joshuaGovernor Otu’s aide, Akiba, bags Honorary Doctorate Degree
The Special Adviser on General Duties to Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the Apostolic Church Bible College and Seminary (ACBCS) in affiliation with University of Calabar (UNICAL).
The Honorary Doctorate Degree was conferred on Barrister Akiba at the ACBCS’s 21st, 22nd and 23rd convocation ceremony, in recognition of his remarkable efforts towards human capital development, service to humanity and contributions to the advancement of Cross River State and Nigeria in general.
Akiba, a young cerebral lawyer and astute politician, has expressed great delight over the conferment of honorary doctorate degree of ACBCS on him.
The Special Adviser on General Duties thanked Governor Otu and the first lady, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu, for giving him the opportunity to serve which, according to him, has paved the way for him to get recognition and promotion.
“Thank you, Your Excellency sir, for all your love and support. Without you we wouldn’t have had the opportunity for service, recognition and promotion. We are most grateful sir. I also thank the first lady, Her Excellency, wife of the governor, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu, for the platform offered me to serve the people. I remain eternally grateful to her and our amiable governor. I thank all those who created time out of their tight schedule to be at the occasion to celebrate me,” Akiba said.
He added that “The Honorary Doctorate Degree Award is an encouragement for me to continue to serve the people of Cross River State with great zeal and determination. Leadership and promotion come with greater responsibilities. I will continue to do more to serve the people.”
He thanked the institution (ACBCS) for considering him worthy to be conferred with the Honorary Doctorate Degree, while stating that he would continue to contribute his quota to educational advancement, enhancment of knowledge acquisition and the progress of Christendom.
Governor Otu was represented at the occasion by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar. The lawmaker representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Bassey Akiba was among dignitaries present at the event.
Others that attended the occasion to celebrate with Barrister Akiba were members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council (SEC) led by the Chief of Staff, top government functionaries, Local Government Chairmen led by the Chairman of Odukpani Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Etim Asido, Councillors, APC chieftains, youths and students from across Cross River, and family members led by his wife, Mrs. Esther Akiba.
The award of Honorary Doctorate Degree on Barrister Akiba has been widely hailed and described as a well-deserved honour.
The outspoken legal pundit is believed to have played active and prominent role in the pursuit of the actualization of the People-First agenda of the Governor Otu-led administration in Cross River State.
