UNIZIK: Over 6000 Freshmen Matriculates As VC charges freshers on discipline, hard work

 Over 6000 new students were enrolled at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, Anambra state, during the Matriculation ceremony of the 2014/2015 Academic year of the University.

The matriculants all clad in different shades of their matriculation gowns with their faces beaming with unending smiles, marched gallantly as they led the procession into the venue of the event which was the convocation arena in front of Prof. Nwako Aghagbo digital Library.

They were followed by the academic staff of the institution, deans of faculties, directors of the various directorates and members of the school management. The melodious tunes by the music department led by the music maestro, Dr. Alvan Nwamara which serenaded the atmosphere gave the event a touch of class.

Prof. Ahaneku who was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Gladys Ahaneku restated that his administration has put in place adequate measures, structures, plans and policies in the university in order to provide a congenial learning environment for the students.

Addressing the freshmen, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku congratulated the students for their success during the admission stage, and urged them to tow the footsteps of great men and women who had passed through the University on their path to eminence.

Continuing, the Vice-Chancellor said; “I am glad to welcome you all. Today’s matriculation ceremony formally brings to a close the 2014/2015 admission cycle. You earned a place in today’s ceremony because of your impressive performances at Post University Matriculation Examination (PUME). You should all be proud of this achievement.”

“However, you should be humbled by the fact that less than 7000 of you have been given the opportunity out of the over 40,000 candidates that competed for a place in the University.”

Prof. Ahaneku advised the freshmen to resist any temptation of involving themselves in anti-social behaviours, stressing that the University had zero tolerance policy on cultism and examination malpractice.

Further, he urged those who were already members of cult groups before joining the University to denounce such memberships or risk being expelled by the University and terms of imprisonment by the state. Cultism he said is anathema in the University, “all proven cultists are expelled and other deviant behavior such as robbery and rape etc, and are not tolerated for these are both misconduct and crime”.

He also entreated the students to be law abiding and prioritize their academic work to enable them achieve their mission to the University. The Vice-Chancellor noted that his administration had made spirited efforts to improve the welfare of students and provide a congenial environment for their learning.

According to him, the administration which came on board seven months ago, is to transform the University that by the end of his five-year tenure,” it would have become one of the best five hundred (500) Universities in the world, one of the best one hundred (100) Universities in Africa and the best University in Nigeria. My vision, mission and agenda for the University resolve around this lofty but quite realizable goal. We shall harness all resources, human and material, from within and outside the University in the pursuit of the actualization of this dream”.

Prof. Ahaneku assured the students that the University will not renege on its duty to offer them the needed support to enable them actualize their dreams and aspirations. He however urged them to make their own input, stating that “to whom much is given, much is also expected”. 

While administering the University oath of loyalty on the students, the Registrar, Barr. C.C Okeke, said the matriculation called for both celebration and sober reflection due to the limited number of persons the university was able to admit from the large pool of candidates.

He urged the students to live up to the institution’s expectations, even as he warned them again not to engage in examination misconduct and all other forms of social vices. He said the University, which is more vigilant and frowns on bad conduct, has put measures in place to check security breaches within and outside the campus.

 “While congratulating you for this achievement, I urge you to make the best use of the golden opportunity presented by your admission into this great University. You need to stay conscious of the expectations of your parents as well as the enormous sacrifices they are making to see you through school at this point in time. You must, therefore, make a personal commitment not to let them down,” he said.

Okeke cautioned the fresh students against the notion that attendance at lectures was not essential. Rather, he stressed that, “The academic regulation provides that students who fail to register their courses within the stipulated time will forfeit the session and all full-time students must attend 75 per cent of all lectures in order to qualify to write examinations in the courses.”

Meanwhile, some of the matriculating students who spoke to www.odogwublog.com  expressed joy over the admission and shared their aspirations.  For Opara Kenedy, Mass Communication department, “I am very glad to be among the privileged few that got admission into this prestigious university, and I hope to make good use of the opportunity to develop myself and impact on the society. When I graduate, I hope to apply the knowledge I would have acquired in the area of my itinerary to solve the problem of moral decadence that is the lot of our society.”

Oluebube Enyinnaya, Department of Accountancy, “I feel very excited today, to me, it is a dream come true. Even before entering this great University, I had set a target to graduate with a first class degree so that the University will retain me as a graduate lecturer; I pray God will help me attain that goal.”

Also, some parents who expressed gratitude over what they described as environmental facelift and infrastructural upgrade in the University.
Mr Benjamin Odogwu, father of a student in the Faculty of Social sciences, had this to say; “today’s event is fantastic. The University is very much improved more than what it used to be, most of the buildings looked very dilapidated but I can see some kind of improvement, not only the structures but also the environment.”

Mrs Ifeoma Umeh o her own part said; “I feel great to attend the matriculation ceremony of my third daughter and I am impressed with what I am seeing, the environment has really changed. As a Zikite. I am happy. I have seen a lot of structural changes. That shows that things are going well here.”

While admonishing the students to eschew violence and bad company, Dean Student’s affair (DSA) Prof Ken Nwogu charged the students to obey the University’s rules and regulations, warning them to shun cultism, drug abuse and examination malpractice, which he said could terminate their academic ambition.

He advised the fresher students to adhere strictly to the matriculation oath they had sworn to, urged them to take the bull by the horns by making their academic work their top priority even as he reminded the students that the institution had zero tolerance for forgery, warned that the management would not hesitate to terminate the admission of any student or group of students involved in any of the vices.

Speaking shortly after the matriculation in a interview, the President Students Union Government of the institution, Comrade Noble Eyisi, urged the matriculants to remain focused in their studies and adhere strictly to what they have learnt in the course of their orientation adding that his administration would always represent the interest of the students at large.

He urged the new students to adhere to matriculation oath and to take the bull by the horn by making their academics their priority and make judicious use of the unique opportunity to learn and become useful to themselves, their families and the society.

“Let me use this medium to congratulate the new students for securing admission into this prestigious university because many wished to be here but were not opportune. I urge them to desist from all forms of social vices that will tamper with their educational career, these vices are in no doubt inimical to their future success,” Eyisi said.

Members of the school management present at the epoch making event include the vice chancellor, Prof. Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku; the deputy vice chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone; the registrar Barr. Christian Okeke; the Bursar, Mr. U.J Agu and the acting University librarian Mr. E.O Onwuka. The president of the Students Union Government, Comrade Noble Eyisi and the vice president, Comrade Precious Ozems were present as well.