Architect, industrialist and technology entrepreneur, Dr. Kaycee Orji, has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in recognition of his contributions to industrial development, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, innovation and nation-building.
The honorary degree was conferred during the University’s 54th Convocation Ceremony by the Chancellor, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, CFR, the Ooni of Ife, alongside the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Adegboyega Adebayo Karim, and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya.
Receiving the award, Dr. Orji described the honour as “not merely a recognition of past accomplishments, but a call to greater service.”
“Every honour carries with it a greater responsibility. This recognition strengthens my resolve to continue investing in ideas, people and institutions that can shape a better future for our nation and our continent,” he said.
Dr. Orji used the occasion to announce plans for the establishment of the Dr. Kaycee Orji Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Smart/Green Mobility and Digital Innovation, a multidisciplinary facility envisioned to position UNN as a leading hub for emerging technologies, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration in Africa.
According to him, the proposed centre will go beyond conventional academic research by fostering practical innovation, commercialisation of ideas and enterprise development through collaboration among academia, industry, government and entrepreneurs.
“The greatest legacy we can leave the next generation is not simply another building, but an institution that inspires ideas, nurtures innovation and transforms research into practical solutions that improve lives,” he said.
The proposed facility is expected to house specialised laboratories focusing on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Smart and Green Mobility Technologies, Robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Finance and Financial Technology, as well as Cloud Computing and Advanced Data Infrastructure. It is designed to enable students and researchers to work on real-world industry challenges while collaborating with technology companies, manufacturers, investors and policymakers.
As part of the initiative, Dr. Orji also announced plans for the Kaycee Orji Founders Innovation Challenge, an annual programme aimed at identifying outstanding student and researcher innovations, providing mentorship, facilitating industry partnerships and supporting the commercialisation of promising ideas.
He said the proposed centre aligns with Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and would help strengthen research capacity, digital skills development and innovation-driven economic growth while reinforcing collaboration between academia and the private sector.
Dr. Orji further disclosed that preliminary conceptual work on the project had commenced, with architectural and engineering designs already being prepared by K.KH Contractors Ltd., a member of the ROXETTES GROUP.
He added that a comprehensive proposal would be submitted to the University in the coming months to facilitate implementation discussions and statutory approvals, stressing that the project would be developed in partnership with UNN to align with its academic vision and long-term development objectives.
Widely recognised for his investments in electric vehicle manufacturing, industrial production, construction, digital financial services and sustainable mobility through the ROXETTES GROUP, Dr. Orji said African universities must evolve into centres of industrialisation, entrepreneurship and technological innovation capable of transforming research into practical solutions for national development.