The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, will deliver the 14th convocation lecture of the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.
The Speaker made his decision known during a courtesy visit by the management of the university at his office on Thursday. The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Noah Yusuf, led the delegation.
This is even as the university has resolved to confer the Speaker with an honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration in recognition of his leadership and achievements as a lawmaker par excellence.
Speaker Abbas said as a teacher who started his career from primary school and rose to become the pioneer head of Accounting Departments at the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria and the Kaduna State University (KASU), he was elated by the recognition.
“It’s my pleasure to receive you this afternoon. I am a proud teacher. I started my teaching career from primary school, where I spent six years, then moved to Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic and spent eight years. I became the pioneer head of the Department of Accounting there.
“I moved to the Kaduna State University, where I also spent about eight years. I also became the pioneer head of the Accounting department there. So, cumulatively, I spent about 22 years as a teacher. I don’t think there’s any profession that I’ll spend such a number of years in.
“I feel so proud to be in the midst of academics. I hope that when I retire from politics, I will be back in the classroom.”
“I want to reaffirm my decision to attend your 14th convocation lecture. As for the topic, you should choose whichever topic that you think is contemporary and relevant to your institution. I will be happy to do justice it.”
While congratulating Al-Hikmah for the successful hosting of its annual conference recently, the Speaker appreciated the institution for its decision to confer him with an honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration.
“I appreciate the honour of awarding me an honorary doctorate degree. This is the major recognition since I became Speaker.”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Yusuf, said they were at the Speaker’s Office to extend their invitation to him to deliver the institution’s 14th convocation lecture on January 6, 2025.
He said the management of the institution had resolved to confer an honorary doctorate degree on the Speaker in recognition of his selfless service to humanity as a lawmaker, who has made positive impacts in the legislature.
He said in the past, notable Nigerians such as former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, had delivered the university’s convocation lecture in the past.
