It was pomp and pageantry at the final day of the first Convocation Ceremony of the University, which took place on Friday, July 28, 2006.
At the ceremony, dubbed, “The Release of Eagles”, about 720 first degrees and 21 Master’s degrees were awarded in the following disciplines: Accounting, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, Marketing, Economics, Banking & Finance, International Relations, and Policy & Strategic Studies. Others were English Language, Literature-In-English, Mass Communication, Public Relations & Advertising, Psychology, Sociology, Computer Science, and Management Information Systems. 26 students graduated in the first class honours division.
Four eminent Nigerians were also conferred with the Honorary Doctorate Degrees for their immense contributions to the development of their respective fields. The Honorary recipients were Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, Group Managing Director/CEO, NICON Group of Companies and CEO of Global Fleet Limited, recognized for adding value to the lives of many by being a major employer of labour; Engr Ike Chukwuneke, Principal Partner of Civil Sphere Consult, an engineering company recognized for the ingenious construction of Faith Tabernacle, a 50,000-seater Church auditorium, said to be the largest in the world; Dr (Mrs.) Catherine. G. Okpareke, President, Chartered Institute of Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chairman/ CEO of Crown Star Ltd and President/ Founder, Word Foundation Trust, a Non Governmental Organisation engaged in supporting and promoting charity and the gospel; and Rear Admiral P. O. Ebhaleme (Retired), Principal Partner, Midland Solicitors Legal Firm and a member of the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) which perfected the successful handover from military to democratically elected government in Nigeria in 1999.
It was also a day of out pouring of encomiums on the University, especially on its laudable vision and achievements within the short period of its existence. The Honourable Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, who represented the Federal Government, said Covenant University was founded on the very values that her Ministry sought to nurture and sustain.
The Minister also used the occasion to intimate stakeholders in the sector with some of the reforms her Ministry intends to pursue in order to transform the education sector into a veritable platform for the realization of Nigeria’s vision of being one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the 2020. She identified value re-orientation as a major thrust of reforms in the education sector. “That is why I must commend the efforts of Bishop David Oyedepo for the vision in setting up Covenant University. We are heartened by the achievements of the University and hope that all efforts would be made to sustain these achievements”, the Minister further said, and urged the University to partner with other institutions to explore synergistic opportunities especially in technology-driven initiatives.
On his on part, Dr Mensa Otabil, one of the most respected Christian leaders in African today and Chancellor of Central University, Ghana, in his keynote address at the occasion, said the story of Covenant University was an affirmation of God’s faithfulness and man’s potential as well as a celebration of the reawakening of Africa- a true African renaissance. In the address, titled, “Africa: Reforms in Higher Education and Visionary Leadership Imperatives”, Dr Otabil gave some recipes for African renaissance. According to him, some of them include submission to the Spirit of God, advancement in science, renewal of our old cultural assumptions, breaking of the myth of African inferiority, restoration of confidence in our Continent, and the evolving of a new breed of leaders. He thanked the Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo and wife, Faith, for showing the way for the new Africa and the way to make Africa work.
Earlier in his address, the Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo, had reiterated the vision and mandate of the University, which is anchored on “Raising A New Generation of Leaders,” saying that the University was poised to pursue its vision and mission for academic excellence and leadership development through institutional entrenchment of its core values. He also said that the University was also committed to developing its capacities to such a level that it would be rated among the world-class universities in no distant future.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Aize Obayan, also in her address informed the august gathering of some of the landmark achievements of the University, which were quite humbling for a young institution less than four years old. She said as the University was releasing the graduating students as eagles for flight, the University was confident that they would live up to their expectations as the vanguard of a new generation destined to change Africa and restore the dignity of the Black man.
The ceremony, which took place at the 50,000-seat Faith Tabernacle attracted dignitaries from all works of life, including the Governor of Oyo State, Chief Christopher Alao-Akala, the then Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof Peter Okebukola, Comptroller-General of Prisons, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, the High Commissioner of Gambia, Consular General of the Republic of Benin, the Olota of Ota, HRH Oba Moshood Oyede, numerous Christian Leaders, representatives of State Governments, Universities, Professional bodies, among others.