Foremost
entrepreneur and business guru, Aliko Dangote, has been named among three
eminent Nigerians to be conferred with honorary degrees by the premier
institution, the University of Ibadan.
Others
to be honoured during the 68 Foundation Day ceremony climaxing the convocation
ceremonies of the university on November 17, 2016 in Ibadan, according the
University management are Prof. Niyi Osundare and Chief Jacob Olabode Ajao.
In
a letter from the University signed by the Vice-Chancelor, Prof Abel Idowu
Olayinka, Aliko Dangote, GCON, who will be conferred with the Degree of Doctor
of Science (D.Sc.) (Honoris Causa); Professor Niyi Osundare, Degree of Doctor
of Literature (D. Litt. (Honoris Causa) and Chief Jacob Olabode Amao, Degree of
Law (LL.D) (Honoris Causa).
The
University said their choice as the next honourees of the institution was
informed by their various achievements and contributions to the nation and the
institution.
In
his letter of acceptance, Dangote said he was humbled and at the same time
excited to be nominated for the award by a reputable institution as University
of Ibadan known for its academic excellence.
Said
he: “this award particularly delighted me because it is coming from a
responsible institution such as yours. I am aware that the University, apart
from closing the widening gap between attainable potential student population
and limited space in Nigeria educational system, the institution has also been
delivering education in a way that recognises personal discipline, integrity
and promote positive societal values.”
He
stated that he would be ready to identify with the University because, his
company, the Dangote Group also share similar values with the institution and
his organization has in one way or the other impacted positively on the
nation’s educational sector.
Dangote,
born in 1957, had both his primary and secondary schools education in Kano
after which he proceeded to Al-Azhar University of Cairo, Egypt to study
Business Administration.
He
started his own business as a trading concern at the young age of 21 and
nurtured the business which grows to a conglomerate called Dangote Group with
interests in cement, sugar, salt, flour, pasta, noodles, poly products, real
estate, agriculture, logistics, telecommunications, steel, oil and gas, and
beverages among others.
The
Group has interests spread across several sixteen African countries, with
offices in London and Dubai. He is currently expanding the business into new
markets, in Sub-Saharan Africa, making strategic investments that add value to
local economies and the continent.
He
is a philanthropist of high repute as he has extended his philanthropic gesture
to individual, groups, Nigeria and other African countries as well as the
international community.
Prof.
Osundare, another awardee was born on the 12th of March, 1947 attended St.
Luke’s Primary School, Ikere Ekiti from 1953-1959, L.A. Modern School Ikere
Ekiti in 1960, Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti between 1961 and 1966 where he
sat for his School Certificate and passed, and Christ School, Ado Ekiti for his
Higher School Certificate.
His
university education started in the University of Ibadan where he was admitted
for BA in 1969 and graduated in 1972 with a Second Class Upper Division in
English Language. He proceeded to the University of Leeds for his MA, and York
University, Canada where he bagged PhD in 1979.
Chief
Amao on his own part is a self-made accomplished entrepreneur of no mean feat,
born in Ibadan about 84 years ago and is the first Asiwaju of Ibadanland. Amao
was the sole distributor of Sony Electronics Products for West Africa since the
early 1950s, and Chairman of Atlantic Carpet and Bode Foam.
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