The reputable New York State University, the largest system of higher education in the United States of America with an exclusively rigorous system of nominating and conferring recognition on outstanding individual accomplishments, is set to honour Daasebre Prof.(Emeritus) Oti Boateng, the Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, as a 21st Century Role Model in the month of May,2016 in New York State.

This was contained in a press release issued by Mr. Nyaaba-Aweeba Azongo, a development expert, who co-authored the Root-Based Economic Development(r-BED) model with Daasebre Prof.(Emeritus) Oti Boateng.

According to the release, the letter conveying the invitation of Daasebre to receive the honorary doctorate degree of law and signed by the University’s interim President Carol. S Long states that,“the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York wishes to confer upon you the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. The Board nominated you for this distinction to recognize your outstanding achievements as a visionary leader, educator, scholar, public servant, and role model for the 21st century. You exemplify the excellence that we encourage in our campus community”.
The statement further added that, “Although State University of New York (SUNY) is the largest system of higher education in the United States, it confers very few honorary degrees. The candidates for honorary degrees nominated by the sixty- four individual campuses are carefully evaluated by a standing committee of distinguished faculty at the system level, and are then approved by a vote of the state-wide Board of Trustees. Despite the rigor of the process, I am not surprised that the Trustees endorsed your nomination in light of your significant accomplishments”.

According to Mr..Nyaaba-Aweeba Azongo, the New York State University has the reputation of conferring very few honorary degrees as a means of encouraging excellence and outstanding leadership to inspire the cause of the University, and emerging as a candidate for the conferment of such an honour carves a historic foothold not only for Daasebre but also Ghana as a whole in global leadership and scholarship. He also underscored the fact that the platform is an auspicious moment to further share the evolving r-BED model of community development with the rest of the world to boost its global appeal for universal adoption.

The ceremony which comes off on Saturday May 14, 2016 in Geneseo, would be addressed by Robert Duffy, former lieutenant governor and mayor of Rochester, at an exclusive ceremony to honour the legendary exploits of Daasebre in global scholarship, public service and leadership.