If a punter had put his money on the odds-off Robert Levy, after seeing him stumble through his childhood school years, he would have struck a gold mine when it seemed the youngster didn't have a prayer.

When an honorary doctorate was conferred on the now chairman of the Jamaica Broilers Group on Sunday, it was an unlikely summit for a man whose life teetered on the edge of uncertainty five decades ago when he dropped out of school.

Levy received the Doctor of Laws honoris causa from the Mandeville-based Northern Caribbean University (NCU) at the school's graduation.

NCU President Dr Herbert Thompson hailed Levy's sterling service in nation building as testament to his dedication to people and country.

"Your commitment to this country makes us all proud to be Jamaicans," said Thompson.

In accepting the honour, Levy attributed his entrepreneurial success to his conversion to Christianity.

"All this is because of what the Lord has done in my life," said Levy, who earlier this year transferred operational leadership of the Jamaica Broilers Group to eldest son, Christopher.

"My former school principals must be turning in their grave," quipped Levy, who serves on various company boards nationally. "It must have been a relief for the headmaster of deCarteret College when I left."

Turnaround

Later attending Jamaica College in St Andrew, Levy didn't fare much better, dropping out at fourth form never finishing high school.

Now almost 70, Levy has conso-lidated the legacy of a multibillion-dollar food-concentrated company which also has a blossoming ethanol plant.

Instead of focusing on his personal achievements, Levy explained to the graduates the impact God had in injecting meaning and motivation into his life.

"At 30, I had everything that a young man could want. I was married to a beautiful woman and already owned a car, but I was angry

"One day in my office I got on my knees and asked God to take this human body of mine. I could feel the power of God coming into the room. It was Jesus that transformed me," said Levy, whose company has sponsored the annual Fun in the Son gospel festival, as well as other philanthropic ventures.

He added: "It is God's work in my life that transformed me from never reading a book through at age 30 to reading this book about 14 times and to being a graduate of the Harvard Business School," said Levy, holding up a Bible.

Levy, who last year received an honorary master's degree from the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, was in 2002 awarded the Commander of the Order of Distinction, Jamaica's fifth highest national honour.