By Sixtus Uket (Calabar)
The premier private University in Cross River State, Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Saturday, awarded certificates and Bachelor’s degrees to a total of 251 graduating students.
Out of the number, 18 students bagged First Class, while 115 secured Second Class Upper Division and 91 graduated with Second Class Lower Division, among others.
This was made known at the maiden and combined convocation for graduands of the 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic sessions held at the open pavilion of the university.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Ani Nkang, charged the graduating students to continue to entrench the culture of discipline, hard work, integrity and excellence wherever they find themselves.
“We hope that you will maintain strong links with the University and assist it in building up an enduring reputation.
“I take this opportunity to welcome you into the Arthur Jarvis University Alumni Association; on registration you will be on the alumni portal to receive regular updates on the University,” Nkang said.
The Vice Chancellor, who disclosed that the institution has initiated the process of starting a School of Postgraduate Studies with the National Universities Commission (NUC) also informed that in order to promote the quick realization of this objective, the University management has approved the creation of the Graduate Assistantship Cadre for first class graduates of Arthur Jarvis University.
He called on the graduands to apply and avail themselves of the opportunities offered by the Graduate Assistanship Scheme.
Nkang further stated that the institution’s Nursing students would be joining their counterparts across the country for the professional examination for General and Post-Basic Nurses scheduled for May 2023.
Speaking, the Chancellor of the University, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, re-emphasised that the institution is not a rehabilitation center for drug users, unruly students and cultists as anyone apprehended will be sanctioned.
Archibong charged parents and guardians to be more proactive in their roles as first custodians of their wards.
“As an investor in education, a school administrator, father and friend to our students, I have come to a rather distasteful conclusion that not all parents deserve to be so called.
“When you renege on your responsibilities and allow for the society to mould your children into what they become, you don’t only fail as a parent you also fail the society,” he said.
The chancellor explained that about 100 students from the host communities of Akpabuyo and Bakassi Local Government Areas enjoy full scholarship from his desk, with more than 400 students to be fully trained and fit for global competition within a space of five years from now.
In his goodwill message, the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, enjoined the people of the state to avail themselves of the opportunity created by the establishment of the institution, to send their wards to the university, rather than patronising institutions that are far from home.
In their respective interviews, the three best graduating students (Yeneochia Agbor of Biological Sciences 2020/2021 with 4.92 CGPA, Edidiong Edet of Political Science Department 2019/2020 with 4.73CGPA and Diligence Benson of Physics Department 2021/2022 with 4.70 CGPA) stated that God remains their motivating factor throughout their studies in the university.
They urged other students to be focused, prayerful and continue to work hard and thanked the institution’s management for the platform afforded them to reach the height in academic.
Earlier in the Convocation Lecture, a Professor of Business Management, Joe Duke, implored the University’s management to integrate entrepreneurship education into its curricula, “as this will help develop and deepen entrepreneurial skills in the students irrespective of their major areas of study and to better prepare them for sound business ideas after graduation.”
To the graduating students, Duke said: “Live your own dream and act out your own script.”
“Do something you believe will make a difference; not just to yourself but the people and environment around you.
“Pay less attention to how much pecuniary gain it is going to bring to you, but if you do it well, you will have difficulty counting the profit,” he added.
