Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof. Hilary Odo Edeoga, has advised newly admitted undergraduates and postgraduate students to make good use of the opportunity of their admission into the university in order to achieve their academic goals.

Edeoga gave the advice during the 23rd matriculation ceremony of the institution held at the university’s Ceremonial Pavilion on Saturday. He also warned the new entrants against flouting the matriculation oaths they took, saying that any deviant behaviours would be visited with corresponding sanctions.

The Vice Chancellor, while congratulating the new students, reminded them that their academic journey which has just started, “demands hard work, dedication, diligence, discipline and faith in God in order to get to the expected destination.”

“I, therefore, enjoin you to resolve from this day, to do all you can to benefit from this rare opportunity to build yourself for a bright and secure future. Your destiny, therefore, lies in your hands,” Edeoga added.

He expressed the belief that the education and training the students would be exposed to in MOUAU would equip them for challenges inherent in the global society

“Our curricula in the different course of studies are structured in such a way to make you not only self-employable but also job and wealth creators on graduation,” the Vice Chancellor said. He advised the students to avail themselves of the opportunities provided for them by the school to lay solid foundation that would enable them succeed in life.

Prof. Edeoga said that his administration, in the last five years, was committed to the welfare of students and strove to provide hostel accommodations, deployed various Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teaching platforms as well as construction of a world-class central laboratory, among others.

Edeoga, who will be vacating office by the end of next month, extended his heartfelt gratitude to all the staff and students for their unflinching support and enjoined them to extend similar cooperation to his successor, Prof. Francis Otunta.

Highlights of the ceremony included the swearing of the Matriculation Oath by the over 5,000 students who gained admission into MOUAU for the 2015/2016 academic session.

•Photo shows Prof. Edeoga.