Sir Emeka Offor, a businessman and philanthropist, presented an endowment fund of N100 million to the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).
Offor, executive chairman of the Chrome Group of Companies, made the donation shortly after receiving the Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) degree at UNN’s 52nd Convocation.
Offor, represented by Steve Ahaneku, stated that the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Charles Igwe, would be invited later to discuss the mode of disbursement of the funds and the areas of development for which the funds would be used at the university.
He stated that his foundation, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, was in the forefront of educational and health and youth empowerment, adding that UNN had been a great beneficiary of his Foundation with Books for Africa to the tune of multi-million worth of books in various disciplines.
According to him, the Foundation and Books for Africa have donated books worth $30 million to institutions in 18 African countries in the different disciplines, which included law, computer science, business administration, political science, among others.
Offor also said that not long ago during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Foundation donated 100 fully-fitted hospital beds to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla near Enugu to reinforce the desire for Nigerians to have sound health.
According to him, in 2010, the Foundation endowed a professorial chair worth N20 million in the UNN, adding that it had been quite a time a comprehensive report had been sent across on the endowed chair.
“I appreciate this great institution for this rare and high honour to me and my group,” he said.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Charles Igwe, said that the university carefully chose world class personalities that met the stringent criteria stipulated for the award of the honorary degrees of the UNN.
Igwe, before Offor’s citaton was read, said as a student and great ambassador of the institution, Offor had distinguished himself in the oil and gas sector as well as other endeavours he had engaged in.
“Sir Emeka Offor has exceptionally done well in all God has blessed him to engage in; a shining example of simplicity, humility and someone who is fully out to uplift humanity in its entirety, ” he said.
Reacting, Austine Ndigwe said that Offor deserved the award for his numerous works of charity and philanthropy, adding: “Offor gives to everyone and group without limit.”
Ndigwe called on Nigerians to emulate the spirit of selfless giving of Offor, adding: “Due to his spirit of giving and wiping tears of many, God keep on blessing Sir Emeka Offor.”
Ikenna Ofodeme, Majority Leader of Anambra State House of Assembly, said that Offor had been a great blessing to humanity and had been instrumental to development in communities and institutions in the country.
Ofodeme, who is a member representing Ekwusigo State Constituency, said: “The people of Anambra are proud to associate with our illustrious son and foremost philanthropist.”
Offor and three others received honourary doctorate degrees from UNN.