Obi of Onitsha, former Aviation Minister, Bishop Nwokolo task University on the Niger students to equip themselves for contemporary challenges 

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnameka Achebe, former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka, the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Rt Rev. Bishop Nwokolo have charged the pioneer students of the University on the Niger to avail themselves of the opportunity provided them in the university to prepare or contemporary challenges.

The personalities who also included the former Minister of Power and Vice Chancellor, Prof Chinedu Nebo, spoke during the maiden matriculation ceremony of the University on the Niger, Umunya  held at CJ Patterson Auditorium, All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.

They asked he new students to strive to hold firmly to the virtue of  unique tertiary education model currently championed by the  university.

The students were also reminded that as the pioneers of the university, they were carrying on their shoulders the banner of the school as well as being the custodians of the hopes, the aspirations, the knowledge and history of the Anglican Church.

Chidoka who was also former Corps Marshal of the Federal  Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in his keynote address, said the university was a logical culmination of the work of the Anglican Church in educating and empowering people in Eastern Nigeria.

Chidoka who also is the Ike Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra  had while emphasizing what he described as a paradigm shift in education in the 21st century, encouraged the students to properly equip themselves intellectually and morally for the challenges of the contemporary time.

Comparing the industrial age and the present 21st century, he remarked that the slant of the 19th century was suited for an education that was fit for that industrial age.

Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe

But, according to him, “today, the world has changed. That model of the 19th century education is out modelled. Today we are in a world where people are communicating across thousands of miles without physically meeting each other.

“We are in a world today where the education you are going to get is education that will make you globally competitive. The education barriers are no more within Nigeria. It’s no more in Onitsha”.

He therefore urged them to endeavour to develop the mental ability with which to cope with the quality of education the institution would impart on them, counseling them to strive to be icons of the 21st century.

Chief Chidoka assured the students that with focus and hard work the future belonged to them.

Chancellor of the university, the Bishop on the Niger, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo, had narrated how the dream of the university began and consequently assumed its present stage.

He remarked that the institution took off as the first university in the City of Onitsha, the headquarters of the Diocese on the Niger, adding that its permanent site would be at Umunya, but Onitsha would always be a centre of the university.

The chancellor also explained the logo of the university and its features.

According to him, the cross in the logo represents the Christian Faith, while the open book is a symbol of knowledge, wisdom and insight achieved through the Scripture and learning.

Former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka

He equally explained that the “Yellow circle represents the Sun rising from the East and shining throughout the world which stands for the universality of education.

“The blue object is the sign of the River Niger through which the early missionaries arrived Onitsha, an integral part of the university’s name.

The motto of the university is ‘Lux fiat via Sapientia’ which translates as; ‘Show the light through knowledge and wisdom,’ the bishop said.

He also reiterated what he said was the vision of the university, adding, “The vision of the university is to be s leading tertiary institution in the achievement of excellence in knowledge dissemination, character building and leadership for the production of entrepreneurial and globally competitive graduates for national development”.

The chancellor assured parents and guardians that with godly virtues and the academic excellence of the school their children and wards were in safe hands.

He appreciated all who he said contributed in various ways to put the university on its present track.

Also in his presentation, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, underscored five philosophical pillars on which he said the institution stood.

The professor stated that the pillars which he said formed the foundation of the university were: Excellence, Knowledge, Character, Leadership and Entrepreneurship, explaining that they were the basis upon which global best practices could be built.

Describing the institution as unique, multi-lingual and faith-based, he encouraged the students to be diligent enough to locate their areas of interest and social needs for which he said they could get professional certificates in addition to their registered degree courses.

In his remark, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, expressed how elated he and the Onitsha Community were over the establishment of University on the Niger.

He said: “Today marks a very historic day in the re-engineering of Onitsha and the repositioning of Onitsha which I started 22 years ago when I came unto the throne of Onitsha. And if you see and feel the transformation that is going on, not just in the physical, but also in our minds, in our desires to go to greater heights; working for ourselves, and so on.

“A lot has happened, but today is a major story in that repositioning of Onitsha, re-engineering of Onitsha and we thank God in the first instance.

“We also thank the Anglican Diocese on the Niger under the leadership of the Diocesan, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo, for this great initiative”, the igwe said.

About 300 students were received into various faculties and departments of the university amidst glamourised atmosphere savoured by parents and guardians of the students.