By Kanjal Godshield
The Federal College of Education FCE Obudu in affiliation with the University of Calabar, penultimate week held its third matriculation ceremony for degree and professional diploma in education PDE program students.
The matriculation ceremony which was held at the Senator Greg Ngaji lecture theatre had a total number of 352 students admitted into the college to read various courses among the thirteen courses under the Faculty of education of the University of Calabar.
Besides, the fifth governing council of the college said it had lifted the ban on Students’ Unionism. The college, in the past couple of years had operated without a functional Students’ Union Government SUG, following alleged mal-administration among students’ leaders.
Speaking, the provost, Dr Eugene Ibli noted that since inception of the college in November 1982, it had however become a reference point in many areas among the comity of tertiary institutions in the country, adding that the college was striving to offer the best in terms of teaching and learning and general service delivery.
Ibli, stressed that students of the college are expected, on graduation, to be entrepreneurs and wealth creators, adding that, apart from replicating knowledge into students, the college academic culture grooms students, and trained them to be critical thinkers and purveyors of novel ideas.
The provost, however, urged staff to unite and carry out their duties accordingly and to serve as role models for the students.
“As we all are assembled here to witness the initiation of fresh men and women of the B.Ed and PDE programs into full membership of the academic community, it is pertinent to point out that the college has a mandate and that is captured in its vision which is to enhance academic and professional excellence in teacher education for sustainable development and to promote learning for service through the production of competent professional teachers for Nigerian schools.
“These are, indeed, very weighty expectations. How the college hopes to translate this vision and mission statements into reality is by articulating and implementing both curricular and co-curricular activities which have evolved into the college culture,” he said.
Earlier, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Calabar, Prof. Austin Obiekezie stressed that in the country, out of the high population of admission seekers into tertiary institutions, only about 30 percent were offered admission, urging the matriculating students to see their being in the college as a privilege and to remain upright in their educational pursuit.
He said, “Dear matriculating students, the best investment is investment in human capital. Your parents or guardians have chosen to sponsor your education to bring pride to your family and society. There is no reason why you should betray this trust. I urge you to carve a niche for yourself by being hard working so as to earn honor and respect to your family and society at large.
“Today matriculation exercise has the total population of 352 students who were admitted into 11 programs of 13 courses under the Faculty of Education of the University of Calabar. All the students who would matriculate today are all students of the University of Calabar in affiliation with the Federal College of Education, Obudu, this brings the total students population of degree programs since the program started to 967 students on campus presently. This development is quite commendable and it symbolizes the growing trust and confidence of the people for the programs,”
The matriculating students on their part took an oath of allegiance, promising to shun social vices including cultism, exam malpractice among others.
Speaking with our correspondent, one of the students, Miss Grace Odey expressed joy as she had always longed for this opportunity where she would be recognized as a genuine students of the University of Calabar.
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