By Onoja Baba, Nigeria
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has urged Nigerians to stop identifying him as a Hausa man, clarifying that although he is widely perceived as such, he is not of Hausa origin.
Kukah made the remark on Saturday while speaking at the 16th convocation ceremony of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Igbariam, Anambra State, where he was formally installed as Chancellor of the institution.
Addressing the gathering, Kukah described himself as a typical Nigerian from Anchuna in Ikulu Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, stressing that his identity has often been misrepresented.
He urged Nigerians to move beyond such assumptions and embrace a broader sense of national identity.
He also charged graduating students to uphold good character and remain worthy ambassadors of their families, the university, Anambra State, and the nation at large.
As Chancellor, he expressed commitment to not only achieving the goals of the institution but surpassing them.
Kukah commended the Anambra State Government for its investment in education, noting that the state continues to perform strongly in the sector compared to others across the country.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, who officiated at the ceremony, formally decorated Kukah as Chancellor and expressed confidence in his ability to provide strong moral and intellectual leadership for the university.
Soludo described the convocation as a celebration of excellence and the transformative power of education, emphasizing the role of universities in shaping character, advancing knowledge, and preparing young people for meaningful contributions to society.
The governor also announced a cash award for the overall best graduating student, Somtochukwu Augustus Ume of the Economics Department, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.85, alongside scholarships for first-class graduates to pursue postgraduate studies in public universities of their choice.
He urged the institution to remain focused on producing innovative and solution-driven graduates capable of addressing societal challenges, while encouraging the graduating students to emerge as agents of change equipped with courage, cr
eativity, and purpose.
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