Commencement
Photo Gallery
View the graduation events at the 2009 Commencement photo gallery.
First Graduation Ceremony Makes History
Dr. Michael Smith, Former AUN President
The inaugural graduation ceremony of American
University of Nigeria held on Sunday, 31 May, 2009, was accorded
accolade. The history-making ceremony awarded bachelor degrees to
ninety students and honorary doctorates to three dignitaries,
including noted commencement speaker, Nobel Peace Prize recipient
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
The commencement ceremony paraded a colorful procession of members
of the AUN Board of Trustees members, Nigeria’s Minister of
Education Dr. Sam Egwu, representing Nigeria’s President, His
Excellency Umaru Yar Adua, faculty and students. The delegation was
led by the University Marshal, Professor Kass Adegboye, who carried
the mace.
University Marshal, Professor Kass Adegboye.
Dr. Michael Smith, former president of American University of Nigeria,
welcomed the arrayed guests and thousands of parents and supporters
who filled the graduation tent, taking the occasion to note the
significance of the ceremony and the extraordinary honor of
welcoming the distinguished dignitaries to the event. “By the power
endowed upon me by the Board of Trustees,” Dr. Smith conferred
honorary degrees on the Founder of the University and former Vice
President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Dr. Aliyu
Musdafa, Lamido Adamawa, and Archbishop Tutu.
Before the award of degrees to graduating students, Ms. Naima
Samuel, the class valedictoria, and Mr. Verse Cecil Shom, class
speaker, spoke to their peers and colleagues.
Ms. Samuels, who earned a total of 3.95 CGPA on a 4.0 scale,
congratulated her colleagues for successfully completing their
undergraduate studies at the university. Singling out H.E. Abubaker
for leaving “the greatest legacy to Nigerian society,” Ms. Samuels
thanked her teachers, parents, and friends for the four years she
had spent at AUN. “Being at AUN has been one of the most rewarding
experiences of my life,” she said. “Working hard, praying hard and
taking pleasure in learning has been the greatest lessons for me to
achieve success at this university.”
The class speaker, Mr. Shom, explained that attending the new
university is like being part of an unfolding story. “AUN is unlike
any other university,” he said. “At AUN, you learn by practice.”
Describing his American-style education as “on-the-job-training,”
Mr. Shom on behalf of the class of 2009 thanked all of the faculty
and staff. “We will cherish our memories of deans, faculty and staff
and will be eternally grateful to those who were here in the
beginning, and those who joined later,” he said. “To the faculty and
staff, thank you. We won’t forget your immeasurable sacrifice.” He
further expressed appreciation to parents of the graduating class
for support they contributed to the graduates before them, and he
encouraged his colleagues “to keep doing what we have already been
doing” in hopes of making a positive mark on a changing world.
Via the able representation of Dr. Egwu, the President of Nigeria,
His Excellency Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR, also conveyed his
congratulations. “Entirely without government funding, the
University has been launched, has developed, and now is awarding
excellent degrees in state-of-the-art facilities in areas of need
for Nigeria’s future,” he said. Dr. Egwu congratulated the
graduating students and all those who contributed so generously to
these landmark achievements.
The ceremony concluded with the awarding of degrees to each student
by their Dean and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. It was
followed by a private reception in the ABTI Community Hall.
