By Patrick Obia
Christ Christan Church International (CCCI) university and seminary recently in Calabar, convoked and awarded Doctorate Degrees to five distinguished Nigerians for their service to Christendom and humanity.
According to the National President, Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Dr. Solomon Vongfa who is also an alumnus of CCCI university and seminary said the awardees who are religious leaders, entrepreneurs and industrialists are been recognized due to their efforts and to spur them to do more in the society.
“I am an alumnus of the CCCI university and seminary, Karachi, Pakistan. I’m here to witness honorary award of some distinguished personalities here in Calabar and, the major reason for this awards is because of their efforts and contributions to the society and humanity especially to christendom. We have looked at their contributions and the seminary feel they should be awarded.
“Award does not mean you are given a position to enjoy, it is a responsibility and by the grace of God, this responsibility is upon their heads to contribute to the service of humanity and so, these are the major reasons why we are here in Calabar today to make sure these awardees receive their awards to the glory of God.”
The awarded quintets are: His Highness, Chief Efefiom Etim Archibong awarded with International University Award of Doctor of Arts in Traditional Religion and Administration; High Chief Solomon Daniel Vongfa, National President, Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists; Elder Essien Edet honoured with Doctor of Industrial Technology; Hon. Catherine Gabriel Dan, with honorary Doctorate Degree in Christian Education and Administration and Apostle Deborah Abia honoured with Doctorate Award on Public Administration.
Speaking on behalf of the awardee, His Highness, Chief Efefiom Etim Archibong, thanked the body for deeming them fit to be honoured and promised they will double their efforts in their service to humanity.
“Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the awardees. We are all members of NASSI. Because of the pioneering work we did to bring NASSI to Cross River State, to this level that is why I believe the present executive thought it wise to give us an award and I can assure you the five of us are very very happy to be awarded this recognition and, it is a message to us to move ahead and make sure NASSI is very strong in the State.
“I can assure you that, we will make sure that people who are part of us and other members are beneficiaries of many things in the State because, first of all, you know that NASSI is an industrialist community. We shall make people to be much interested in using their talent to produce a lot of things.
“On that ground, I will like to thank the national for recognizing us because this is not State award; it is a national award. So I want to thank NASSI for deeming it fit to bring this prominence to us and to Cross River State.
“For the awardees, I want us to double our efforts so that, Cross River State will be so recognized as it is in Abia State. Let all of us be useful to our community and be useful to our State. I encourage our awardees to look for something to do and strengthen the State economically and as we do so, God will be on our side.” He assured.