3 months ago
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Business in and around Uturu, the community hosting the Abia State University (ABSU), boomed last weekend when the school matriculated about 4,368 students.
The school had targeted the sum of N65,520,000 from the exercise as each student was expected to pay N15,000 to hire the regalia comprising gown, cap and brochure.
Apart from the fund generated by the university, commercial activities within the community boomed as photographers, food and refreshments vendors made brisk business from the students, their parents and guardians who attended the event.
For instance, transport fares increased by up to 100 per cent, depending on the route and time.Travellers from Umuahia, Aba, Owerri and Enugu, among other cities, reportedly paid up to N3,000, N5,500, N6,500 and N7,000 respectively, from the former N2,000, N4,000, N5,000 and N6,000 for return journeys.
Speaking at the event, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Onyemachi Ogbulu, described the 42nd matriculation ceremony as significant as it was “the first under the watch of our education friendly Governor and Visitor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti.”He expressed the school’s gratitude to the governor “for his unprecedented support in many ways, especially in the areas of security, payment of salaries, academic development and for the continued engagements to reposition ABSU in line with globally acceptable standards.”
Ogbulu tasked the new students to strictly abide by the provisions of the oath administered on them, warning them against de-marketing the university on social media or getting involved in cultism, illicit drugs, examination malpractices and indecent dressing.
He said the university community would be better served if they duly pay their fees, register courses online and report grievances through designated channels.
The don, who warned that sanctions would be applied on those that disregard these stipulations, charged the students to emulate the impressive performances of ABSU graduates in external examinations at the Law School, Nursing/Midwifery, Optometry and Pharmacy schools and in their professional practices.
“We boast highly qualified and research-oriented scholars, whose works are constantly attracting TETFund and global sponsorship. It is true that we have our own fair share of problems, but the truth is that a lot of the negative things heard about our university are grossly exaggerated,” he said.
English (US) ·