Nigeria Content Online

The Premier
Regional Catholic University, the Catholic Institute of West Africa
(CIWA), says all is now set for its first convocation in 28 years.

The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Catholic university,the first in the
West African sub region, is to award diplomas, first degrees and post
graduate degrees in theology and religious studies during the
convocation.

A spokesman for the
university, John Gangwari, told NAN on Sunday in Port Harcourt that
events would commence on November 23 with a convocation mass to be
conducted by the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Augustine Kasujja.

He said His
Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, would deliver homily at the service
with more than 10 cardinals and bishops drawn from the Vatican and
other parts of Africa.

Mr. Gangwari said
that the convocation lecture on “Theology and the Future of the Church
in Africa and her People” would also be delivered.

He said the lecture
would be delivered by His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Turkson, the
President of Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Vatican City
through Monsignor Mathew Hassan-Kuka of the Kaduna Archdiocese.

President Goodluck
Jonathan, who is also expected to grace the occasion, would be
represented by the Rivers State governor,Chibuike Amaechi.

He added that
diplomas, first degrees and high degrees would be conferred on past
students of the institute and that 25 Nigerians would be awarded papal
honours during the event.

They are the PDP
National Chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Governors of Kaduna,
Ebonyi,Anambra and Enugu States, Patrick Yakowa, Martin Elechi, Peter
Obi and Sullivan Chime and the Deputy Governor of Plateau, Mrs Pauline
Tallen.

Others are former
Governors of Rivers and mo States, Peter Odili and Achike Udenwa, ABC
Orjiako, wife of Lagos state governor, the vice-chancellor of the
Federal University of Technology, Owerri and Celestine Onwuliri.

Mr. Gangwari said CIWA had provided quality education in the last 28
years, but finances had been a great challenge, while “Government has
never extended grant to CIWA,” he said.