UNILAG Honours Jim Ovia, Olukoya, Others

 

University of Lagos, UNILAG, yesterday, conferred Honorary Doctorate Degrees on Chairman of Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia; General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, and Alhaji Olufemi Okunnu during its 50th convocation at the institution’s main auditorium, Lagos.

Speaking during the conferment, the Vice Chancellor,  UNILAG, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said the gesture was done in recognition of the awardees’ various contribution to humanity.

On Jim Ovia, the Founder of Zenith Bank, Ogundipe described him as an accomplished banker who changed the landscape of the banking sector in Nigeria.

Also, while acknowledging Mr Lateef Olufemi Okunnu, he pointed out his accomplishment when he was former Federal Commissioner (Minister) for Works and Housing and former Pro-Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State.

The Vice-Chancellor said Olukoya is an alumnus of UNILAG who graduated with a first class honours in MicroBiology and Ph.D. in Molecular Geneticist. He described his contribution to youths and humanity as massive, adding that he is the Founder, Mountain Top University, Ogun State and the Pentecostal Minister and Founder/ General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.

Besides, Emeritus Professorship was conferred on Professor Sulaiman Adekola, formerly of the Department of Electrical Engineering and a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration).

 

 

In his acceptance remark, Jim Ovia who lauded the gesture, however urged the Federal Government to approve more private universities to meet the shortfall of admission in tertiary institutions.

On his part, Dr Daniel Olukoya called for financial motivation for our undergraduates, stressing that since he publicly promised a car for any first class student in his church, the numbers of first class graduates shot up.