Plateau State University, Bokkos will confer honorary degree on former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) during the maiden convocation of the university.
Gov. Simon Lalong, the Visitor to the University, made the announcement on Thursday when he inspected some ongoing projects in the institution.
He said, “It will be a privilege for the university to award a degree to Gowon who laid the foundation of the university.
“When we invited Gowon when I was Speaker to lay the foundation of the university, people wrote to tell him not to lay the foundation that we cannot operate a university.
“When he (Gowon) came, he invited me and asked me, Mr Speaker, tell me why you people want to establish a university.
“I explained to him and he said he would lay the foundation.
“He laid the foundation against all odds and today the university is honouring him with a degree.”
The governor said that when the university management approached Gowon to receive the award, he gladly accepted because of his love for the university.
He said that Gowon often describes the university as his `brainchild’ because of the role he played in its establishment.
Lalong said that several dignitaries had indicated interest to attend the convocation slated for Feb. 4.
“When we attended the meeting of Northern Governors Forum in Kaduna, many governors told me that they will love to attend first convocation of the university,” he said.
