Former acting vice chancellor of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, Prof Sunday Olowo Samuel, has been honoured with a Distinguished Academic Leadership and National Development Impact Award.
The event was held in Abuja as part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary by the Centre for Ethical Conduct Orientation and Empowerment (CECOE) with the theme, “From Potential to Prosperity: Powering National Development through Ethical Leadership and Institutional Excellence.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, chaired the occasion.
According to the director of programmes, CECOE, Elizabeth Adams, the honour reflected and resonated with Olowo’s outstanding academic service, his leadership integrity and his impact on national development.
“It is a testament to your outstanding service, ethical leadership and impact on national development,” she said.
During the presentation, Olowo thanked the organisers for finding him worthy of the distinguished award. “It is not just an ordinary award but a clarion call for me and every Nigerian to continue to push for Nigeria’s moral and developmental renaissance.
“Indeed, our nation’s strength or path to national transformation lies in leaders who choose values over vanity, service over self and courage over comfort.”
Speaking after the ceremony, Olowo, a Professor of Medical Microbiology in the Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, said his one-year tenure as acting VC stabilised and revived the university and positioned it for greatness before handing over to the newly appointed Professor (Mrs) Eunice Ebioserehimen Omonzejie.
He urged AAU management, staff, students, senate and council to support the new vice chancellor to succeed. He also urged the people of Edo State to support Governor Monday Okpebholo and President Bola Tinubu to make Edo State and Nigeria better.
Apart from the ceremonious awards to deserving Nigerians across governance, security, academia, the private sector, and lifetime service, CECOE also used the occasion to unveil its National Entrepreneurship Centre in Abuja and to launch the National Institutions Integrity and Performance Index.
