Gladys Nweke
Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, will be given the Icon of Democracy award at a Convocation ceremony scheduled for August, 2018.
The Vice-Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor. Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the former President at his office in Bayelsa State.
Professor Ndimele who described the Peace Loving Global Citizen as a hero in many sense stressed that the statement “that his political ambitions is not worth the blood of any Nigerian” and his being the first sitting President to concede defeat in the 2015 Presidential election are historic landmark achievement.
He observed that the singular act has also earned the country respect in the comity of Nations.
The Vice-Chancellor lauded the first African Leader to win the Martin Luther King Human Rights Award for the many projects attracted to the university through Tetfund with the help and support of his wife, the former first Lady Mrs Patience Jonathan, and the Present Governor of the State Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike ( CON).
Some of the projects include: Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Social Science, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Academic Staff Office building, Home Economics building, Mathematics laboratory, ICT building, Automated Library, Human Kinetics building, Lecture Theatre, Science Laboratory, Health Centre, Ambulance, Medical Doctors quarters, Student Hostels, 800KVA generator etc in the main campus alone.
The Otueke born hero who was elated at the pictures of the projects expressed pleasant surprise at the transformation of the institution. He talked about his career experiences as a Custom Officer, Ministry of Education Science Inspector, Lecturer at the then College of Education now IAUE, Ompedec, before his journey into politics.
The African Leadership Magazine Person of the year 2015 thanked the Vice-Chancellor and his team for the visit and conveyed his appreciation and acceptance to the Governing Council.
Professor Lysias Dodd Gilbert thanked the immediate past President for the audience and acceptance.