Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has announced that it will confer Honorary Doctorate degrees on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen; the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu; and the Chief Executive Officer of Polyester Electronics, Chief Paulinus Ozonnagbo.
The awards will be presented during the university’s 21st Convocation Ceremony scheduled for Saturday.
ESUT Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, made the announcement at a pre-convocation press briefing held at the university’s main campus in Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Prof. Okolie explained that the honourees were selected in recognition of their outstanding contributions to national development.
“As part of the tradition, the Visitor, Council and Senate have approved the award of Honorary Doctoral Degrees (Honoris Causa) to three distinguished national and global personalities,” he said.
He listed the recipients as: Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives – Honorary Doctorate in Legislative Practice; Chief Paulinus Ozonnagbo, CEO of Polyester Electronics – Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration; Sen. Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West – Honorary Doctorate in Governance and Public Policy.
The Vice-Chancellor also announced that a total of 7,991 graduands from the 2023/2024 academic session will receive various categories of degrees and diplomas during the ceremony.
According to him, the breakdown is as follows: First Degrees: 6,625; Postgraduate Diplomas: 212; Master’s Degrees: 720; Doctorate Degrees (PhDs): 434.
He added that 14 students graduated with First Class honours, 1,646 with Second Class Upper Division, 4,619 with Second Class Lower Division, and 113 with Third Class degrees.
Prof. Okolie said the 2025 convocation aligns with his administration’s commitment to restoring and sustaining the tradition of holding annual convocation ceremonies.
“The 21st convocation ceremony will be the fourth consecutive one since my assumption of office in April 2022,” he said.
“To the glory of God, we have kept faith with this commitment, and it is our desire to see through our last ESUT convocation in November 2026.”
He also expressed gratitude to the Visitor to the university, Governor Peter Mbah, for his continued support, especially in infrastructural development.
Okolie disclosed that Governor Mbah had approved the fencing of the university’s main campus, covering a total perimeter of 15.67 kilometres, at a cost of over ₦1.4 billion, following approval by the State Executive Council.
“We profusely thank His Excellency for this fundamental and far-reaching intervention,” he said.
