If you are one of the critics that are fond of mocking 2face and accusing him of not knowing how to communicate well in English except via Pidgin English…then this is for you!
On May 10, 2016, Nigerian singer, 2face Idibia
was awarded an honorary Master of Arts in Music degree at Igbinedion
University, courtesy of the Esama of Benin Kingdom and founder of the
university, Gabriel Igbinedion.
Here’s a transcript of his acceptance speech from the ceremony:
‘Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I’ll like to stand on
existing protocols because right now I’m overwhelmed, over-excited,
over-elated and over-grateful, In short I’m over ‘all of the above’
(laughs).
‘(sings) …right now I dey feel like Esama oooo. On a serious note,
I’m very very humbled and extremely grateful for this honour from this
great Institution. From the bottom of my heart, I say a huge, mighty
thank you to the Almighty God for making this day happen. When they told
me this, I thought I was being punk’d! Even when I came here, I still
thought I was being punk’d. Up till now, I’m still in shock. So I want
to say thank you to the honourable Chancellor Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, I
want to thank the deputy-chancellor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.
‘I want to say thank you to the Pro-Chancellor and Professor
Emeritus, Oluwole Akande. I want to say a big thank you to all the
governing council of Igbinedion University, the senate, academic and
non-academic staff.
‘I really appreciate this honour, mere words cannot explain what I’m
feeling right now, mere words cannot describe how I’m feeling right now.
‘This conferment of this honorary degree has renewed my zeal to work
harder and maintain standards by which this great institution has
recognised me, and it’s made me resolve to work harder to be a good
ambassador of Igbinedion University.
‘It’s also funny how this very day, Igbinedion University has
inaugurated the Centre for Corporate and Peace Studies and as you all
know, for the past 2 years, I’ve been involved in campaigning for ‘Vote
Not Fight: Election no be war’. Please permit me to express my eagerness
to work with Igbinedion University towards achieving the set goals of
peace and conflict resolution.
‘I also want to use this opportunity to say I’ll start a legacy
program at Igbinedion university and it’s solely going to be based on
music, upcoming artists.
‘I don’t really know how to give speeches, so once again I say a big
thank you to Igbinedion University, Okada. One Love, One Love, One Love!
‘I’ll use this opportunity to ask the youths of Edo state to shun
violence during elections. I’m using this opportunity to launch the
‘Vote Not Fight’ campaign in Edo State towards the next gubernatorial
elections. I want you guys to maintain your heads and don’t allow
anybody use you for violence during this elections.’