You are expected to put away all juvenile characteristics - Ojukwu University VC Tells Freshmen at 24 Matriculation Ceremony

 You are expected to put away all juvenile characteristics - Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University VC Prof. Greg Chukwudi Nwakoby Tells Freshmen at  24 Matriculation Ceremony, In the course of this ceremony, the new students will make a pledge to live up to the expectations of the University in a solemn matriculation vow.

AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY PROF. GREG CHUKWUDI NWAKOBY, THE VICE CHANCELLOR, CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU UNIVERSITY, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 24 MATRICULATION CEREMONY OF THE UNIVERSITY HELD ON FRIDAY, 21 APRIL, 2023, IN ALL FACULTIES, AT ULI, IGBARIAM AND AWKA CAMPUSES, RESPECTIVELY.

On behalf of the Management, Staff and Students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, I welcome you all to the 24 Matriculation Ceremony of this great Institution. We also welcome the parents, and friends of the Matriculating Students. We are delighted by your presence as witnesses to this special matriculation ceremony.

A. MATRICULATION CEREMONY

As we usually observe, there are two important landmarks in the lives of the students in tertiary institutions the world over, namely, Matriculation and Convocation. Matriculation Ceremony is an important occasion in which the freshmen and women of the University, or of any tertiary institution, are conferred the studentship of the institution. It, marks their formal and official reception as bona fide members of the University Community and makes them eligible to register the courses for which they have been given provisional admission. Because of the importance of the matriculation ceremony, a reasonable period of time is given to enable the fresh students undergo orientation, as you have done, and thus become properly acquainted with activities and the structure of the University. In the course of this ceremony, the new students will make a pledge to live up to the expectations of the University in a solemn matriculation vow. By the end of this ceremony, you will become both de jure and de facto students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Community, with all the privileges and responsibilities attached to the new status. You will then be entitled to the University Identity Card which identifies you as the students of this University. You are advised to carry your identity cards with you always both within and outside the University Campuses.

a. MATRICULATING STUDENTS

1. Change of Status.

In a short while from now, your status will suddenly change from being ordinary students to being undergraduate students, and, what is more, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University students. This change in academic status demands also a change in your attitude and behaviour. You are expected to put away all juvenile characteristics. You must change positively in every aspect. You have to exhibit maturity, act reasonably at all times and ever ready and disposed to acquire knowledge and skills. The ceremonial change of status must reflect in the totality of your life, in your dressing, conduct and behaviour expected from people who have become members of an academic community.

2. The University as an Academic Community

A typical community is made of people of different family backgrounds. Similarly, individuals who make up the community exhibit characteristics typical of their families of origin. Consequently, in this University Community, as fresh students, you will encounter students who are pleasant, amiable, disciplined, studious, honest, sincere, friendly, God-fearing and graceful. It is our wish that you encounter only such students. On the other hand, it is also possible to encounter some students of low moral or even amoral background. These categories of students thrive in dishonesty, insincerity, unfriendliness, heartlessness, ungodly and un-Christian behaviour, laziness, extravagance and indiscipline. We pray that you do not encounter such persons throughout your stay in this University.

3. Keep your goal constantly before you.

You have worked hard to gain admission into this citadel of learning. Some have tried many times without success. While we share with you the joy of success in gaining admission into the University, we wish to urge you to keep ever before you the purpose for which you have laboured to gain admission into the University. For avoidance of doubt, your purpose of coming here is to learn and then graduate in record time, as stipulated in the programme curricula. If you lose sight of this purpose, you are most likely to derail and fall by the way side. To achieve this purpose, therefore, you must have to work hard to pass with good grades and in record time too. You should avoid such distractions that may lead you away from the goal of your University education. Bear in mind that the University's academic regulations does not allow students to stay 50% over and above their expected year of graduation. You must exercise self- control and self-discipline.

4. Good and bad company.

A wise man once said, "tell me with whom you associate with, and will tell you what you are". In other words, tell me your friend and I will know what type of person you are. If your friend is a thief, you are either a thief yourself or you enjoy stolen things. If your friend is a good Christian, you are likely to be influenced positively. If your friend is a cultist, you will hear much about scheming, violence, killing, revenge, rituals and initiations. Like your friend, you will live in perpetual fear of being attacked at any time or place. The choice of good or evil is yours. Bad friends or company can ruin your career in the University, or land you in jail or even lead you to death or serious body injury. You must have high values and devote your time to the purpose for which you are here.

5. Existence of various organizations, societies, clubs, fellowships, etc, in the University.

We have a number of organizations, societies, clubs, fellowships, etc., that are registered and therefore officially recognized by the University Administration. You are free to join any of these. Any such organizations, societies, clubs, fellowships, etc., not registered with the Students Affairs Department are unlawful and membership of such organizations is illicit and punishable.

You must particularly guard against cult groups and cultism. You should not accept any unnecessary assistance as that may be an attempt to lure you to unknown group. Cultism is proscribed by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Membership of any cult group is therefore an offence punishable by law. In addition, the Federal Government had, many years ago, directed Universities across the country to expel any member of any cult group from the Universities and to hand over such students to the police for prosecution. You are, therefore, not only advised but also warned to keep away from cultism.

Cultism will ruin your life, your career and your families. A powerful and dynamic security network exists in the University to monitor and apprehend cult members. So say no to cultism today! Woe unto any student that will be discovered to be a cultist in this University. If anybody approaches you to join a secret cult, do not hesitate to make a report to the Security Department of the University, or to the Dean of Students Affairs, or to any Priest on Campus. The image of this University has greatly improved in the eyes of the public and cannot, therefore be compromised through deviant behaviours of a few students' miscreants.

Note also that the University has zero tolerance to abhorred behaviours such as Examination malpractice, indecent dressing, et cetera, and that any student that failed to pay his/her school fees should not be allowed to sit for examinations.

B. PARENTS, GUARDIANS AND FRIENDS OF MATRICULATING STUDENTS While we congratulate the matriculating students for the epoch-making event of today, we also congratulate the parents and guardians who have made your dreams of obtaining university education come through. May remind the parents and guardians that education is a joint venture between the school and the home. The two are mutually inclusive and complementary. Education is, indeed, becoming more expensive. Learning materials, books, feeding, accommodation, school fees and transportation add up to the high cost of education. Please note that the University runs a policy of "No SCHOOL FEES, NO EXAMINATIONS". We therefore wish to urge you to ensure that you pay the school fees and other sundry fees of your children/wards before their first semester examinations commencing on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023. We further encourage you, as parents and guardians, not to relent because we know that education is truly expensive but ignorance is, by far, more expensive because whereas education is constructive, ignorance is destructive. We encourage parents and guardians to find time to visit their children and wards in the University. Such visit will be useful to you.

CONCLUSION

Once more, I congratulate you, my dear matriculating students, on the successful accomplishment of your initial dream of being numbered among the undergraduates of this institution. And finally, for all of you, the parents, guardians, friends and well-wishers, I pray the Almighty God whom it pleases to bring you here safely for this brief but impressive ceremony, to grant you journey mercies back to your various destinations. It is proper to remind ourselves of the task before us, at the very beginning of our university career.

Thank you and may God bless you all.

Prof. Greg Chukwudi Nwakoby,

Vice-Chancellor