The Vice-Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe has urged freshmen to shun all anti-social practices and take their studies seriously.
Prof. Iwe made the call while declaring open the 27th and 28th orientation exercise for freshmen admitted for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions held at the Senator Anyim Pius Anyim Auditorium of the University yesterday.
While congratulating the new intakes for scaling all the hurdles to secure admission, the helmsman of the University urged them to focus on their studies and shun all vices such as cultism, drug abuse, rape, stealing, and examination malpractice which he described as destructive. He advised the students to make the most use of the opportunity of the University’s resources and facilities to acquire productive academic qualifications and skills required in the contemporary competitive global environment.
In his welcome address, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Marc Nwosu Ogbuagu, stressed that the orientation exercise aimed to avail the new students of the opportunity to get vital information about the history, purpose, and opportunities provided by the University, as well as what the University expects of the freshmen to enable them to acclimatize easily with their new environment.
In his address, the acting Registrar of the University, Mr. Peter Nwaoma who exposed the students to the historical journey of the University, advised the new students to familiarise themselves with the University Handbook. He further charged them to register for their courses on time and be law-abiding to have a successful academic program.
Highlights of the event were separate presentations delivered by the acting bursar, Mr. Ugochukwu Ironkwe represented by the Head of students’ accounts, Mrs. Juliana Simon; the Librarian, Dr. Isaac Ogbonna; the Director of Academic Affairs, Dr. Nkiru Mbanaso; the Director of ICT, Mr. Sunny Eyeh and the Director of the University Health Services, Dr. Udenze Chikwendu.
Representatives of the different Colleges and Departments, the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme, the Students Union Government, the University Alumni Association, and Thunderbolt in their presentations exposed the students to vital information needed in their various academic activities.