The Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, of Ebonyi State, has reiterated his administration’s unflinching commitment towards sound and quality education in the state.
The governor stated this at Ebonyi State University’s permanent site in Ezzangbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, during the matriculation of over 11,500 students.
The governor warned the matriculating students to shun cultism, exam malpractice and other social vices capable of derailing them from pursuing their careers at the university.
The 28th matriculation ceremony of the university has been described as having the highest intake of students since the creation of the state in 1996.
He enumerated some interventions his administration has carried out in the university to include increased monthly subvention, increment of staff salary, offsetting of debts owed by the university, infrastructure facelift, among others.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr Donatus Ilang, commended the university’s management for restoring the academic dignity of the institution.
He charged the newly freshmen to face their studies, which is the sole aim of their being in the institution and shun any act capable of truncating their studies
The vice chancellor of EBSU, Prof. Michael Ugota, while speaking at the event, urged lecturers to focus on their mission of educating and guiding students even as he highlighted the importance of integrity in the education system for the future of the youths and Nigerians at large.
Prof. Ugota, who officially inducted the students, urged them to demonstrate good character throughout their stay at the university.
He counselled them to reject anything that could damage their reputation and that of the university.
The vice-chancellor revealed that, on assumption of office last year, he and the principal officers of the university were confronted with the challenges of accreditation of the faculty of engineering and environmental studies.
He noted further that they were equally confronted with the accreditation of seven other programmes; however, he announced that five out of the seven programmes had been fully accredited.
Aside from accreditation, Prof. Awoke revealed that the university is fully digitalised, and students can access the university programmes at the click of a button.
He stated further that students can pay their school fees online without necessarily going through the bursary.
The vice-chancellor said his administration has eradicated the menace of cultism and other social vices in the university community.
He equally revealed that the issue of sorting and examination malpractice was now a thing of the past and warned the new students not to engage in such illegal activity, as it is prohibited in the university.
Prof. Awoke opined that the era of sexual harassment and intimidation of students by their lecturers is gone and warned students not to engage in indecent dressing to seduce lecturers.
Prof. Awoke further expressed the determination of his administration towards the restoration of the university’s path to academic excellence and prominence.
He commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for prioritising education in the state, assuring him that the huge investment made in the university will not be regretted.
Responding, the former Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Prof. Chike Onwe, who is currently the university’s orator, warned the newly matriculated students against extortion and the practice of paying lecturers for examination grades.
Some of the newly admitted students, Miss Ifeoma Onwe and Obinna Nnamdi, assured the university of their total compliance with its rules and regulations.
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