The American University of Nigeria (AUN) has graduated 289 students at its fifth convocation ceremony held on Saturday in Yola.

Speaking at the convocation, the President of the university, Professor Margee Ensign, said that the university since its inception nine years ago had centered on community-based services and development.

According to her, the university is committed to helping the community and society achieve equitable and sustainable prosperity.

"The central mission of the university is to respect, integrate and promote colourful traditional, religious and cultural heritage of its students and community in this process of change.

"The goal is to spur local economic development by providing hands-on training for local people and at the same time, protecting and enhancing the natural environment," she said.

The president said that the university's sustainability initiative was one of its many developmental projects.

She pointed out that one of such projects was the training of groups of women from the host community on recycle plastic and other waste-into-useful items.

On the insecurity in the country, Ms. Ensign said that the university had attained a meaningful development where it had become a major sponsor of peace initiative groups, including the popular Adamawa Peace Council. She explained that the group was assisted with a view to fostering peace and harmony in the state and in the region.

"The university and the peace councils have initiated several projects, including information technology training for local youths.

"The goal is to assist young people to acquire the knowledge and skills, needed to work or start their own small businesses," Ms. Ensign said.

Two prominent scholars: Charlayne Hunter-Gault, an American and the late Abubakar Imam of Nigeria were conferred with honorary degrees of Doctor of Letters.

Among dignitaries at the occasion were the former Vice President and founder of the university, Atiku Abubakar, foreign diplomats, traditional rulers and academics from various institutions within and outside Nigeria.