THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014
42
CAMPUS LIFE The Imo State University (IMSU) has matriculated no fewer than 5,000 freshers, CHIDIEBERE ENYIA (300-Level English and Literary Studies) and EMMANUEL AHANONU (Political Science) report.
T
HE ceremonies marking the matriculation of the Imo State University (IMSU) put a lot of shine on the event. Many freshers had more time and space to host their friends and family members. The matriculation was decentralised and held simultaneously across faculties. The institution does not have an auditorium that can accommodate all the students at the same time. No fewer than 5,000 of the about 100,000 applicants were admitted. Instead of the Registrar, Mr Godfrey Aniche, to administer the oath on the freshers, each faculty officer performed that duty on his behalf. The dean of each faculty represented the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie. The event was held between 10am and noon. The freshers were in blue academic gowns. The ceremony lasted for 40 minutes at the Faculty of Business Administration, where the Dean, Prof P. U. Akanwa, urged the students not to deviate from their primary aim on the campus. He said: “You are admitted into IMSU at a time of great privilege and opportunity, revival and renaissance; when we are rising from the ashes of infrastructural neglect.” To improve the state of facilities, the VC said: “The state government is currently building six academic blocks spread across the Orlu and Owerri campuses, while also improving on the main access arterial road on the campus.” Advising the freshers, he said: “It is time for you to begin to chart your own courses, to find your own paths, to make your own decisions, and even meet new friends who may determine the direction of your development in the coming years. Manage the new freedom that has been given to you. You must shun cultism, examination misconduct, indecent dressing and all similar
•Some of the matriculants
Freshers’ moment of joy vices”. Mrs. Jane Amaechi stood in for the Registrar to administer the matriculation oath after their Heads of Departments (HODs) presented the freshers. At the Faculty of Humanities, the outgoing Dean, Prof Jasper Onuekwusi, told the students to strive for excellence. He described the freshers as “children of the dawn of a new vision”, saying they came at a time the school was undergoing academic revolution. As the IMSU is a non-residential institution, students were made to swear to an oath that they would
be responsible for their accommodation. Emmanuel Chimodo, a student of Political Science, who led freshers in the Social Science Faculty, urged the students to reject invitation to joining unlawful groups whose activities are to disrupt academic activities. Collins Akaluso, 100-Level Marketing, said his admission was miracle. He said: “I never knew today will come to pass and I really thank God for making it reality and expect his grace to guide me through as I look forward to graduate with first class.”
Ruth Wilfred, a student of Management Department, who was admitted after six years of writing post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), said: “I am very happy that I finally made it. I have been writing post-UTME since 2008. But I thank God that my effort paid off this time and I am ready to labour for excellence.” After the oath, the freshers moved out of the hall and engaged in photo ops. Canopies were mounted at every point on the campus, while music blared from different angles as the students celebrated with their friends and family members.
Some students’ associations and campus fellowships also took time to woo new members. The celebration was in full throttles in the afternoon; Kegites Club entertained the students with “gyration songs” and palm wine was freely distributed to all. A parent, Mr. Jona Mbawho, whose son was matriculated, said: “These are part of the frills and thrills on campuses but a serious student should not be carried away. If anyone is carried away with these excitements, he would have himself or herself to blame at the end of the day.” He advised parents to monitor their wards’ academic performance all the time.
Igbo culture at its best Igbo Students at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) have celebrated the best of their culture, reports STANLEY UCHEGBU (ACCOUNTING).
B
Y their dressing, they could be mistaken for Dramatic Arts students on rehearsal. Clad in various native attires, they moved in a procession to Malabo Square for Igbo Day celebration. The celebrators are students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL). The cultural festival of the Federation of Igbo Students (FIS), UNICAL chapter, is held yearly by the students to preserve the heritage of their fatherland. The event was graced by lecturers and eminent Igbo indigenes in Calabar, among who were wife of the Cross River State Governor Mrs Obioma Imoke, who was represented by Mrs Ifeatu Ezeagwu, Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (VC) (Academics), Prof Austin Obiekezie, Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Eyong Eyong and Director of Centre for General Studies, Dr Chike Ekeopara. The VC hailed the students for turning out at the fiesta, stressing that Igbo remain one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. The future of the ethnic group, Prof Epoke said, depends on the enthusiasm of the youth
•Members of the cultural troupe after the performance
to propagate its culture. He said many people copied foreign cultures to the detriment of their rich heritage, noting that advanced nations such as the United States spent so much to maintain and preserve the cultural heritage of its people. The VC said Igbo customs and tradition were rich in values that could transform the nation, adding that parents must employ every possible means to transfer these values to their children so that Igbo culture would not go into extinction. The FIS president, Ekene Odimegwu, noted that Igbo language had survived despite the incursion of alien cultures in the land. He said: “In UNICAL, Ndi Igbo were
known for academic excellence and their efforts to promote unity. We unite, promote and provide a platform for unity, peace and harmony among all students.” The event featured a dancing session, where the FIS troupe displayed Igbo cultural dance steps to entertain the guests. The troupe moved the guests and students into excitement, which made some of them to rain wads of naira notes on the dancers. Igbo’s cuisine was the official menu of the day. Guests and students were served Abacha (African salad) dish with Ugba– a delicacy made from cassava. The food is popular in eastern part of the country. It is made from dried streak of cassava (Abacha) with fer-
mented oil bean seed (Ugba). It is served to welcome visitors. Highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to people that aided the cause of the association and launch of the FIS almanac. Amaka Adigwe, a student, told CAMPUSLIFE, that there were many values non-Igbo people could pick from the event. Some students who could not hide their excitement praised the leadership of the association for sustaining the event. Ekene added: “Culture is life. The Igbo culture and language will not go extinct if it is passed on from old to young ones.”