It was the gathering of creme de la creme of dignitaries at the induction of top personalities into the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Hall of Fame as part of the activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the Edo State owned university situated in Ekpoma.
The entrance to the venue of the event attracted thousands of students as they danced with the institution’s cultural troupe.
Business tycoon and philanthropist, Chief Leemon Ikpea, who was represented at the occasion by frontline politician, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Edo State 2020 gubernatorial race, became the cynosure of all eyes.
His entrance into the venue of the event attracted thousands of students as they danced to music rendition by the AAU’s cultural troupe to welcome awardees, guests and well wishers into the arena.
Other notable personalities inducted among several others are politician and businessman, Barrister Kenneth Imasuagbon and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndidi Elumelu.
In his response to the honour accorded him, Ikpea said the award was a call to continue to do more of what he is doing for humanity. He affirmed that his vision of a viable country remain unchanged with institutions like AAU producing quality manpower.
On his part, Imansuagbon dedicated his award to the memory of the instruction’s late founder, Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Alli, who was then Governor of the defunct Bendel State.
Imansuangbon stressed: “Alli never built empires for himself but look what has become of his name today. What are we in this generation going to leave for our children?”
In a goodwill message, Olumelu who is an alma mata of the university said the industry of the management and staff of the school have made them excel in their various fields.
In his address, Ag Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Benson Osadolor, said the award and induction into the school’s hall of fame was to celebrate persons who in several ways impacted on the development of the university.
It will be recalled that earlier in the year oil magnate and Group Managing Director, Lee Engineering Construction Limited, Chief Leemon Ikpea, was honoured as Vanguard Newspaper’s Business Man of the Year 2020/2021 for his contribution in key sectors of the economy which includes oil and gas, aviation, real estate and employment generation.
The State Governor, Godwin Obaseki who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Jimoh Ijegbai, said the plan of his administration is to make the institution one of the top five universities in the world.
