VC charges graduands to be good ambassadors of institution
The Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, at the weekend graduated 321 students with a charge to them to be good ambassadors of the institution.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Timothy O. Olagbemiro in his address at the 2nd and 3rd convocation ceremony said that since inception in 2015, Edwin Clark University has enjoyed a proud record of successes and achievements both in academic and infrastructural developments.
According to him, despite these achievements in less than a decade of its establishment, “we are still pressing towards excellence in all facets”.
“This year, we are graduating a total of 321 students who have proved themselves worthy in character and learning in each of the faculties.
Grand total for 2019/ 2020 and 2020/ 2021 is 321,with a total number of 32, in First Class Degree classification; 161, in Second Upper Division; 113, in Second Class Lower division, and 15, in Third class. We give Glory to the Almighty God for providing us the grace to be living witnesses of the 2nd and 3rd Convocation ceremony of Edwin Clark University”, the Vice Chancellor said.
According to the VC; “I wish to specially congratulate you all and rejoice with you on your achievement thus far. It is my fervent prayer that the Almighty God will continue to grant you divine peace, promotion, protection, provision and power adequate to cope with the challenges of life in our contemporary generation”.
“My dear graduands, at this juncture let me make it clear to you that education is not a product, but a transformative process, and one that continues throughout lifetime. As you move out into the larger society, you are expected to showcase the rich values you acquired while here at Edwin Clark University. You are our ambassadors wherever you may find yourselves. Therefore, I charge you to be diligent to present yourselves approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed”, he added.
“Let me also rejoice with all the parents and guardians of these young men and women. There is no doubt that you have made a lot of sacrifice for the success of these graduands during their academic pursuit at Edwin Clark University. Our prayer for you is that your expectations on these young ones will never be cut short in Jesus name”, he said.
The Vice Chancellor stated that; “the Nigeria’s educational system was bedeviled with challenges: challenge of committed manpower, challenge of infrastructure, challenge of funds, and challenge of ethical and moral structure, along with challenge of admitting students who are serious and committed to learn. This is because of our indirection and weak moral values. For some, the spirit is willing but the mind is weak. For some, the mind is there but the courage is weak. But these are not unsurmountable problems. After all, there were countries which were in the same boat with us just few decades ago but today they have leaped over material, social, spiritual as well as the technological hurdle, while we in Nigeria still wallow in our indirection”.
“Our present development portends a great danger, and for our educational system, before it collapses, it deserves urgent attention from the government and other stake holders. While we urge the government at all levels to make conditions of service in the teaching profession at all levels more attractive, we also appeal to parents to re-orientate their children towards traditional core value system of service that adds value to national development. If we don’t improve our value for mankind, we will only be playing the drums of forward never, backward ever”, Prof Olagbemiro said.
He commended those who teach and add value to the lives of these young ones not minding the tasking nature of the job, the meager income and the societal perception of the academic profession in Nigeria.
The VC pleaded with Deltans and Nigerians in general, to appreciate and add more value to the development of our educational institutions by encouraging those who continuously strive for the advancement of our various institutions.
“Let me put on record the tremendous efforts of our father, our grandfather, our great grandfather, Founder, Proprietor, Chancellor and Visitor, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON, for his love for our youths, Delta State and its people. I challenge all Deltans here in particular to sow a seed on our campus, if you cherish the good that our father has done for Delta State, and the people of South- South Geopolitical zone”, he said.
In his words also; “Let me delightfully express our sincere gratitude to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for his endowed grace, his leadership acumen as well as his regular support for quality education in Delta State, and Nigeria as a whole. We give God the glory for your leadership in Nigeria at times like this. May God continue to renew your strength in the name of Jesus. We also acknowledge the unflinching support we have been receiving from the Government of Bayelsa State towards the development of this University”.
“In our educational development here at Edwin Clark University, apart from our academic pursuit, we continue to grow in our avowed mission to impact in our students and staff, the lost core values of integrity, respect, obedience, service, love and care in societal values. Truly these are global challenges which we too at Edwin Clark University continue to emphasize, if we must remain sincere in our vision and mission, in our efforts for a true and functional educational system”, he stated.
Continuing, he said; “Edwin Clark University has assumed leadership position among private universities in Nigeria, in truly integrating Christ-centred living with conventional academic programmes, even when we are not a faith based institution. Since its establishment on 15th May, 2015, and the commencement of academic programmes on 14th September, 2015, the University has diligently committed itself to its guiding principles as clearly defined in its vision, mission and philosophy to provide sustainable knowledge to its students for the development of their minds, in order for them to positively impact their communities, and Nigeria at large”.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed that; “In September 2021, Verification teams from the National Universities Commission (NUC) were at the University for the Resources Verification of our Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. The visit was successful and approval granted us, for the start the degree programs in Nursing Science and Medical Laboratory Science. Let me appreciate the undaunting efforts of the Pro-Chancellor himself, who single handedly funded, supervised and ensured the commencement of this Faculty in the 2021/2022 academic session. We wish him more vitality, quality health, continuous provision as well as long life, in the name of Jesus”.
“Edwin Clark University, despite its age and size, continues to make giants strides among Nigerian Universities. In the recently concluded National Universities Commission 2021 Ranking of Nigerian Universities, Edwin Clark University ranked number 32nd position amongst all Nigerian Universities, first among Private Universities in South South, and 17 among Private Universities in Nigeria. We are all encouraged, and I salute every one of our staff, academic and non-academic over this great feat.
In the recently concluded National Universities Commission 2021 Ranking of Nigerian Universities, Edwin Clark University ranked number 32nd position amongst all Nigerian Universities, first among Private Universities in South South, and 17 among Private Universities in Nigeria. We give all glory not unto us but to our God who made this possible. We are all encouraged, and I salute every one of our staff, academic and non-academic over this great feat”, he said.
