SAN FRANCISCO, August 12, (THEWILL) – The University of Nigeria Nsukka will for one week in October roll out the drums and raise its flag in honour of surviving members of the 1963 pioneer class of the university, the institution announced in a statement.
Vice Chancellor, Professor Bartho Okolo announced during the week the formation of a committee to ensure the accomplishment of the goal of celebrating the pioneers who entered the first indigenous university in Nigeria on October 7, 1960 and graduated in 1963.
Majority of the pioneers went on to perform excellently at various interviews, including placement in the then Western Nigeria Civil Service, thus cementing the reputation of the University as a centre of excellence.
The celebration of the pioneers would form an integral part of the 2013 Founder’s Day of the University from October 1-7, 2013.
UNN opened its doors to 220 students in 1960, while 150 of them graduated in 1963.
Inaugurating the Committee on 50th anniversary of 1st graduates of the University of Nigeria, the Vice-Chancellor Okolo said that it was a thing of honour for the University to have produced its first graduates three years after it was established in 1960. He said the university would therefore be pleased to honour its pioneer graduates who started its journey to restoring the dignity of man.
Prof Okolo assured the committee of the support of the university administration to ensure the success of the event and make it memorable.
Responding, Chairman of the Committee, Dr Okey Ewurum said that it was important to recognise the pioneer graduates of the institution because they believed in the future of the university when other people were not confident of its survival.
Dr Ewurum, who was the President, National Alumni Association of the University of Nigeria, from 2001-2005, added that the uniqueness of the pioneer set was evident in their active involvement in the affairs of the university as four of them had served as national Alumni Presidents out of the total of 10 presidents so far recorded by the alumni Association.
He therefore pledged the willingness of his committee to work towards the success of the event and thanked the University administration for finding him and members of his committee worthy for the job.
Members of the committee are Prof. Obioma Njoku, who will serve as the secretary, Chief Dr Grace Ukeje, Chief Bar. Andrew Oru, Emeka Anuforo, Prof. Anene Moneke, Prof. Peter Onwualu and Prof. Nkeadi Onyegegbu.
Others are Dr Edith Nwosu, Miss Chioma Onyenwe, Dr Chukwudi Anyanwu, and Mazi Nnamdi Okwuadigbo.
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