IMSU graduate who bagged 1st class says Okorocha’s free education made him succeed

Wife of Imo State Governor, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha congratulating Dr. John Chigozie Ekenze during the convocation ceremony his mother watches

" I lost my beloved father shortly before my Matriculation. I thought all had ended but dropping out of college was the last thing on my mind. I borrowed text books from my colleagues to read for exams because I couldn't afford it. In the year 2011, Governor Rochas Okorocha declared free education in Imo state. I am standing here to thank my Governor because without free education, I would have been out of school, I wouldn't have been standing here."

This was the mood in which Dr. John Chigozie Ekenze told his success story during the convocation ceremony of the Imo State University Owerri at the weekend. Ekenze scored a total of 4.78 points in Optometry to emerge the best graduating student IMSU 2013/2014 session.

Governor Rochas Okorocha who was at the ceremony for the conferment of Higher Degrees and Honorary Doctorate Degrees to deserving Nigerians at the University’s convocation arena on Saturday March 19, 2016, congratulated Dr. Ekenze for the laudable performance and high sense of perseverance and hard work.

Said he, “The last Convocation of the University was in 2008 and today the number of Masters and Ph.D graduates from this institution is the highest in the country.  This goes a long way to justify the claim that our main industry is education.  We remain number one in education in the country and no one can take that away from us.  The free education programme is the main policy thrust of the administration in the state.”

 According to him, the difference between America and Nigeria is in the quality of their human capital.  If our human capital is developed, we shall sing the same song of the Americans therefore Nigerian universities should begin to think of courses that will tailor towards the development of the resources of our land.

Governor Rochas Okorocha congratulating Dr. John Chigozie Ekenze during the convocation ceremony.

Also at the event, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sanni Bello was honored with Doctor of Business Administration Degree (Honoris Causa).

In his speech after he had been awarded the Honorary Doctorate Degree, Alhaji Abubakar Sanni Bello said that all tribes must unite for the greatness of the country, adding that it was against the backdrop of his vested interest in the unity of the country that he accepted to be honoured by the Imo State University.

Governor Bello thanked the University Community for finding him worthy to be honoured with Honorary Doctorate Degree, assuring that he would do his best towards the development of the University, and also commended the free education programme of the Imo state government.

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sanni Bello (2nd from right ) flanked by his wife and the wife of Imo State Governor in a group photo at the convocation ceremony.