God has indeed shown that our university is God‘s Own University

The Speech of Archbishop Ignatius A. Kaigama, Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu , on the Occasion of the 8th & 9th Convocation of Godfrey Okoye University, 20 November 2021

Protocol

I would like to welcome each of you to this great university assembly, the 8th and 9th convocation, in which 600 persons will be conferred with various degrees. It is also an occasion for the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on three distinguished men, who have expressed deep love for humanity and our university in many ways.

We are profoundly grateful to God for making this occasion possible and for his countless blessings on our university. God has indeed shown that our university is God‘s Own University (as we sing in our University Anthem). The speed with which our university is growing, the discipline and successes of our students, the contributions of many friends and the peace and tranquility we enjoy in our university reveal unmistakably divine benevolence in the GO University Family.

It is important to thank all those who are God‘s instruments in making our tremendous progress possible. We are grateful to the Vice Chancellor, the Senate, members of the academic and administrative staff, members of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees as well as all friends of the university. We are particularly grateful to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, for all his support and prayers for the growth of the university. Bishop Onaga‘s non-interference approach in the administration and day-to-day running of the university is one reason why Godfrey Okoye University is one of the fastest growing private universities in Nigeria.

Our university has continued to receive God‘s blessings and guidance since its establishment twelve years ago. Last year when many universities lost an academic year because of the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, our university succeeded in making teaching and learning hundred percent online. Consequently, we are one of the few universities that graduated their final year students last year. The Covid-19 pandemic, therefore, did not disrupt the flow of our academic life.

Also, in spite of the pandemic, we were able to build one of the best Law Faculty auditoriums last year and also continued to develop our infrastructure at the Thinker‘s Corner Campus and this main campus of our university.

Another big milestone is the ground-breaking of GO Uni-European Business Park, which happened in the context of this convocation on 18 November 2021. The Business Park is the first of its kind in Nigeria with the promise of being the hub of European companies in Nigeria. Also, the College of Practical Skills, which was also flagged off on 18 November, is another important programme in our university, which will drastically reduce unemployment of our teeming youths and graduates. Through the College our youths will acquire skills that will enhance their employability in Nigeria and in the world. The College will also offer funds for those who want to be self-employed.

Another milestone in our university is the approval to run PhD programmes. With this approval, our university has reached full academic maturity. We thank the NUC for its support of the fascinating growth of this university and especially for the approval of the request to run PhD programmes. Also all our undergraduate programmes are fully accredited.

Furthermore, because of the patriotic vision of Godfrey Okoye University of integrating students from northern minority groups and bridging the North/South divide, the Government of Plateau State has reciprocated this gesture by appointing Rev. Prof. Msgr. Obiora Francis Ike, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the Plateau State University, PLASU, Bokkos.

Finally, we have continued to develop our main campus as you can see today. We have started to develop our medical faculty and hope to get the NUC approval to begin basic medical sciences as soon as possible.

Let me end this address by thanking once more all those who have allowed themselves to be used by God in developing this university. Let me also congratulate those who will be receiving various degrees today.

Like GOUniversity, I urge the graduates we are celebrating today to continue to go places and make phenomenal impact on our nation and humanity in general.

May God bless you and protect you all.