…As V.C Christopher Eze warns against cult activitiesÂ
As the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, UAES, Umuagwo formally admitted 540 fresh students into its fold over the weekend, the University has charged them to avoid social vices and take their studies seriously.
In an address on the occasion, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christopher Eze, informed that the target of the University is to produce very good students with managerial skills in the country.
He said, “The objective of this University is to produce the excellent graduates with entrepreneurial skills, knowledge for national development and competence for environmental challenges of the moment and the future.
“Our programmes are well designed to make you excellent experts in the field of agriculture, environment, sciences, engineering, social sciences, and management. So at this ceremony, a total of 540 students will matriculate and be admitted into our first-year programmes.”
Assuring the students of quality academic discipline by quality academics and tutors, the VC urged them to eschew indiscipline and lawlessness and embrace the virtues of self-control.
“Let me at this juncture make it clear to you that the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo has a zero tolerance for any form of misbehaviour. This includes examination malpractice, cultism, disobedience, and violent conduct, prostitution, Internet fraud, armed robbery, drug-related offences, kidnapping, stealing, wilful destruction of University property, drunkenness, cohabiting with the opposite sex, indecent dressing, keeping late nights for those living in our hostels etcetera. The University will not hesitate to sanction any offender. Therefore, abhor any behaviour that will result to untold misery to you and to your loved ones.”
Eze informed the students of the institution’s discussion with some international organizations for possible collaborations and partnerships with foreign universities for students exchange, saying that the exchange will give them the opportunity to do a semester in the prescribed institutions abroad and conclude their studies in UAES.
He advised the students to avail the themselves of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund NELFund, at the appropriate time.
While enjoining the students to remember their God in their young age, the VC congratulated them for securing the admission, as well as their parents and guardians for their efforts in raising the children.
Professor Eze thanked governor Hope Uzodimma for his support to the University.
“We are very grateful to his Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma for his fatherly care and support towards the recent accreditation of most of our programmes by National Universities Commission (NUC).There is also some good news for students studying Agriculture in UAES.
“His Excellency, distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, has granted an automatic 50% scholarship on your tuition fee. He is the first and only governor in Nigeria to consider and give students studying agriculture such scholarship.”
The University administrator also thanked the governor for appointing and inaugurating Professor Nelson Uzoechi Uzoma Alino-led team the 2nd Governing Council of the University.
In a post-matriculation interview with journalists over the low enrollment of students for Agriculture in the University in spite of the governor’s incentives, the VC called on students to avail themselves of the opportunity and take active interest in agriculture, using himself as an instance.
“It surprises me that irrespective of the fact that His Excellency, out of his magnanimous spirit and heart decided to cut their fees by 50% our children have refused to study agriculture. Only twenty-three of them applied to study agriculture. Yet every day they like to eat.
“The remedy is self-propelled. Nobody advised me to study Agricultural Economics. I decided on my own volition.
“Governor Hope Uzodimma is thinking about life by envisioning UAES. He is envisioning a situation in which UAES will feed Imo State and Nigeria. That is what we are doing,” Eze stated.
The Pro-Chancellor, Prof Nelson Alino said he would help to transform the University on the promise of the Governor.
Speaking with journalists, the commissioner for Tertiary Education in the state, Professor Victor Ndubuisi Nwachukwu, while commending the 3R mantra of the governor, lamented the low enrollment in agriculture.
In a chat with journalists, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Dr Basilia Igbokwe, urged students to be vigilant, proactive and develop good reading habit, and to realize that their certificates will be based on character and learning.
The highlight of the ceremony was the matriculation oath recited individually albeit collectively by the matriculants.
