Former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has urged Nigerian students to be independent and imbibe hardwork to excel in their academic pursuits.
Nwodo, who is also a former Minister of Information and Culture, made the call during the 2nd Matriculation Ceremony of Central Washington College (CWC), Enugu.
The college which specialized in Nursing and Health Sciences and Technology, matriculated 255 students.
Speaking to the students, Nwodo admonished them to study harder, saying that what gives them As was extra mile they put in their studies.
“To you students, your journey here may be tedious but I want you to be independent of yourself and to work hard.
“The people seated here when they were in university, wait in the library until doors were about to be closed.
“There will no exam malpractice here and any lecturer who tries to abuse himself/herself by giving you mark you don’t deserve will find extraordinary visitation of punish.
“I therefore, urge you all to grab this opportunity you have in your hands firmly, make the best of it,” he advised.
He commended the President and Founder of CWC, Prof. Augustine Akubue, saying the establishment of the college was a testament of him giving back to the society.
“Professor Akubue and his wife after sojourned to America and working for the World Health Organisation did not feel so elated and satisfied in their accomplishment but decide to establish this college.
“Only few people of his status, attainment and resources can devote their entire savings to bring up children with knowledge as the they have done in this institutions,” he said.
In an address, Akubue said the key motivating factor of establishing the college in 2020 was to curb brain drain, the wholesomeness and glaring decay in the educational system in the areas of nursing and health sciences and technology.
He said the situation was made worse by the incessant industrial crisis between the government, academics and professional in the tertiary institutions which portend great danger to the society.
According to him, in spite the increasing number of Nigerians seeking tertiary education in the last decade, only about 42 per cent them gain such admissions.
“It is against this backdrop that CWC was birthed as an umbrella of Nursing and Health Sciences and Technology which was committed to add value to educational system through purposeful contributions to build a coterie of health force.
“Our driver to provide these specialized services is considered timely because it is one of the sure antidotes to the daily increasing rate of capital flight and brain drain in the Nigeria health sector,” he said.
He explained that out of 1, 350 applicants sought for admission into the school only 255 came out successful to study Nursing and Health Sciences programmes.
Akubue added that the college had been approved by the Federal Government through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) as well as Nursing, Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and others.
The founder, however, urged the students to obey the rules and regulations of the college, stressing that any negligence or refusal to comply or live within operational rules and regulations would attract consequences.
While congratulating the students for choosing the school, the Chairman Governing Board of the CWC, Prof. Cyprian Onyeji, charged them on hardwork and dedication.
Commending the parents and guardians for sending their children to the college, Onyeji said, “today marks the beginning of transformative chapter in the lives of the students”.
In a lecture titled: “Building the Foundation for Greatness and Impacts”, the Vice Chancellor, Coal City University, Enugu, Prof. Afam Ituma, urged the students to use the matriculation in building bedrock upon which their future would depend on.
Ituma, who is the Guest Speaker, encouraged them to set a clear goal for themselves, build a healthy relationships, take appropriate counsel and engaged in hardwork to excell in their academic pursuit.
