The first lady of Kwara State, Mrs Olufolake Abdulrazaq on Thursday, 9th of January, 2020 was decorated as a doctor of science honoris causa by the European American University, Abuja.
The award of the honorary degree is in recognition of Mrs Abdulrazaq’s contributions to good governance and social empowerment.
The Honorary doctorate degree was conferred on her by the University at the congregation of award of degrees held on the 5th of October 2019.
While accepting the honor, Mrs Abdulrazaq pointed out that the award of the honorary degree is more than an individual recognition, saying it is a formal acknowledgement and endorsement of her contributions to excellent governance and commitment to social empowerment.
She assured that the platform the avenue presents will be used to impact on the education and empowerment sectors in Kwara state.
Mrs Abdulrazaq also hoped that this development will enhance partnership and collaborations between educational institutions in Kwara state and their contemporaries in other parts of the world to ensure better standard of learning.
The First Lady who was conferred with Doctor of Science Honoris causa in excellent governance and social empowerment said she would not relent in fostering her empowerment initiatives through ensuring that vocational skills acquisition is encouraged in empowerment programmes of her office and the Ajike people’s support center.
She reiterated her office and Ajike people’s support center’s commitment to continue advocacies on social vices such as drug abuse, gender-based violence, child abuse and sensitization on maternal newborn and child health concerns.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university and the all African Coordinator of the European American University, Dr. Mrs J.C. Egbuta said the contributions of Mrs. Abdulrazaq to the society informed the University’s resolve to award her the Honorary doctorate degree.
She announced the conferment of the doctorate award on behalf of the President, Professor John Kersey.
While performing the conferment rites, Professor Sunday Ichado commended the impressive citation of Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq saying that she has greatly impacted lives and has contributed immensely to national growth.
In his own remarks, the Secretary to Kwara State Government Professor Mamman Jubril congratulated Her Excellency Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq and enjoined her to continue with the good works that earned her this commendation.Owing to her experience in international trade and investment and her enviable diplomatic career coupled with the honorary doctorate degree, professor Mamman Jubril asked that Dr. Mrs. Abdulrazaq get a lecturing beat in one of the tertiary institutions in Kwara state on diplomacy and enterprise.
The Secretary to the Kwara State Government affirmed that he was doing same at the Kwara State College of Education, where he teaches Geography and Information Science.
On his own part, the member representing Share Oke-Ode constituency in the Kwara state House of Assembly, Hon. Razaq Owolabi commended the First Lady’s impactful projects especially in the health sector and the task force and assured her of unalloyed support.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Hajia Saadat Modibo Kawu congratulated Mrs. Abdulrazaq. She said she was in no doubt of the capacity of the First Lady as she had accompanied her on very hectic schedules in the run up to the last election which brought the governor to power and was happy to be a part of the event. She further stated that her Ministry is open to partnership with other tertiary institutions around the world.
In his remarks, Mr. Farouq Abdulrazaq thanked the university for the award of the degree stressing that Mrs. Abdulrazaq has always been an advocate of good education and the whole family was proud of her.
In attendance at the event were the mother of the Executive Governor of Kwara State Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Alhaja Raliat Abdulrazaq, the mother of the First Lady of Kwara State, Mrs Mary Davies, the former First Lady of Kwara State, Hajia Aishat Mohammed Lawal, Secretary to the Kwara State Government professor Mamman Jubril, Hon Razaq Owolabi, Kwara State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engineer Rotimi Iliasu.Others were the commissioner of Tertiary Education Hajia Saada Modibo Kawu, Commissioner for Social Development, Mrs Bosede Aremu; Commissioner for Education, Hajia Ahmed Fatimah Bisola; S A on Women Empowerment, Hajia Iya lamule; the former Nigerian ambassador to Sierra Leone and former Chief of Protocol at the presidency and MFA, Amb Dupe Quist.
Members of the academic community, professor Cole Olusegun, Mr Augustus Agboeze, representative of KAWE Group, Mrs Adejumo, representative of Kwara Educated Women in Politics, representative of Ajike Support Group, First Lady Folake Forum(FFF) Group.
Representatives of the Initiative against addiction and substance abuse in Nigeria of which the First Lady is Matron of since October 2019 and which was founded by the Etsu Nupe His Highness Abubakar Yahaya among others.
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