Adeleke University, one of Nigeria’s foremost private universities, today in Ede, in Nigeria’s Osun State, capped its 2018 convocation ceremonies by decorating Dr. Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), as a professor of international trade and finance.
In a citation preceding the decoration, the university, which noted that Dr. Oramah had been made a professor in May, stated that he had written more than 83 academic peer-reviewed articles, on issues ranging from African economics to trade related matters, that had been published in leading international journals.
He was also a widely sought-after speaker in trade and trade finance conferences around the world and he lectured in several world class universities, continued the citation.
Speaking after the decoration, Prof. Oramah highlighted the increasingly important role of innovation and urged the graduating students to embrace innovation in order to grow.
He told them that the investment in their education was their greatest investment and that the returns got bigger the more patient they were.
Prof. Oramah announced that Afreximbank would offer two internship positions to students of the University studying economics or business. The Bank would also work with the African Capacity Building Foundation to develop a curriculum for structured trade finance for implementation at University.
The president also announced that he would institute two endowments in the university, in the amount of NGN100,000 each, in perpetuity. One endowment would be named after his late parents, Chief and Mrs. Lazarus Oramah, and the other after his late father-in-law.
Afreximbank President Dr. Benedict Oramah (right) in handshake with Dr. Bukola Saraki, President of the Nigerian Senate, shortly after being decorated as a professor of international trade and finance at Adeleke University in Ede, Nigeria.
Earlier, President Oramah commissioned the new building of the University’s Faculty of Science building named the Governor Dr. Olusegun Agagu (CON) Faculty of Science Building, in honour of Dr. Agagu, a former governor of Ondo State. He was also a former Nigerian Minister of Aviation and of Power and Steel.
Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council of the University, announced that a total of 192 students would graduate during the ceremony.
He highlighted the university’s committed to ensuring that the education of deserving students was not derailed due to lack of funds, noting that 45 of the graduating students had been recipients of scholarships which enabled them to complete their education.
The ceremony also featured award of honorary doctorate degree to Mrs. Olufunke Agagu, founder of the Handicapped Education Foundation; Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun, Chief Executive Officer of Heyden Petroleum Ltd., Alarmnet and Innovative Ventures and Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Council; and Samuel Iwuajoku, Chairman of Corporate Oil and Gas.
Afreximbank President Dr. Benedict Oramah (left) cutting the tape to commission the Governor Dr. Olusegun Agagu (CON) Faculty of Science Building at Adeleke University in Ede, Nigeria