By Ononye VC
No fewer than 700 newly admitted students of the Shanahan University Onitsha,matriculated in a ceremony colourful ceremony held at the temporary site of the university on Friday.
According to the Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Josephat Obi Oguejiofor,the matriculation was the second edition since the establishment of the university.He thanked the proprietor of the university,Most Rev Valerian Okeke for his vision in establishing the university and for the successes made so far.
While presiding over a Thanksgiving Mass before the matriculation ceremony,the Archbishop while delivering a sermon titled,”Do not be distracted”,said the university has started showing signs of greatness and expressed wish that the vision of excellence and moral rectitude for which the university was established will continue.
“In terms of performance,it has showed signs of greatness and we pray that it continues”,the Archbishop said.
The Archbishop admonished the students to ensure that the moral motive and objective of attending the university was achieved adding that the university was established to instil educational excellence and develop talents of the students to the maximum.
He further admonished the students to avoid being distracted by things not related to their studies otherwise their motive of getting university education would’ve been defeated.University education the Archbishop said,is for character development and learning and vowed that the university will provide the best for the students.
“Study as if everything depends on you and pray as everything depends on God”,the Archbishop said.
At the matriculation ceremony held at the Shanahan auditorium,some of the big stakeholders of the university were present.
They include the chairman board of trustees Chief Sir Cletus Ibeto,former Gov of Anambra State Mr Peter Obi Senator Tony Nwoye and Sir (Engr)Francis Anyakwo.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe delivered a keynote address titled,”Excellence in character and learning”.
Abaribe dwelt on the need for the students to imbibe integrity and bequeath the future generation with moral clarity.
In his contribution,Sir Cletus Ibeto commended the proprietor of the university Most Rev Valerian Okeke for the steady progress the university was making and urged the students to take advantage of the opportunities laid out for them.
In his contribution,the former Presidential candidate of Labour Party,Mr Peter Obi said he was a good example of one who grew up in Onitsha adding that their were so much opportunities for the students and that what they needed was to remain focused,be patient and diligent to achieve their goals.
Donor of a hostel in the university,Engr Francis Anyakwo in his speech,told the students that their parents had done so much for them by sending them to the university adding that it was their choice to lay a good or bad foundation for themselves.
Earlier the Vice Chancellor of the university Professor Josephat Oguejiofor announced to the cheering students that the university has acquired all takes for the study of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
He expressed gratitude to the Archbishop for his spiritual and material support to the university and to all the stakeholders including the chairman of the matriculation planning committee and Vice Chancellor of the Archdiocese,Rev Fr Basil Ekwunife for their cooperation and generosity towards the growth of the university.
