The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Paul University, Awka, (PUA) Engr. Chris Okoye, has urged graduands of the institution to be good ambassadors of the school.
He also advised them not to let the university down by their actions but be worthy representatives of the university wherever they find themselves.
Okoye gave this charge while speaking at the 4th Convocation Ceremony of the university in Awka, at the weekend.
He admonished the students not to forget the well-structured and rigorous programmes they had gone through in the university preparing them for the tomorrow they were going into after the Convocation.
Okoye further encouraged them to be intentional to exhibit and propagate; "the culture of service for the common good", which was inculcated in them during their stay at the university wherever they go.
He said, "As you receive your degrees and/or diplomas after several years of toil and sweat! With a great sense of pride, I congratulate you all and urge you to realize that a university environment is quite different from the one you will encounter outside.
"While the former is protective, the latter could be hostile and you must raise high the flag and show case, the standard of Paul University Awka always.
"Remember our motto: ecce ego mitte me which translates into English as Here am I, send me which effectively makes you ambassadors of this great and noble institution."
All these, he said, would put them at great advantage, "So I encourage you to join the Paul University Awka Alumni Association and contribute your quota to the development of the school by being worthy Alumni and Alumnae".
He described the convocation as evidence of the fruit which Paul University was borne, adding that the council had put in a lot of work, with determination, to drive the mission and vision of the university.
He expressed gratitude to the supports provided by His Grace, Prof. Emmanuel Chukwuma ( Proprietor), Archbishop David Onuoha, Archbishop Alex Ibezim, (Archbishop of the Niger Province), the other Archbishops/Bishops of the five provinces namely; Niger, Nnewi and Enugu Dioceses.
He also appreciated all the benefactors and benefactresses like Prince Arthur Eze, Mr. Peter Obi, Sir Dan Chukwudozie, Chief G. U. Okeke, HRM Igwe Ralph Ekpe, Eze Enugu-ukwu, Nna Igwe Umunri, Senator Ik Abana, Late Chief Mike Nkwoji, Erinne Family for their support and contributions.
Others are the Knights of the Provinces- (East of the Niger), as well as the Women's Guild/Mothers Union (East of the Niger), Dr. Joyce Barber amongst others.
"Special mention must also be made of the roles, played by the Primate/ our New Chancellor, in the various interventions he made!
Indeed, your invaluable support has enabled the Council and Management of Paul University to provide teaching and research leadership to our students and our community.
"I also extend deep joyous felicitations to all our parents and guardians whose wards are graduating today. 'It is not easy. as the Nigerian parlance goes; but here you are today - beaming with joy and smiles,"
"Today, I celebrate all the recipients of the Paul University Awka Honorary Doctorate degree awards and I hereby urge them to become, both the elixir and the open sesame, to the reinvigoration of stakeholders' interest, in the rebirth of Paul University Awka.
"I want to assure us that, our award recipients, are distinguished personalities in their own right and I call upon them, to be Ambassadors of Goodwill for Paul University everywhere they go," he said.
In his goodwill message, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 election, Mr. Peter Obi, said the problem with Nigerian universities is the thinking that they can only survive on fees from students stressing that universities can create wealth through investing in agriculture.
Obi urged Paul University to move to its permanent site at Oji River in Enugu State where it will have agricultural potential, assuring that he would be part of the movement to developing the institution into a world-class Agricultural college for training agricultural entrepreneurs and Pharmaceutical manufacturing park.
Highlights were the installation of the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba as the Chancellor of Paul University, award of Honorary Doctorate degrees, first degrees and diplomas to deserving individuals.
