Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has conferred honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degrees on the chairmen of United Nigeria Airlines and Cavista Holdings, Professor Obiora Okonkwo and Niyi Olajide, respectively.
The honours were presented at the university’s 14th convocation ceremony, which featured the graduation of 2,194 students.
The event attracted prominent dignitaries, including Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, and other traditional rulers.
Also present were the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; the PDP governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede; Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN; and former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni.
Speaking at the ceremony, Oyebanji praised Olajide for his investments in agriculture, tourism and other sectors of Ekiti’s economy. He also recognised Okonkwo’s contributions to business and enterprise development.
The governor described both honourees as accomplished entrepreneurs whose investments support the state government’s efforts to attract private investment, create jobs and accelerate industrialisation.
The Ooni of Ife also commended their achievements, particularly their commitment to entrepreneurship and job creation.
Similarly, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti called for greater private-sector investment in Ekiti, noting that more entrepreneurs were needed to complement the developmental contributions of ABUAD founder, Aare Afe Babalola.
Another highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of honorary Doctor of Laws degrees on Babalola by representatives of Trinity Western University, Canada, and Trinity International University, United States.
The institutions recognised his contributions to education, healthcare, law, agriculture and other sectors.
In his remarks, Babalola described the convocation as one of the best moments of his life, urging the graduating students to uphold the university’s values and become problem-solvers in society.
The honourees also praised Babalola’s contributions to Ekiti State and Nigeria, pledging to continue using their influence and resources to support development.
Of the 2,194 graduands, 1,759 completed undergraduate and professional programmes, while 435 graduated from postgraduate programmes. The postgraduate figure comprised 359 students from the College of Postgraduate Studies and 76 from the ABUAD Business School.
A total of 286 students earned First Class degrees, while 824 obtained Second Class Upper degrees. Another 234 graduated with Second Class Lower degrees, while 29 earned Third Class degrees.
The remaining graduands completed professional and postgraduate programmes that do not use the conventional degree classification system.
