DISTINGUISHED AWARDS:
USAfrica’s Founder Chido Nwangwu, Gen. Teidi get honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree
The leading U.S-sponsored international christian education college/seminary in Africa, WATS during its 20th Anniversary events May 20-23, 2009, in Lagos, awarded two of its first honorary Doctor of Humanities degrees to the Founder of the USAfrica multimedia networks and data mining corporation Chido Nwangwu, and retired Gen. Samuel L. Teidi, member of the Board of Directors of one of Africa’s largest corporations, Dangote Flour Mills. Since 1992, WATS has been officially affiliated with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Nigeria’s first indigenous university).
The keynote speaker at the anniversary is Prof. Pat Utomi, a former candidate for Nigeria’s presidency in 2007 and one of the African continent’s leading public policy analysts.
Speaking on behalf of he board of trustees of WATS, its founder and acting provost Dr. Gary Maxey, an American missionary, said “it’s such a high honor for an institution with moral and ethical foundations to honor the two who count among Africa’s most dedicated professionals, former former Commandant of Nigeria’s School of Ammunition retired Gen. Teidi and USAfrica’s Founder Chido Nwangwu who is recognized and respected as the most influential and authoritative African-born multimedia executive in the United States.”
It was Gen. Teidi’s second honorary degree; having received a Doctor of Science degree from St. Clement University in Australia.
Dr. Maxey adds that “Chido Nwangwu earns this 2009 Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree in respect and recognition of his almost 25 years of authoring, broadcasting and articulating hundreds of original, authoritative public policy advocacies and for his strong and consistent position of fighting authoritarianisms and bigotry in order to foster a better environment for people of all races and backgrounds towards the pursuit of life, liberty, happiness and dedication to God’s grace. He actively supports christian education. He served as an advisory board member on international business to the former Mayor of Houston (America’s 4th largest city) and he is the first continental African admitted as member of the 100 Black Men of America.”
The Twentieth Anniversary celebrations will include a number of activities, including a three-day conference tagged “The Power of the African-American Pulpit,” and features the teaching and preaching of Dr. Ralph Douglas West (Church Without Walls, in Houston, Texas), Dr. Maurice Watson (Beulahland Bible Church, in Macon, Georgia), and Dr. Sola Aworinde (Agape Bible Church in Lagos). The other recipients of honorary Doctor of Divinity degree are Rev. Leroy Adams, Rev. Donald R. Plemons, Rev. Bernard Dawson, Rev. B.C.K. Obiako and Alan Bullock.
Dr. Maxey makes the point: “we are honoring, in part, Chido’s 25 years of effectively utilizing the multimedia of print, tv, radio, internet (especially the USAfrica multimedia networks, the CNN, BBC, VOA, South African Broadcasting corporation, Nigeria media outlets and numerous international platforms) to empower and foster a focused transnational exchange between Africans and Americans. We recall that America’s flagship newspaper The New York Times recently cited Chido Nwangwu and his USAfrica networks as the largest and arguably the most influential African-owned U.S-based media corporation.”
Chido who is based in Houston-Texas is the Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S based newspaper to be published on the Internet USAfricaonline.com, CLASSmagazine, The Black Business Journal, USAfricaTV, AchebeBooks.com, the e-groups of AfricanChristians, IgboEvents, Nigeria360, NigeriaBanks.com, and other platforms.
Dr. Maxey also notes that retired General Teidi “is being honoured by the Seminary for his contributions to humanity and as a long-time supporter of WATS. For decades Gen. Teidi has made continuous provision for orphans, widows and others in destitute circumstances, including sponsorship of education up to the university level. He is instrumental to the admission of over 850 Nigerians on a subsidized scheme basis.”Teidi, chairman of Overseas Agency Nigeria Limited, was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1969 following his graduation from the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in September 1969. He has since furthered his military and academic training and obtained a diploma from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK; B.Sc. (Applied Physics) from the Council of National Academic Award (CCNA); M.Phil (Atmosphere Physics).
APPRECIATION: A young father writes his One year old son: “If only my heart had a voice….”
