The Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, will on September 6, 2022 confer on Prof. Godwin Gabriel Darah a Doctor of Letters (D.Litt, Honoris Causa) during its 4th Convocation Ceremony and 6th Olorogun (Dr.) Michael C.O. Ibru Memorial Lecture.
In a letter by the university signed by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mrs. Ibiyinka Fuwape, FNIP, it said that the award would be made in recognition of Darah’s “exceptional, notable, excellent and inspiring contributions to the advancement of knowledge and growth in human capital development at national and international levels.” Also, the university has named Darah as the Keynote Speaker at the 4th Convocation Ceremony and 6th Memorial Lecture.
The letter inviting Darah as the keynote speaker partly reads: “Michael and Cecilia Ibru University is a world-class university that is committed to the training of graduates who are capable of competing with their counterparts globally. We pride ourselves in providing excellent education to our students, knowing that they would be builders of society, wherever they are. “We shall be very grateful if you could take part in the ceremony and share with us from your wealth of experience. Your knowledge will be an excellent addition to the university community. We are proud to invite you to celebrate with our graduands.”
The convocation is billed to hold at 9.00 a.m. at the Power of Faith Building Hall of the university.
Darah is a well-known professor of oral literature and folklore, popular literature and mass media, African literature, and African-American literature.
He has lectured at the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Delta State University, Abraka, and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua.
He has published extensively in academic journals, authored several books, and edited 10 on literature, culture and related fields.
He has a wide-ranging experience in university administration, government and public affairs, and the mass media.
As a public intellectual, Darah was the Editorial Board Chairman of Daily Times (1992-1995) and The Guardian (1995-2001).
He was the president of Nigerian Folklore Society, Nigerian Oral Literature Association, and a member of the International Society for the Oral Literatures of Africa, the Nigerian Academy of Letters, the Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, and consultant to UNESCO on Intangible Cultural Heritage.