Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, held its 10th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday, December 13, 2025 celebrating a decade of excellence in the institution’s convocation history.
The ceremony, which took place at the Goodluck Jonathan Auditorium, attracted a galaxy of distinguished personalities who witnessed the graduation of a new cohort of scholars. A total of 410 graduands were awarded first degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees.
The 10th Convocation Ceremony also featured the conferment of honorary degrees on notable individuals in recognition of their contributions to leadership, public service, and community development in Nigeria and beyond.
The awardees include the Chairman of the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Eze Linus Ntoh Mbah, who was conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Former Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and renowned industrialist, Mr. Okenze Sylvester Obinna, were each awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration.
The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Eme Uche, in his goodwill message congratulated members of the university community and commended Gregory University for its consistent participation in state initiatives. He cited the university’s outstanding performance at the Abia State Tertiary Education Sports Fiesta, where it emerged as the best-performing private institution among sixteen participating tertiary institutions.
He further reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for tertiary institutions to thrive through transparent policies, infrastructural development, and constructive engagement.
In his fatherly charge to the graduates, the Founder and Proprietor, Prof. Gregory Ibe, urged them to confront the numerous challenges facing the nation with courage by applying the knowledge and skills acquired during their time at the university.
Represented by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Augustine Uwakwe, he reflected on the institution’s journey from inception through incubation to implementation, emphasizing his commitment to investing in an educational system that produces world-class leaders, thinkers, and change-makers.
Admitting the graduands to their respective degrees, the Chancellor, Gregory Okechukwu Ibe, also represented by Prof. Augustine Uwakwe, described the 10th Convocation as a celebration of a bold dream realized. He noted that since its establishment in 2012, Gregory University has expanded its academic programmes, upgraded its laboratories, strengthened partnerships with industry and global institutions, and it’s on a mission to lead the way in research in Nigeria and beyond through the establishment of a leading research and innovation hub in Abuja, the Innov8 Hub.
In her address, the Vice-Chancellor of Gregory University, Prof. Cele Njoku, congratulated the graduands and highlighted their remarkable achievements, including strong performances in professional examinations across disciplines such as Allied Health Sciences, Medicine, Law, Engineering, Basic Medical Sciences, and Education.
She also underscored key innovations of the institution, including the Gregory University Institute of Foreign Languages, while emphasizing the university’s focus on state-of-the-art facilities, innovation, and the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, Mr. Chukwuemeka Offor commended Gregory University Uturu, for its significant strides in teaching, research, and community service. He assured the institution of the Commission’s continued support and encouraged the graduates to uphold the values and knowledge acquired as worthy ambassadors of the university and the nation.
Out of the over 400 graduands produced by the university, Onyechere Chijindum Yadirichukwu of the Department of Accounting emerged as the Overall Best Graduate with an outstanding Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.91. In his valedictory speech, he expressed gratitude to the lecturers and other members of staff for their commitment, dedication, and support. He also congratulated his fellow graduands, the Class of 2025, and emphasized the importance of education, adding that “the true purpose of education is to build the Nigeria we want.”
