DeAfrica held its 8th Annual Graduation ceremony in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria on June 4, 2022. It is to be noted that this was her maiden Graduation ceremony in Nigeria.
Many dignitaries graced the ceremony with their presence such as the Oyo State Government and Public Officials: Special Advisor to the Governor on Environment, Hon Engr Ademola Aderinto; Senior Advisor to the Governor on Students Affairs, Hon Victor Olojede; Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Fausat Ajoke Sanni, was represented by Mr. Lateef O. Ariori; The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Egbuegede, represented by Mrs. Atinuke Ojo; The Zonal Inspector (ZI) of NYSC Ibadan South Zone, Dr. Solomon Babaola and other esteemed guests.
We also had in attendance: the President of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Oyo State chapter, students from the University College Hospital (UCH) – University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan City Polytechnic, the international students in Ibadan (Pan African University Scholars) and other guests.
Graduates from various states across Nigeria: Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Oyo, Benue, Kwara, and Lagos; some were at the physical graduation while others connected virtually. We also had attendance from Cameroon and so on. Furthermore, a former student in London who has completed ten of our courses, a graduate in transit at an airport, an Ecowas Ambassador, and some authors who published in the African Business Case including myself (Sidiki Traore) attended the event virtually through ZOOM. I missed my flight on Thursday from Kenya.
During the ceremony, I received the Highest Honorary Award “For Your Support and Commitment in Educating Africans” from the hand of the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Environment, Hon Engr Ademola Aderinto on behalf of the Nigerian 2022 graduates (see picture of the Trophy).
The organizing team needs to be commended for the job well done particularly Eze Tochukwu Juliet (for taking initiative, the lead role in organizing the graduation ceremony and inviting the government officials among other things) and Emile Webnjoh (one of our authors who mobilized many students from Cameroonian community to attend the event. Mr. Emile traveled 20 hrs 30- bus ride from Kano to Ibadan to attend the ceremony.
The government officials showed their approval for the African Scholarship Cohort (ASC) as well as the Distance Education for Africa (DeAfrica). They also assured their support in any way possible. Students thanked the University of Virginia for their support and the impact they make through the ASC program. The Nigerian graduates would like to extend the ASC to all the states in Nigeria.
Below are moments captured from the DeAfrica 2022 Graduations in Nigeria.
