Anambra ombudsman, Rivers State Education Commissioner, bag awards
Diligence was rewarded at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) recently when International University, New World Mission Dunamis, located in United Kingdom, United States of America, India and South Africa, conferred honourary degrees on distinguished Nigerians for raising the bar of excellence in their professional careers.
Among the recipients were the Commissioner for Education, River State, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, who bagged an honourary doctorate degree, the Honourable Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Anambra State, Hon Angela Metuh (Honourary Doctorate of Public Administration), the Chief Executive of Machine and Mercantile Warehouse International Limited, Dr Bello Akingbade, (Honourary Professor of Business Administration), while the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jigawa State, Hon Mohammed Idrith Danzomo, was bestowed with an honourary Doctor of Public Administration.  Also, for his tireless labour in the Lord’s vineyard, Rev Steve Adekunle Masebolatan Adekanbi was decorated with a Doctorate of Divinity.
While congratulating the awardees, the President of the university, Prof Louis Mathys De Bruin, said the academic honour was a public recognition of their hardwork in their professional careers.
“The degree you are receiving today is obviously an important and hard earned recognition of your achievements and a platform from which you can go on to fulfill the very best of your aspirations for the future,” he said.
Prof Louis said the recipients were selected on merit, having proven to the university that they were preeminent leaders in their chosen fields and persons of integrity.
“You have demonstrated superior expertise and commitment. We can indisputably state that you deserve of the highest acclaim that the NWMDIU can bestow. We are proud to acknowledge your new status and the title of Doctors and Professors,” he added.
The award ceremony was a glorious moment for Hon Metuh, the first female Nigerian ombudsman, as her achievements at the Public Complaints Commission, Anambra State were highlighted in her citation. She was lauded as a strong advocate of human rights, who fought administrative injustice in the system and secured redress for the aggrieved, especially the down-trodden.
Testimonies of her diligent labours could be seen in the Anambra State Public Complaints Commission, where under her stewardship, it received and resolved the highest number of cases. For instance, in 2012, the commission in Anambra received a total of 2017 cases, out of which, 1003 were successfully resolved. Also in 2013, the commission received 6,934 cases, with 5, 926 resolved, while others are in various levels of determination.
One of the guests at the event, Chief Emma Nweze, described Metuh as a destined leader, noting that the honourary award was a humble recognition of her meritorious work. He urged her not to relent in her good work, but to leverage on her new status to continue her good work.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Metuh said the nomination for the award came like a surprise package, as she promised to remain a good ambassador of the university. She confessed that most of the awardees never knew the criteria that were used to select them, as he commended the university management for its transparency in recognizing selfless service in the country.
“To me, this award means God’s recognition. I feel that has God has recognized me. I didn’t know how the award came. I got a letter nominating me. I have never heard about the university before,” she said.

International varsity honours diligent Nigerians