Group photograph of Alumna Attracta Ogboru with VC &Delsu
By Cynthia Eruotor
Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Prof Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga, has described the Delta-born female record holder in solo biking and alumna of the university, Miss Attracta Akpeweoghene Ogboru, as a worthy ambassador of the University,the female gender, Delta State in particular and Nigeria in general.
Prof Egwunyenga stated this recently during a reception organized by the university in Abraka Campus to honour Miss Ogboru, for being the first female African biker to cover over 8,000 kilometres on a solo power-bike trip across 12 West African countries. In a press statement signed and made available to newsmen by Patrick Ijeh,
Alumna Attracta Ogboru,VC(Delsu)Prof.Egwunyenga &her fellow riders from Lagos during her visit
Deputy Director, Ceremonials, Information, and Public Relations , Delta State University, Abraka said, Prof Egwunyenga expressed the delight of the university’s management, staff and students over the accomplishments of Miss Ogboru, describing it as a true reflection of the spirit of Delta State University embedded in dignity, resilience and desire to explore.
According to him, her daring to combine power-biking with her job as a Chief Superintendent in the Nigeria Custom Service, she has succeeded in breaking barriers and stereotypes that the tedious practice is the sole preserve of men that women cannot excel in. Professor Egwunyenga said the university decided to showcase her achievements to the students who are this constituency to challenge them to strive to break boundaries both as students and active players in the industry after graduation.
VC(Delsu),Prof.Egwunyenga,presenting remarkable alumna award to the Alumna Attracta Ogboru for being the first woman to accomplish a solo over 8000km power-bike trip across twelve West African countries
Addressing the large crowd of principal officers, staff and students during the reception in her honour, Miss Attracta Ogboru thanked God for the opportunity to visit the university 19 years after her graduation from the Department of Languages and Linguistics ,2005 where she studied the French Language. She said she took interest in biking as a way to overcome her transportation challenges to and from work in Lagos State because of traffic jams and expressed delight that her decision has given her opportunities to explore and excel.
Part of the statement reads:”Professor Egwunyenga said the university decided to showcase her achievements to the students who are … constituency and to challenge them to strive to break boundaries both as students and active players in the industry after graduation..”
Miss Ogboru used the opportunity to debunk the negative assumption that power-biking is for loafers saying that, her four fellow female power-bikers, who rode with her to Abraka from Lagos on motorcycles, were high-earning entrepreneurs. She pointed out that many other power-bikers who would have come with her could not because of their jobs and urged both male and female students to embrace power-biking as a hobby.
Alunma Attracta Ogboru, Chief Superintendent of Nigeria Custom & power -bike record holder addressing the Delsu’s VC & Principal Officers during her visit
The renowned power-biker equally urged the students to take whatever course they were studying seriously as limitless opportunities await them in the industry irrespective of the courses they studied.
She also particularly challenged female students to strive to excel in all spheres of life to debunk the saying that a woman’s place is in the kitchen. She recalled that her study of the French Language in Delta State University made it very easy for her to communicate freely in French-speaking countries and that, she remains grateful to the university for that. Miss Ogboru praised the University’s management for the developments in the university in all its ramifications. She expressed great delight in the vast improvements that have taken place in the university after her graduation and stated that she is proud to show-off her alma mata to her friends.
Alumna Attracta Ogboru presenting award for astute leadership to VC(Delsu), Prof.Egwunyenga during her visit
The ceremony witnessed the presentation of an award for astute leadership in the university to the Vice Chancellor and a cash prize for the best graduating female French Language student in the university in the next convocation ceremony by Miss Ogboru. In return, the Vice Chancellor presented her ( Miss Ogburu) an award for her remarkable achievements as an alumna of the university.