A popular chieftain and a certified engineer in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Dennis Otuaro and Engr. Messiah Olaye, are among graduands that will be conferred with Academic Doctorate Degrees at the 48th Convocation and the 53rd Founder's Day ceremonies taking place at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, on Saturday, November 25, 2023.

The ceremony is billed to hold at the Akin Deko Auditorium in Ugbowo Campus in Benin City under the distinguished chairmanship of the Chancellor, His Royal Majesty, Ochivirigh, Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv, and hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of UNIBEN, Professor Lilian Salami.

In this year's Convocation and Founder's Day ceremonies, graduands will be awarded with First Degrees and Prizes on Friday, November 24 and with Higher Degrees and Diplomas on Saturday, November 25.

Earlier, this year's edition had begun with a Founder's Day Inter-faith service, and a convocation lecture that held on Thursday, November 23 in the venue of the ceremonies.

Chief Otuaro, who is the Ibe Uyadonwei of Gbaramatu Kingdom and married to Mrs. Ebimoboere Otuaro, will be conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) on Comparative Politics and Development Studies. An entrepreneur and a social crusader, he is the Principal Consultant of Owelle Global Resources, an organisation that focuses on the Logistics and Consultancy sector of the Nigerian business environment. He is also a philanthropist and an activist in the Niger Delta region, who over the years, has been utilizing his academic prowess for the emancipation of the oil-rich, but impoverished region, to one of prosperity.

Chief Otuaro began his foundational education in Gbaramatu Kingdom before he proceeded to the Ogbe-Ijoh Grammar School in Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Warri South-West L.G.A of Delta State. He got admitted into the Delta State University (DELSU) and pursued a Bachelor's Degree (BSc) programme in Political Science, graduating with Second Class Honors in 2005. After the completion of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kebbi State, he embarked on a further course of study at UNIBEN, bagging a Master’s Degree in International Relations in 2008.

Apparently a lover of academics, Chief Otuaro pursued another Master’s Degree in Public Administration at UNIBEN, finishing in 2009. Determined to go the whole hog, he applied for his Doctorate Degree programme at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and is currently being awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Comparative Politics and Developmental Studies.

Engr. (Dr.) Olaye Messiah, born into the family of Apostle Johnson and Mrs. Mary Olaye in Warri, Delta State, hails from the popular Okerenkoko community in Gbaramatu Kingdom. He attended Evwirhe Primary School, Aladja, and later proceeded to National Comprehensive College, Warri, for his secondary education, and later to the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State; as well as to the University of Benin where he got his First, Second, and currently his PhD degree in Engineering.

Engr. Olaye is the Managing Director of Doupade and Sons Nigeria Limited, having an operational office in Warri. He is the Leader of the Men of Honour, which is the men’s Fellowship of Christ Representative Mission. He has also engaged in philanthropy works within and outside the church. He is happily married and blessed with four (4) children.

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