Mary Nkenna Azubuike flanked by her parents as she read the valedictory speech on behalf of the 2025 set
By Tony Adibe
Unassuming Miss Azubuike Nkenna Mary of the Department of Psychology, Godfrey Okoye University, has won the best graduating student of the University for the 13th Convocation ceremony held at the permanent site, Ugwuomu Nike, in Enugu East Local Government Area, Enugu State. To emerge the overall graduating student, Ms Azubuike scored 5.96 CGPA.
The Vice Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke, announced to the huge crowd: “For the first time in the history of our university, a person who has been the Vice-Chancellor-for-One-Day has emerged the overall best graduating student of this remarkable set. She is Ms Azubuike Nkenna Mary (CGPA 5.96) of our Pyschology Department.”
Prof. Anieke also announced that out of the 660 graduating students, 22 graduated with First Class Honours. Since inception in 2013, the university has produced 4,431 graduates who are scattered all over Nigeria and beyond, according to the Vice Chancellor, who emphasised that they are driven by hard work and spirituality as a missionary institution.
Anieke further announced: “From our first convocation in 2013 till date, we have produced 4,431 graduates who are in almost all countries of this world, studying or working and spreading the sweet aroma of GO university values, especially the three-pronged core values of dialogue, hard work and spirituality.”
Anieke, who expressed joy that the university is expanding both structurally and academically, said that the school that kicked off with 215 students now boasts over 5,000 students, with most of the courses fully accredited.
“Godfrey Okoye University is going higher in the number of students coming from all over Nigeria and foreign countries. From a humble beginning with just two hundred and fifteen students, we have risen to over five thousand students spread in eighty-seven fully accredited programmes of our university, as well as five certificate programmes. Our university has remained one of the fastest-growing private universities in Nigeria,” he said.
Counting other achievements, the university has made over the years, Anieke said that, “within the one year, the Directorate of Entrepreneurship has successfully trained and empowered 200 student micro startups with over 11million naira micro credit to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.”
Encouraging the graduates to be good ambassadors of the university, the Vice Chancellor reminded them that, “higher education isn’t just about landing a job or launching a startup; it’s about building a foundation for lifelong learning, critical thinking, and personal growth. You have been given tools for continuous growth. Never stop growing. I urge you to keep learning and improving yourself every day so that you can play your role well on the world’s stage of human actions.”
Also speaking, the proprietor of the university and Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Dr. Callistus Onaga, expressed joy at the fast growth of the University, stressing that GOUNI now has 89 programmes: 43 undergraduate programmes and 46 postgraduate programmes, including Ph.D programmes.
Onaga commended the Vice Chancellor, Anieke, for his doggedness in ensuring the growth and sustenance of the university.
“This University has been growing and expanding in both infrastructure and structure. The several accreditations of many new courses and disciplines smack of great ingenuity, creativity, and unimpaired commitment. The Vice Chancellor has always intimated to me with joy, the news of new accreditations and expansions,” Onaga said.
In the valedictory speech which was delivered on behalf of other graduating students, the overall Best Graduating Student, Mary Nkenna Azubuike told her colleagues that one of the lessons she learned from the university is that “You cannot hope for a breakthrough while wallowing in self-pity or laziness or nonchalance or whatever it is that makes you think it is ever okay to settle.”
Another lesson she said she learned was that an individual ought to “know yourself and know your goals.” She said although “it sounds like a cliché, there are actually so many people who find it hard to separate their voice from that of their parents, their siblings, their friends, even their haters.”
Azubuike urged her colleagues never to settle for less; indeed, they aspire to climb higher in life. “You have earned your degree. For some, it is exactly what they want it to be; for others, maybe not, but regardless, whatever you choose to do from here is your decision. Make it count, for nobody else but yourself,” she said.
“it is with great joy and honour that I stand before you today to deliver the valedictory speech on behalf of the 2025 set,” according to the Best Graduating Student 2025, who added: “I need to make it clear that I stand here, not to celebrate myself, but to celebrate every single one of us wearing the cap and gown just as I am. It is proof that we have won, in character and learning.”
She urged them not to limit themselves to what they have achieved as they could still make more breakthroughs if they wanted.
According to Azubuike, “even when you think you are at the top, you can always climb higher. When I was much younger, the saying was ‘the sky is your limit’. Somewhere along the line, however, the saying rightfully changed to ‘the sky is your starting point’. Do not limit yourself to what you have achieved, but what you still can because that is the only way you can ensure your growth and the development of society.”
She expressed gratitude to the management, staff, and students of the university for creating a conducive environment for learning at GOUNI.
The convocation ceremony, however, featured two prominent Nigerians who were awarded honorary Doctorate Degrees, Honoris Causa. They included Captain Evarest Nnaji, alias ‘Odengene’, and Mr. Nnamdi Silas Ozor, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Tribu Hotel, who received a Doctor of Management, respectively.
