On May 15, 2024, the American University of Nigeria (AUN) celebrated the graduation of another set of students at the Commencement ceremony held in honor of the institution's latest graduates. The event took place at the renowned Aliyu Musdafa Hall and was witnessed by thousands of well-wishers and graduates, along with dignitaries from far and near.
The event began with a procession of the graduating students, the faculty, the stage party, and the flag bearers of all the countries represented at the University. It was nothing short of spectacular.
One hundred and eighty-nine undergraduate students received their first degrees in various fields of study, while in the Graduate School, ten graduate students bagged their Master's degrees, and nine were conferred with their Doctorate degrees, respectively.
In his welcome address at the event, Dr. DeWayne Frazier, President of AUN, congratulated the graduates and described the event as a mark of a new chapter in their lives, an end of a phase that ushers them into another one. He said it is a culmination of hard work, dedication, and unwavering perseverance toward their deserved goals.
"You have shown to us what it means to dream big, and to pursue your passion, and to overcome challenges," stated Dr. DeWayne Frazier. "Graduation is not just a personal achievement, but a collective effort made out of love, gratitude, and the encouragement of those that shaped us and nurtured us," he stressed.
Dr. Frazier also thanked the student's parents and guardians for their encouragement and for entrusting their children and wards to AUN to nurture them into transformed adults. He charged the graduates with being impactful to their immediate environment and wherever they found themselves.
In his speech, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN and the 15th Commencement Speaker of the American University of Nigeria, urged the new graduates to create a lasting legacy as they step into the real world and put their names in the book of world history. He challenged the graduates to strive for greatness, referencing many historical figures who impacted the world through their activities and leaving indelible legacies. The legal luminary cited how Nelson Mandela of South Africa built a legacy for his generation and generation yet unborn by dethroning the apartheid regime and policy and how Albert Einstein's principle of relativity made an indelible impact on the world, amongst many other examples.
Prof. Ozekhome praised the Founder of AUN, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, GCON, for establishing AUN in Nigeria, especially in the Northeast. He compared it to Harvard and many other top-ranked universities in the world. He also listed the AUN's intervention projects, which have impacted many lives in the country.
During the Commencement ceremony, AUN honored two exceptional faculty members: Dr. Sirajo Yahaya and Dr. Chukwuemeka Patrick Abeh, both from the School of Arts and Sciences.
The event was graced by the presence of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, GCON, the esteemed Founder of AUN and former Vice-President of Nigeria, as well as the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. James Christoff, the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Christophe Bazivamo, and the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. G. Balasubramanian. Some state governors, top military and paramilitary personnel, industry leaders, and traditional leaders are also in attendance.
Reported by John Abah