COOU Receives Alumni Awarded National Honours for Outstanding NYSC Service

On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, fnipr, and the University Management welcomed two distinguished alumni of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) who were recently honoured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for exceptional service during their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year.

The honourees, Akwuobi Ebuka Stephen (TR/228/0657) and Iweanyi Chelsea Amaka (KD/23A/2192), were decorated in Abuja after being recognized for their outstanding community development projects. The recognition underscores the enduring values instilled in COOU graduates, which extend beyond academics into service and leadership.

Akwuobi, a 2021 graduate of Physiology, distinguished himself during his service year in Marraraba, Dongo, Taraba State, where he built a block of three classrooms and an office for an orphanage. He also organized skill acquisition workshops on liquid soap and disinfectant production for over 200 students. His projects significantly improved the community, earning him national commendation.

Iweanyi, a 2022 graduate of Political Science, served in Lere, Kaduna State, where she restored an abandoned healthcare centre in Yarakasuwa community. Mobilizing resources and support, she transformed the centre into a functional facility that now provides healthcare services to residents. Her commitment and leadership earned her recognition at the highest national level.

In her remarks, Prof. Omenugha congratulated the duo for their exemplary service and for projecting the image of the University positively. She described their achievements as a practical demonstration of her administration’s 3Vs ideology — Values, Viability, and Visibility.

According to her, “the values we inculcate in our students go beyond academics; they reflect integrity, leadership, and service. Today, you have proven the viability of your training by impacting communities, and you have brought visibility to this University on the national stage.

The Vice Chancellor encouraged other students and alumni to emulate their example, stressing that COOU remains committed to nurturing excellence that contributes meaningfully to society at both national and global levels.