iTeddy inventor’s degree of success (From Asian Image)

iTeddy inventor’s degree of success

1:50pm Saturday 28th November 2009

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IMRAN Hakin, inventor of the iTeddy, enjoyed the pomp and ceremony yesterday of the University of Bolton’s winter graduation ceremony.

The young Bolton entrepreneur received an Honorary Doctorate for his outstanding contribution to business and innovation.

Accepting the award, he told students to “dream often and dream big”, like he had done.

The businessman is best known as a winner of TV show Dragons’s Den for his iTeddy, a multi-media teddy bear for children.

Mr Hakim, a graduate of UMIST, said: “It is a real privilege to be awarded an honorary doctorate, and it is twice as special because it has been given to me by the university of my home town.”

He added: “It is great to be recognised in this way and this will give me a platform to continue progressing what I have been doing in enterprise, such as mentoring and inspiring innovation, which is very important to the economy.”

Mr Hakim was one of three people to have received an honorary award at the ceremony, in which almost 500 students celebrated success by receiving their degrees at The Victoria Hall.

Unfortunately, due to hospital treatment for a heart condition, Sam Allardyce, former manager of Bolton Wanderers, was unable to attend the ceremony to receive his award for outstanding contribution to sport.

Instead he will receive the honour at a future graduation ceremony.

British astronomer Sir Arnold Wolfendale received an award for his outstanding contribution to science.

Farnworth-born Sir Arnold, who served as Astronomer Royal from 1991 to 1995, was elected a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1973 and a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1977. He retired from teaching in 1992 and was knighted in 1995.

Sir Arnold described the Bolton award as the “supreme accolade”.

He added: “It was exhilarating to have been put forward for the award. It is the supreme accolade — it is coming back to my roots.”

Professor Dr Berthold Bitzer also received an honorary doctorate for his outstanding contribution to the university.

Dr George Holmes, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bolton, said: “The ceremony is an opportunity for the community to celebrate success.”

He added: “This has been an exceptional year for the university. There is an increase in applications for next September.”=

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