Honourary degrees for musician, educator

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and Legendary musician Emile Straker, stood proud last yesterday morning as they were awarded honourary degrees of Doctor of Laws.
The two were among four eminent persons receiving the accolades at the University of the West Indies (UWI) graduation at the Garfield Sobers Gymanisum.
Straker, leader and co-founder of The Merrymen, was heralded as one who brought the very best of Caribbean folk arts and culture to a global audience.
It was stated, that his profound love of Barbados, its people, its culture and its heritage shines through everything he writes, and could be found in songs such as Beautiful Barbados, Rachel Pringle, Gary Sobers and Sam Lord.
The philanthropic entrepreneur has also received many awards, some of which include the Barbados Service Star in (1981), the Invaluable Service to Tourism and Entertainment award (1998), the Pride of Barbados Award (1988) presented by then Prime Minister Owen Arthur and the COSCAP Award of Excellence in 2010.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang was heralded as a scholar, educator and administrator of world-class distinction, a woman of multiple talents and accomplishments.
Her rise through the ranks of the University of Cape Coast, her alma mater, was rapid and unstoppable: from Head of English, to Dean of the Faculty of Arts, to Founding Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. (CT)