Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, has conferred its Global Excellence in Human Development Award on the Chairman of the Nkanu West Traditional Rulers Council of Enugu State, His Royal Majesty, Eze Barrister Igwesi Obi Igwesi, in recognition of his decades-long contributions to education and human development.
The prestigious award was presented during the 3rd Linguistics International Interdisciplinary Hybrid Conference (EBSULINGS 2025), organised by the university’s Department of Language and Linguistics.
The conference, which drew scholars and professionals from within and outside Nigeria, was held under the theme “Language, Technoscience, Security, and Socio-economic Development: Towards a Holistic Digital Society” and was chaired by the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam.
Presenting the award, the Head of the Department of Language and Linguistics, Dr. Goodluck Chigbo Nwode, said the monarch emerged after a rigorous assessment of his over 30 years of sustained impact in human development through education.
According to him, Eze Igwesi’s network of educational institutions has consistently produced academically sound and socially responsible citizens.
“I hereby formally present this award of Global Excellence in Human Development Philanthropy to His Royal Highness, Eze Barr. Igwesi O. Igwesi. This award is in recognition of your impactful collaboration in human development between your organisation, the Human Development Centre – parent foundation of your academic institutions – for more than three decades,” Nwode said.
Responding, Eze Igwesi, who is also a legal practitioner, described the honour as both humbling and motivating, pledging to intensify his commitment to service.
“I am glad to receive this award. It serves as a driving force to put forth even greater efforts in doing more,” he said.
The traditional ruler, who also bears the titles Eze Obuoffia Awkunanaw and Igwe Omuoha, explained that his investment in education was inspired by a passion for service rather than profit. He noted that his institutions have consistently offered scholarships to indigent students, many of whom have gone on to pursue university education.
He recalled that what began as a single commercial school in the mid-to-late 1980s has grown into a group of institutions, including Queens Comprehensive Schools, Kings Comprehensive Schools, John Igwesi Memorial Grammar School, and Pacesetter College.
The conference also featured keynote presentations by leading academics, with participants expressing optimism that the deliberations would translate into actionable policies, collaborative research initiatives, and practical interventions aimed at fostering an equitable and digitally connected society.
