Ex-Niger Delta militant emerges best graduating student at WDU

A student under the Presidential Amnesty Scholarship Programme, Ebiwari Shadrach, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, emerged as the best graduating student of the Western Delta University (WDU) in Oghara, Delta State, at the institution’s convocation ceremony.

Shadrach, an ex-Niger Delta militant, also bagged a first class degree in Computer Science.

Speaking at the event held at the WDU main auditorium, Shadrach thanked the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua and his successors, including President Bola Tinubu, for continuing the amnesty programme.

Thanking God for the amnesty scholarship, Shadrach said his sojourn in the university has opened many doors which could enable him to achieve his academic and career goals.

Shadrach, a member of the 2022/2023 graduating class, challenged his fellow graduates to “work on their weaknesses and proffer solutions to societal problems as they embark on a new journey.”

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No fewer than 18 graduating students from the 2020/2021, 2021/2022, and 2022/2023 sessions also bagged first class degrees out of the 426 graduating students.

In his address, the WDU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Augustine Ikelegbe, said the institution was proud to be a player in the private university system which he said has been leading the way in quality education.

Ikelegbe said the university has significantly expanded its academic colleges from three to six.

He, however, urged the graduands to remember the mission of the university “to produce men and women with capability and a deep sense of responsibility for contribution to development”, saying: “You have to prove your mettle in the real world where you have to demonstrate the virtues, knowledge, and competence acquired in Western Delta University.”

On his part, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who was represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, congratulated the management of the institution for their immense contribution to the educational sector of Nigeria.

He urged the graduands to be the catalyst that will boost the economy of the country, adding: “Let us focus on production for local consumption.”

He also called on the Delta State Government to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.

The Star