Nyok|3 August 2018
The duo of Dr Uti Egbai, the Director of Centre for General Studies (CGS), University of Calabar (UNICAL) and Apostle (Dr) Timmy Larry, the General Overseer of Glorious Assembly Ministries (GAM) with headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State have been presented with 'Award of Honour' for their selfless contributions to the development of education in Nigeria NegroidHaven can say.
The presentation of the award of honour was done on Monday in Calabar by the leadership of the Post Graduate Students Government (PGSG) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) ably represented by Comr Abanda J. Uket, the President of the PGSG UNICAL; Comr Nkpouto Otong the Vice President of PGSG UNICAL; Comr Victor Onor, the Director of Welfare; Comr Chianebeng Japhet Kuma, the Public Relations Officer, and Financial Secretary Cletus Ogar.
While presenting the award to Dr Larry, Comr Uket eulogised the man of God for instilling sound values in his members with a sizeable number of them being post graduate students in UNICAL. On his part, Larry revealed that he was surprised seeing that he is a servant not deserving of the recognition. Dr Egbai, advised PG students in UNICAL to embrace God early in life. He said God was the ultimate. He commended Uket's sterling leadership qualities.
While addressing Dr Larry, Comr Uket said that, 'While my tenure as president was winding up, we decided to do honour to some notable personalities in society who have made mark in their professions, impacting society, and your name came up. It was more striking when we observed some resourceful comrades from your church being members of our Union.'
Dr Larry's words, 'I am a servant and shouldn't be receiving honour, but you know, God is faithful. I am not worthy of this award, because in reality, there's a great force behind me. I won't hesitate to thank you for the recognition. I pray that this honour you have done me is a seed that will manifest in your life.'—
Egbai told a cross section of PGSG leadership that, 'you are gathering experience now, in the future it will speak for you. Unfortunately for us, we do not have a post graduate class that is different from the working class, everybody doing post graduate studies are either staff, or working students.
Students Unionism is supposed to enhance scholarship. Unionism was supposed to improve scholarship, but, education has been trivialised.
'In this life we happen to find ourselves, if God is not charting the front of your comfort, you are wasting your time. I have seen very many post graduate students, who are extremely intelligent, but, who are today, wretched and poor.
'Remember your creator in the days of your youth, the only time you should be meddling with God is in your post graduate studies, because, now you are young.
'By becoming a leader of PGSG suggests that God is saying to the world that this one is capable of being a leader. But, we seem not to understand that message because God does not speak to us in the usual way. Where ever you see yourself in a position of authority just know that God is speaking to you.'
He advised them to prioritise their Masters studies, emphasising that Doctor of Philosophy programmes requires grounding in Masters.
'Masters studies is more important than even PhD because this is when you do real reading. If you are not grounded in MA, your PhD will be shaky', Egbai concluded.
The wife of Dr Larry, Mrs Joy, witnessed the ceremony of presentation as performed by Comr Uket.
Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NegroidHaven
