GEORGETOWN, Guyana – President Bharrat Jagdeo was last Saturday conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia in Moscow.

Jagdeo, a former student at the university, was selected for the award by the institution’s academic board last month. He attended the People’s Friendship University 20 years ago.

In receiving the honour, the Guyanese head of state praised the institution for its multiculturalism.

The conferral ceremony was held at The Kremlin on the 50th Anniversary celebration of the founding of the university, which was established by the former USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) government on 5 Feb., 1960.

After obtaining a master’s in economics in 1990, Jagdeo returned to his homeland and worked in the Ministry of Finance before rising through the ranks of the government, eventually becoming president in August 1999 after his predecessor, Janet Jagan, stepped down due to health reasons.