Nigerians’ request to have the honorary doctorate degree of Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently awarded to her by Yale University, USA revoked has met a brickwall.
A representative of the institution who spoke to Pulseng stated categorically that the university has never revoked an honorary degree and that such move will be unprecedented.
The petition for the degree to be revoked which started few days ago by a Nigerian resident in the US has gained more than 5,000 signatures. Another petition urging Yale to ignore calls for the withdrawal of the award garnered 1,690 signatures.
Karen Peart, Deputy Press Secretary for the Yale Office of Public Affairs & Communications said, “We are aware of both an online petition to revoke and a second petition in support of the honorary degree. The university has never revoked an honorary degree.”she added.
Peart added that Okonjo’s award “joins others that have recognized her efforts over more than three decades to secure debt relief, promote food security, and foster economic and social development.”
