By Praise Chinecherem
Chairman, Board of Directors, Keystone Bank Limited, Lady Ada Chukwudozie, has been conferred with a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree (Honoris Causa) by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State, during its 11th to 15th convocation ceremony held at the Igbariam campus on Saturday, May 24.
Also honored alongside her were the wife of Anambra State Governor, Lady Nonye Soludo; renowned entrepreneur, Chief Emma Bishop Okonkwo; Traditional Ruler of Ogidi community, Igwe Alex Onyido; philanthropist, Chief Christopher Ndubuisi; and communications expert, Mr. Chidozie Mbanefo.
The university management, while conferring the award on Lady Chukwudozie, said she was being honored for her supportive role in the university’s learned society activities, such as Girls and Tech, Young Scientists, and Future Innovators, among others.
“Lady Ada Chukwudozie is the Chairman, Board of Directors at Keystone Bank Limited. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria (IoD) and Executive Committee Member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), as well as Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi Chapters,” the citation stated.
“She is a friend of the University, having been supportive of the learned society activities such as Girls and Tech, Young Scientists, and Future Innovators. She is quite passionate about putting Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University on the global map in agricultural exportation,” her resume stated.
She was decorated by the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman Governing Council, Professor Chidi A. Odinkalu, and assisted by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha, FNIPR, and the Honorable Commissioner for Education, Anambra State, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.
Speaking on the conferment, Governor Chukwuma Soludo described the honor as well-deserved, noting that all the recipients had excelled in their respective fields.
Earlier, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, announced that 58 students were awarded first-class degrees across various disciplines in the undergraduate program. She also revealed that 1,677 graduands received postgraduate degrees in different fields.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the graduands and encourage them to uphold the university’s values and represent us with pride,” she said.
Omenugha also pledged that the university would continue to deliver globally competitive education and strive to elevate its national and international rankings into the top 10.
In a remark, Lady Ada expressed joy over the conferment, adding, “I see this as a call and a charge to do more.”
“I am grateful indeed to the University for recognizing my work, no matter how modest it is. I think that it is not an easy feat to be singled out for this great honor,” she said.
“I promise the school that I’m going to leave a legacy project behind. This legacy project is also a project I have been nursing in my heart, reminiscent of what Sir Louis Ojukwu did decades ago in conjunction with M.I. Okpara.”
“It is a University-Industry Partnership for Sustainable Development that is anchoring on income-generating projects that are geared towards agriculture and human capital development. We are looking forward to empowering our youths to embrace Agriculture. We want to make agriculture very attractive by embracing modern methods of farming.”
Lady Ada Chukwudozie thanked everyone who came to celebrate with her as she received the award, particularly the management and staff of Keystone Bank, including the MD, Hassan Iman, describing it as a testament to the good working relationship existing among them.
In his remarks, Mr. Hassan Imam, the MD/CEO of Keystone Bank Limited, thanked Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University for honoring their Board Chairman, Lady Ada Chukwudozie, and described her as deserving of the award given her commitment, dedication, and selfless service.
“For us at Keystone Bank, this is a great achievement for all of us, and we are not really surprised given her commitment, dedication, and selfless service to humanity.”
“This award is not only to you and your family; it is to all of us, and we are happy that we are part of this great occasion,” Imam said.
Lady Ada Chukwudozie was accompanied by her beloved husband, Sir Dr. Daniel Chukwudozie, OON, Executive Chairman, Dozzy Group; the MD/CEO, Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Hassan Imam and senior management and staff of the Bank.
Members of the Anambra Council of Traditional Rulers, Great Pillars of Anambra Brothers Club, Okija Big Brothers Assembly, as well as the National Executives of Members of National Union of Anambra State Students (NUASS) were also in attendance.
