The atmosphere at the Peter Mbah Law Auditorium was electric yesterday as the management and staff of Godfrey Okoye University gathered to celebrate a historic double triumph.
During the university’s midday prayer, a special award ceremony was held to honour Egbogu Favour Ogechukwu and Ajoiyi Kosisochukwu for their extraordinary victory in the maiden National Universities Debating Championship. The event also served as a proud home-coming for Miss Regina Ugonwa Obynna, a distinguished alumna who recently achieved a First Class at the Nigerian Law School, further cementing the university’s reputation for producing top-tier legal minds.
Representing the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Royal Rhetorics, Mr. Stanley Nwaemerie provided a staggering perspective on the scale of the victory. The championship, a joint initiative by the NUC, NYSC, and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, saw seventy-four universities and 219 debate teams compete from across Nigeria with GOUNI emerging champions and finals best speaker. Mr. Nwaemerie lauded Favour and Kosisochukwu for their courage and eloquence, noting that their journey to the top involved defeating established champions like the University of Ilorin and Obafemi Awolowo University.
To kick off the rewards, he presented the duo with a cash prize of ₦250,000 on behalf of the organizers, describing the university as a visionary hub for nurturing future leaders.
The Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke expressed immense pride in the students for bringing national honour to the institution. In a powerful move to recognize excellence, he presented an additional ₦500,000 to the debate champions, ₦200,000 to the Law School First Class graduate, and ₦100,000 to the Director of Competitions, Mrs. Uchanta Chukwu.
Prof. Anieke emphasized that the success of Miss Regina Obynna, who earned a 2:1 at GOUNI before bagging her First Class at Law School, is a testament to the high academic bar set at the university. He noted with pride that every Law School set from Godfrey Okoye University consistently produces First Class graduates, a trend the university is determined to maintain through strict discipline and academic rigour.
The ceremony concluded with heartfelt gratitude from the award recipients, who credited God,the Vice-Chancellor, and the unwavering mentorship of the Directorate of Competitions for their success.
With additional monetary gifts from Umuchinemere MFB and friends of the university, a celebratory cake-cutting, and goodwill messages from the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Frank Asogwa and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Sergius Udeh, the event was a vivid reminder of the culture of excellence at Godfrey Okoye University.
For every student and guest present, the message was clear: at this institution, excellence is not just encouraged. It is celebrated, rewarded, and woven into the very fabric of campus life.
Congratulations to Godfrey Okoye University!
Our appreciation goes to:
The Convener Abuta Janefrancis
Royal Rhetorics
National Universities Commission (NUC)
National Youth Service Corps
Committee of Vice-Chancellors Office
