It was another groundbreaking event on Saturday as Nigeria’s first daughter, the Iyaloja of Lagos, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, was conferred with Doctorate of Humanitarian Philanthropist honour at the special convocation and awards ceremony, co-hosted by the Highstone Global University, USA, and Green Earth Academy in Abuja.
While eulogizing the Iyaloja of Lagos and other awardees given their contributions to society at various levels of academics, humanitarian and other areas of human endeavor, the Chief host and the Highstone Global University Country representative in Nigeria, who double as the CEO of GreanEarth Consulting Company, Engr, Dr. Mrs. Harriet Chimezie highlighted the significance of the university to modern-day educational standards vis-a-vis its mode of operations.
She noted that the institution runs a global education brand that was visioned to help prospective students and individuals unlock the potential of bringing changes to society through the transformation of inclusive education.
“Highstone Global University believes in and endorses developing a groundbreaking shift in the educational system across the globe by allowing learning opportunities accessible to all without having to face geographical constraints. We believe in empowering millions of learners through our online education and helping them realize their dreams and become a valuable assets to the evolving society.
“At Highstone Global University, we believe that education is the key to success is located in the beautiful state of Texas at the heart of Houston. Our institution offers a diverse and inclusive learning environment that helps students thrive both academically and personally,”
“With the commitment to providing inclusive education accessible and affordable to all, we connect top Universities from across the globe through software/digital platform”. She reveals.
The African Vice Chancellor of the University, and the keynote speaker at the event, Prof Valentine Iheukwumere, in his lecture, titled: “The Place of Peace Building as a Panacea for Nations Development”, reflects on the fundamental principles required to deliver a peaceful society for nation building and national development. He harps on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals to drive home his points.
The Don lectures:
“Considering the importance of the subject of discussion, this paper meant to x-ray the concept of panacea for nation’s development, and peacebuilding; the paper starts with conceptual ratification of the concept.
“A nation devoid of peace, is a country devoid of development, is like a nation that has lost its ways, that is not even knows that is broken.
“Peace has always been among the community’s highest values. Someone said that the most advantageous peace is better than the most just war.
“I prefer the most unjust peace to the justest war that was ever won, there was never a good war or a bad peace.
“Nations and leaders must realise that peace is a prerequisite for development as a whole. This is because it provides an enabling environment for society’s progress, human capital formation, infrastructural development, matters subject to the rule of law, and so on.
“In the absence of peace, education and health structures break down, system to provide infrastructure disintegrates.
“Critically, peace also fixes all resources, both financial and human that will otherwise control or create violence.
“The concept of panacea.
*Panacea is a remedy for all diseases or ills. Panacea can be called cure ills. We can say that panacea is an answer or solution for all problems, We can say panacea is attention to all difficulties, but our attention has to be called to the nation’s development with reference to all.
“It is therefore suffice to say, the place of peace building is the solution or remedy for this quality associated with a nation’s development.
“The concept of nation’s development. What is development? Development is a process that creates change, progress, positive change, or the addition of physical, economic, environmental, social, and demographic components.
“The purpose of development is a rise in the quality of life of the population and employment opportunities without damaging the resources of the environment. Development is peaceful and useful not necessarily immediate, and it includes an aspect of quality change and recreation of condition or as a continuation of the change.
” Through growth and development, nations would be able to improve the standard of living of the people through the verification of poverty, hunger, diseases, and illiteracy. The provision of adequate shelter.
“In a nation’s development, the government plays a vital role, especially a nation that practices real democracy.
“The empowerment of women and full participation according to the United Nations’ document, is on a basis of equality in all spheres of the society is fundamental for nations’s development, eradicate poverty and reduce inequality.
“Nation’s development brings about the development of policy, leadership skills, partnering abilities, and institutional capability to achieve sustainable development.
“Nationa’s development brings about peace and security.
” The sustainable development of the United Nations goals are no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequality, sustainable cities and communities, responsible construction. and production, climate actions, sustainable development goals, life below water, peace, justice, strong institutions, and partnerships for the goals.
” Concept for peace.
“Peace is freedom from disturbance. Peace is a state of security and order within a community provided by law. Peace is a concept of societal love and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence.
“National peace can be referred to as a state of people from all states in the country being happy and living harmoniously with each other. Peace is a basis for human rights, so it is a right for whoever and wherever the citizens are in the world.
“Peace-building becomes strategic when it works over the long run and at all levels of the society to establish and sustain relationships among people locally and globally.
“We know that peace and development go hand in hand, and as a result the need for peace-building because the more peaceful a society, the more prosperous a stable, God bless you.” He concluded.
However, the role call of the women of Dignitories conferred with the Doctorate award also included. Lauretta Onochie, former Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari and National Commissioner of Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) representing South-South (Doctorate in Humanitarian and Entrepreneurship Lady Gertrude Dognaan Logwan from USA, one of the founders and Director of Marketing, SUNGULF ENERGY LLC in Houston Texas USA(Doctorate in Public Relations), and Maryam Abdulganiyu Mapelujo,(Doctorate in Public Policy and Administration).
Others are Josephine C Peters (MRS), Doctorate in Education Management), Hon. Dr. Sabe Vilita Bashir, (Doctorate in Political Science), Hajiya Hasina Muhammad Badaru, the wife of the former Jigawa State Governor and the just appointed Minister of Defense (Doctorate in Business Administration), Dr. Fatima Umara Zulum, the wife of the Executive Governor of Borno State (Doctorate in Business Administration), and Fatima Bola Mohammed, former Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organization(BATCO) (Doctorate in Business Administration)
The rest are Maryam Shettima Ibrahim, (Doctorate in Business Administration), Ambassador Hon. Patricia Seubittero Yakubu, Former Commissioner of Agriculture in Adamawa State(Doctorate in Political Science), and Hajia Fatima Dikko Radda, (Political Science).
However, in her reaction to the honour done to her and other awardees, the Iyaloja of Lagos, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo extols the high academic standard of the Highstone University for others to follow.
“I feel excited, this university has been a trailblazer and setting the standard for other universities to follow.
“In place of IT, they have done fantastically well and other universities going to imitate what they have done and doing today.
Represented by Hon Nkem Sofola, the Iyaloja of Lagos reminds women of their nurturing roles in society. She encourages other women to up their games for self-development and empowerment.
“The Iyaloja General who I’m representing is excited about the honour given to her today and others and is excited to be part of this community.
“I am encouraging every woman out there to make sure they are empowered. Every woman out there should make sure they engage themselves in doing one or two things and make sure they empower themselves, which is key.
“Women are natural as we all know. We nurture and we are also the ones nurturing the economy. If women are empowered, the society will give more.” Folasade Ojo stressed.
As part of the highlight of the event was the conferment of various titles on the awardees, awards presentation, and presentation of special gifts to the Iyaloja of Lagos, among other entertainment of guest activities at the epoch event.
The convocation and awards event attracts special Nigerian dignitaries from the educational sector; among them are; the Vice Chancellor of the Highstone Global University Texas, Prof. Innime Righteous, Africa Vice Chancellor, Prof. Valentine Iheukwumere, NIPEM and Highstone Global University Texas President, Prof. Maurice Azubuike Odiete, and others.