called Baba at about 1 a.m., and he was still working. That tells you the kind of person he is. He is a living legend whose commitment to education and humanity deserves to be celebrated,” he said.
The air travel guru added that his interaction with Babalola had reinforced his belief that purposeful leadership, dedication and investment in people remained essential to national transformation.
“I will meet with the management of ABUAD to map out a framework that will promote all-round development and ensure that our graduating students are not only employable but can also become employers of labour.
“There will be scholarships, sponsorships, annual awards and other incentives that will help foster a strong relationship between our airline, the university and the state. We want to create opportunities that will enable young people to develop their potential and contribute to the growth of our economy,” he said.
He stressed that the partnership would go beyond ceremonial commitments, noting that collaboration between universities and the private sector was critical to bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical workplace requirements.
According to him, universities must continue to equip students with relevant skills, entrepreneurial abilities and the right values to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy.
Okonkwo also maintained that collaboration among United Nigeria Airlines, ABUAD and the Ekiti State Government could promote human capital development, generate employment and support infrastructure development across the state.
He expressed confidence that closer cooperation among the three institutions would create a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation and sustainable economic growth.
The Chancellor and Founder of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), expressed delight at the successful convocation and the presence of distinguished personalities from different parts of the country.
Babalola, who appeared visibly elated during the ceremony, thanked the invited guests, university officials, parents, supporters and other stakeholders for their contributions to the institution’s growth and development.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the advancement of education and the promotion of initiatives that would improve the lives of Nigerians.
“I am very happy today to have all these special guests from across the country with us. I appreciate everyone who has contributed to making this occasion successful,” he said.
The Senior Advocate congratulated the graduating students and expressed the hope that they would uphold the values of hard work, discipline, integrity and service as they embarked on the next stage of their lives.
“I will adopt the speeches of the distinguished speakers here, and I wish our graduands success as they journey into the next phase of their lives,” he added.
The legal icon’s remarks underscored his longstanding commitment to educational development and his belief that universities must produce graduates who can contribute to national progress through professional excellence, innovation and service to humanity.
The convocation also featured the conferment of honorary Doctor of Laws degrees on Afe Babalola by Trinity Western University, Canada, and Trinity International University, United States, for his contributions in several sectors including education, health, law and agriculture, among others.
The honours further highlighted the international recognition of Babalola’s work in advancing legal practice and private-sector investment in higher education.
In her address, the Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, described the graduating class of 2026 as the largest graduating class in the university’s history.
She celebrated the graduands for their perseverance, discipline and commitment to academic excellence, urging them to deploy the knowledge and skills acquired at the institution to solve societal problems and contribute to Nigeria’s development.
Olarinde highlighted the university’s achievements in research, innovation and sustainability, including its performance in the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings.
According to the VC, ABUAD ranked first in Nigeria for the fifth consecutive year, second in Africa and 72nd globally, reflecting the institution’s sustained efforts to integrate sustainability principles into its operations, research and community engagement.
She said the university remained committed to providing an environment where academic learning, practical experience, innovation and ethical values could flourish.
She noted that the institution’s accomplishments demonstrated the importance of consistent investment in quality education and research-driven development.
Of the graduating students, 286 earned First Class degrees, while 824 obtained Second Class Upper degrees in programmes with conventional degree classifications.
She congratulated the graduands and encouraged them to remain ambassadors of the institution by upholding its standards of excellence, integrity and service wherever their professional journeys might take them.
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, congratulated ABUAD on the successful convocation and commended Babalola for his sustained contributions to education, infrastructure and economic development.
The Governor acknowledged the importance of private-sector investment in complementing government efforts to expand educational opportunities, strengthen infrastructure and create an enabling environment for economic growth.
He also recognised the Founder’s support for development initiatives in the state, including the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, which is expected to contribute to agricultural trade, logistics and broader economic activities.
Oyebanji’s commendation reinforced the importance of cooperation between government, private investors and educational institutions in advancing development priorities.
The Governor’s remarks also reflected the potential for institutions such as ABUAD to contribute to the state’s human capital development by producing graduates equipped with the skills required across different sectors of the economy.
One of the major highlights of the ceremonies was the recognition of Chukwura Richard Amaechi, the best graduating student from the College of Engineering, who received an N10 million award after recording a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.00.
Amaechi’s achievement was celebrated as a demonstration of academic discipline, perseverance and the possibilities that could emerge from a strong commitment to learning.
In his remarks, the outstanding graduand attributed his success to God and commended ABUAD for its contribution to educational development in Nigeria.
He congratulated his fellow graduands, expressing confidence that they had acquired the knowledge and discipline needed to pursue their ambitions and make meaningful contributions to society.
“I congratulate all of us, the graduands, and I believe we are very proud of ourselves. We have come this far, and as we move forward to the next stage of our lives, I pray that we achieve our targeted goals,” he said.
Amaechi also praised the university for providing an academic environment that encouraged students to pursue excellence and develop the capacity to compete in their chosen fields.
He urged his colleagues to remain focused, resilient and committed to their aspirations, noting that graduation represented the beginning of another important phase of their lives.
His perfect CGPA and N10 million award provided one of the defining moments of the convocation, highlighting the university’s recognition of outstanding academic performance.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also praised Okonkwo and Olajide’s achievements, describing them as outstanding personalities whose commitment to job creation and entrepreneurship deserves recognition.
In their responses, the honorees commended the contributions of Aare Afe Babalola towards the development of the state and the country, with a pledge to continue to use their goodwill for the development of Ekiti and Nigeria at large.
The convocation also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to emphasise the need for stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry to address unemployment, improve practical skills and prepare young Nigerians for emerging economic opportunities.
Okonkwo’s proposed partnership with ABUAD is expected to open further discussions on scholarships, student sponsorships, employment and investment support.
If implemented through a structured framework, the initiative could strengthen the relationship between the university and the private sector while creating additional pathways for students to translate their academic achievements into professional success and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The ceremonies ultimately reinforced a central message: that sustainable national development requires not only access to quality education but also deliberate investment in people, practical skills, innovation and opportunities that enable graduates to contribute meaningfully to society.
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