The University of East London (UEL) in the United Kingdom has conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, in recognition of his contributions to law, business, education and public service.
Mbah received the honorary degree during the university’s graduation ceremony at its Docklands Campus in London.
Presenting the citation, the Vice-Provost (Business) and Executive Dean of the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, Prof. Fatima Ana-Diab, recalled Mbah’s time as a law student at the university and his leadership roles.
Ana-Diab said Mbah, who graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from UEL in 2000, had demonstrated leadership from his days as a student, serving as President of the Students’ Law Society and representing students on the Students’ Representative Council and School of Law Board.
She also noted that he won the university’s Mooting Competition and represented UEL at the International Negotiation Competition.
According to her, Mbah went on to attend the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to the Nigerian Bar, before pursuing further studies, including a Master’s degree in Maritime and Commercial Law from Lagos State University, an MBA from IESE Business School in Spain and postgraduate studies in Strategy and Innovation at the University of Oxford.
Ana-Diab also highlighted Mbah’s career in business and public administration, including his role as founder of Pinnacle Oil and Gas and his previous service as Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development in Enugu State.
She said Mbah’s journey from a UEL law student to a lawyer, entrepreneur and governor demonstrated the opportunities education could create and the responsibility that came with using those opportunities to serve others.
In his acceptance speech, Mbah said innovation, education and public service had remained central to his leadership philosophy.
“One quality has always mattered to me: the willingness to disrupt. I have never been particularly interested in accepting the limits of my inherited circumstances,” he said.
The governor said ambition must be accompanied by purpose and a commitment to service.
“But imagination is not enough. There must be purpose. For me, that purpose is service,” Mbah said.
He also linked his administration’s investments in education to his belief in expanding opportunities for future generations.
Mbah said his administration currently allocates 33 per cent of the state’s budget to education, adding that the government was investing in schools, technology hubs and opportunities for young people.
“That is why, today, we invest 33 per cent of our state budget in education. We are building schools, tech hubs and opportunities for young people to participate in an economy that is increasingly driven by knowledge, innovation and technology,” he said.
The governor thanked UEL for the honour and for its contribution to his development, saying the institution had played a significant role in shaping his career and life.
