Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, was on Monday conferred with Afe Babalola University’s Doctor of Letters honourary consal.
He was not alone. Obi of Onitsha Igwe Alfred Achebe, frontline politician and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and a notable oil and gas investor, Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe were also decorated with similar honourary awards.
The Sultan was accompanied to the honour event by Governor of Sokoto State and Mutawallen Sokoto, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Waziri of Sokoto, Professor Sambo Junaidu, Galadima of Sokoto, Alhaji Attahiru Aliyu, and former Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.
The Amirul Mu’mineen of Nigeria, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, was also accompanied by the Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, the Attah of Aiyede Kingdom, Ekiti State, Oba Alhaji Abdulmumini Adebayo Orishagbemi, President-General, League of Imams and Alfas, South West, Edo and Delta, Sheikh Jamiu Kwewulere Bello, Chairman, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Ekiti State, Alhaji Yakubu Sanni, among others.
The dignitaries were honoured during the 10th Founder’s Day Awards and Seventh Convocation Ceremonies of the institution in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.
Just like Sultan of Sokoto was decorated as Doctor of Letters, Obi of Onitsha got similar honour, while Tinubu, who was accompanied by Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Adegboyega Egbeyemi, was decorated with honourary Doctor of Public Administration.
Sultan Abubakar, a retired General of the Nigerian Army, is a serial honourary awardee, who has received honourary degrees in over 10 universities including Crescent University Abeokuta, Nigeria. He is also the current Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.
Tinubu was honoured by the institution due to his political acumen and for being a believer in true federalism.
The honourary awardees were subsequently inducted into the alumni association by the founder of the institution, Chief Afe Babalola.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Registrar and Chief Executive of Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede and many eminent scholars of universities from far and wide.
