State Government owned Abia state University Uturu ( ABSU ) on Friday held it’s 44th matriculation ceremony for the formal admission in the 2025/2026 academic session, of a total of 7, 523 new students into the postgraduate, regular undergraduate and Institute for Continuing Education programmes.

Each of the matriculating students, as was announced by the management, would pay the sum of fifteen thousand naira ( N15,000 .00 ) for the Academic Gown with the Cap, and wear same during the matriculation ceremony held in the university field.

If all the 7,523 matriculating students paid the prescribed N15,000.00 each for hiring the Gown and Cap, the university realized a total sum of one hundred and twelve million naira, eight hundred and forty five thousand naira ( N112, 845, 000. 00 ).

The Vice Chancellor ( VC ) Professor Ndukwe Okeudo in his matriculation address said that the day marked a major milestone in the academic journey of the newly admitted students, and that their admission is not only a testament to their hard work and determination, but also a reflection of their readiness to pursue academic excellence, character development, and service to humanity.

” We have recorded an unprecedented upsurge in admission this year, which is a testament to the massive transformation of this university by the state governor Dr Alex Otti, and our efforts in doing things the right way. A total of 7,523 candidates were offered admission in the 2025/2026 academic session through transparent admission policy”.

Urging the matriculated students to maintain focus , discipline and commitment to their studies as they begin academic journey, the VC informed them that ABSU was founded on the principles of excellence, integrity, innovation and service.

” We maintain zero tolerance to examination malpractice, cultism, drug abuse, violence, and other social vices capable of truncating your academic future.

” I strongly advise you to familiarize yourselves with the rules and regulations enunciated in the Students’ Handbook , as ignorance will not be accepted as excuse”.

In his address titled ” Abia State University – a steady path of recovery, renewal , and resurgence, governor Otti who is also the Visitor to the University stated ” there is renewed national confidence in ABSU which is evident in its increased preference during JAMB admissions, improved institutional profiling under National Universities Commission ( NUC ) performance indicators , and growing visibility in research output and academic engagement.

The governor in the address presented by the state Tertiary Education Commissioner , Professor Uche Eme Uche, attributed these gains to improved infrastructure, accreditation successes, institutional stability, and the government’s insistence on quality and accountability”.

He re-affirmed his unwavering commitment to ABSU saying ” we will continue to do more infrastructure, more student facilities , more academic support, more partnerships , and more policies that strengthen ABSU as a leading public university in Nigeria”.

The Pro-Chancellor/ Chairman of the Governing Council Rt. Hon Agwu U. Agwu, in his address marked ” Towards Global Visibility”, stated that ABSU is at the turning point towards being strategically positioned to meet the ever growing needs of the 21st century society and make her count in the comity of universities locally and internationally.

He described as amazing and uncommon the transformation he said is being effected in ABSU by governor Otti administration, listing them to include massive infrastructural development, enhance teaching and learning environment, continuous- improved working conditions, prevailing peaceful atmosphere, state that indeed, ABSU has never had it better.

He therefore charged the new students to focus on their studies, set targets for themselves, work towards achieving the targets, and even ” be part of a research that will not only solve our immediate problems but will attract global attention to the school. And rather than burring yourselves in social media contents, you should give much attention to your studies and self- development “. (The Guardian)