The All Africa Students’ Union (AASU) has conferred the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, with the 2016 Kwame Nkrumah Africa Leadership Award in Education, Medicine and Societal Development.
Presenting the award to him at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium on Monday, AASU Acting Speaker Armstrong Ovie-Afabor said Prof Ozumba was picked because of his “outstanding administrative track record” and “stellar antecedent” as a doctor.
Ovie-Afabor said: “Our choice of Prof Ozumba for this noble award is a testimony of his dedication to research in Gynecology and general medicine, and also his prowess in university administration and management.”
He noted the VC did not solicit for the award, but was recommended by people, who testified to his management style.
The Speaker of the pan-African students’ organisation explained that the aim of the award was to promote excellence in Africa and project the people in positions of authority as role models to young generations.
He added: “Today all of us have come from different parts of Africa to reward and commend the good works of Prof Benjamin Ozumba. He is the kind of leader many nations in Africa is yearning and asking for.”
Responding after receiving the award, Prof Ozumba dedicated the feat to staff and students of the university. He said he could not have received the honour without the co-operation of members of the university community.
The VC, who is also the recipient of Vice-Chancellor of the Year Award by Southeast Students’ Union, said the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award challenged him to double his effort in the service to humanity.
Ozumba called for the elimination of barriers in the inter-varsities relationships in Africa to enhance knowledge sharing. This, he said, would enable students from any part of Africa to have freedom to visit schools of choice in search of knowledge.
