By Ify David
ENUGU – THE general overseer of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has revealed that he
attended UNN as a student bare-footed, meaning that he did not
even have a pair
of shoes.
The world renowned cleric disclosed
this on the 24th of January, 2017 at a special convocation ceremony
organized for him by his first Alma Mater, the University of Nigeria.
The honorary Doctor of Divinity DD holder
also disclosed that it was the jollof rice and chicken, being enjoyed by the
students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, as well as the beautiful
scenery and architectural edifices in unn way back in 1962, made him chose UNN
as a university where he would do his first degree.
He explained that he developed
interest in the University when he went with his fellow students on an
excursion to UNN in 1962 and saw students eating jollof rice with half a
chicken.
The cleric said that when he saw the
way the students were enjoying then, he took a small pebble from UNN and said
to himself that if God permitted, he would come to UNN to study and lucky
enough, the following year, 1963, he gained admission into the prestigious
University to study Mathematics.
Adeboye regretted that he could not graduate from the
university with a degree, even when he was on course for a first-class, because
of the outbreak of Nigeria-Biafra civil war which started in 1966.
He, however, expressed joy that
sixty years after, he has now been awarded a doctorate degree from the same
University and professors call him, ‘daddy.’
“I left UNN in 1966 without a degree. Sixty
years later, I have gotten a degree from UNN, now not as a first degree but a
doctorate degree.
“That is why I feel elated. I am
overwhelmed,” he said.
Speaking at the occasion,
Pro-chancellor of the University, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, said that Adeboye
deserved the honorary degree because he was a man of achievement.
“It is necessary to point out,
distinguished ladies and gentlemen, that the University of Nigeria places high
premium on positive, and the road to the attainment of its honorary degree is
quite tight indeed.
“As a result, anyone that
successfully moves through the tight rope deserves our honour and veneration.
I, therefore congratulate Pastor E. A Adeboye for his selection for the award
of the honorary degree of the University.
Welcome on board as a significant
member of the den of lions and lionesses,” Ukala represented by the Vice-Chancellor,
Prof. Benjamin Ozumba said.