Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, will confer honorary degrees on two distinguished individuals: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and Sheikh Sharif Al-Hussain, a renowned Islamic scholar.
The decision was made during the university’s 544th (Special) Senate meeting held on January 7, 2025, and later approved by the Governing Council at its 207th meeting on January 8, 2025. The honorary degrees will be presented during ABU’s 44th Convocation Ceremony, scheduled for January 25, 2025.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, an internationally acclaimed economist and finance expert, will receive a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa).
The university’s Public Affairs Directorate highlighted Okonjo-Iweala’s extensive career, which spans over four decades and includes her groundbreaking role as the first woman and first African to lead the WTO.
“Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, GCON, is a global finance expert, economist, and international development professional with over 40 years of experience working across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America. She is currently the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a position she assumed in March 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to lead the organisation,” the statement noted.
Okonjo-Iweala, born on June 13, 1954, hails from the Obahai Royal Family of Ogwashi-Ukwu in Delta State. She completed her undergraduate studies in Economics at Harvard University in 1976 and earned a PhD in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1981.
Sheikh Sharif Al-Hussain, an esteemed Islamic scholar, will be awarded a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) Honoris Causa.
The university’s statement praised Sheikh Al-Hussain’s scholarly contributions, which include over 500 books and numerous papers on Islamic philosophy, jurisprudence, and Qur’anic studies.
“Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Sale Al-Hussain, born on 12 May 1938 in Aredibe near Dikwa, Borno State, rose from humble beginnings to become a world-class scholar. His work spans diverse fields of Islamic scholarship, including Qur’anic Studies, religious sciences, logic, philosophy, and rhetoric. He has written more than 500 books and pamphlets as well as hundreds of commissioned conference papers,” the statement read.
Known for his modern yet traditional approach to Islamic scholarship, Sheikh Al-Hussain has engaged with scholars worldwide and earned recognition at prestigious institutions.
Both honorees have graciously accepted the awards, which celebrate their exceptional contributions to their respective fields and the global community.
This recognition by ABU underscores the university’s commitment to celebrating excellence and inspiring future generations.
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