Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Nigeria’s first private university established in 1999, Saturday matriculated 577 students for the 2018/2019 academic session.
The vice chancellor, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, made this known in address at the 20th matriculation ceremony, where he disclosed that the 577 matriculated students were spread across the 29 degree-awarding departments in the institution.
He also disclosed that all courses in the institution have been duly accredited by the NUC and other relevant bodies, while the university’s management was working hard to introduce new programmes for a wider reach.
The vice chancellor urged the students to endeavour to live up to and abide by the rules and code of conduct of the institution at all times, stressing that any defiant behavior would attract the full consequences of such action.
He has described education as a veritable vehicle for empowerment and a prime necessity for mankind, adding that the ceremony marked a special milestone in the lives of the matriculants.
According to him, the matriculation ceremony provides the matriculants the opportunity to pledge their loyalty and total allegiance to the school authority.
He, therefore, advised the newly-matriculated students to be hard working and committed to their studies, as well as be ambassadors of goodwill of the institution.
“You will determine the end of your journey in this institution,” he said.
Ezemonye who disclosed that the student population of the institution had grown steadily from 111 in 1999/2000 to 4, 310 in 2017/2018, said that the staff strength has increased from 55 in 1999/2000 to 594 adding that the figure is made up of 224 teaching staff and 370 non-teaching staff.