From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, are among dignitaries expected at the 29th convocation of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), holding today at the university campus.
Other notable Nigerians to be honoured alongside Wike with honorary doctorate degrees are human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome and Folorunsho Alakija.
ABSU Vice Chancellor, Maxwell Onyamachi Ogbulu, disclosed this during a pre-convocation press briefing in his office.
Ogbulu, who described ABSU as safe for students and other visitors, also commended the efforts of Ikpeazu, Isuikwuato council chairman and the host community, Uturu, for the new air of security being enjoyed on campus. He said his school has been able to navigate various challenges that saw other tertiary institutions crippled, noting that the school has experienced tremendous transformation under his two years leadership as vice chancellor.
The vice chancellor commended Ikpeazu who he attributed the giant strides recorded in the school to, adding that as a result of the regular subvention the school receives from the governor, the institution has been able to clear backlog of unpaid staff salaries which were accumulated during COVID-19 lockdown.
He disclosed the remaining few months of salary arrears would soon be cleared. He, however, warned any staff of the school who abandoned his or her job in the name of strike would not be entitled to salaries, describing strike as a big setback for industrial survival of any given sector.
Reeling out details of the 29th convocation, Ogbulu said 3,754 students would be graduating with 19 of them bagging first class. Other graduates include 1,160 second class upper, 2,004 second class lower, 40 third class and three students made pass.
Others were 101 medical and surgery, 68 optometry, Ph.D, Masters Degree 138 and postgraduate diploma 44.