Gabriel Dike
The newly admitted 72 students of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State have been told to shun cultism, drug abuse and other social vices that could truncate their academic pursuit.
The warned was give at the 4th matriculation ceremony of the university by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadabo, Chancellor and Founder of Chrisland University, Dr. (Mrs.) Winifred Awosika and the Vice Chancellor, Prof Chinedum Babalola.
Oba Gbadabo, who graced the occasion with some traditional rulers within his domain, tasked the new students to stay away from social vices and work hard to justify the investment of their university education by their parents.
‘’Do not let peer pressure distract you from the purpose of being here. You now have freedom but you must be careful of how you exercise it’’, the Oba stated.
In her remarks, the Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Trustees of Chrisland University, Dr. (Mrs.) Winifred Awosika, warned the new students not to engage in anti social activities and urged them to seek the advice of the VC and other lecturers if faced with any difficulties on campus.
Said she: ‘’At Chrisland University, we don’t condone social vices like cultism, drug abuse. Face your studies and don’t be distracted by anybody. You are leaders of tomorrow and I want your parents to cooperate with the university management so that the university can give you the best quality education.’’
Awosika commended Alake of Egbaland for gracing the ceremony and informed the parents that Chrisland University does not impose religion on students, adding ‘’we will not take either from any student nor tolerate fanaticism. Chrisland University is a Christian university.’’
The VC of Chrisland University, Prof Babalola described the institution as one of the upcoming, forward-looking, vision-driven university and further stated that the students’ choice of the university is one of the wisest choices of their life.
Prof Babalola said the university nurture, mentor and coach students in the best standards not only academically, but morally and socially and also imbibe in them leadership, entrepreneurship and innovative skills.
Her words: ‘’I am glad to announce to you that many of these students have lived up to our expectations, judging by their conducts and heart-warming performances at various events held within and outside the campus.’’
Babalola read the riot act to the 72 new students to be regular in attendance at lectures, carrying out assignments, shun bad behaviour and other vice that can truncate or elongate their graduation, stressing ‘’Chrisland University has zero tolerance for cultism, drug abuse, sexual immorality and any form vice and crime.’’
She further advised the new students to abide by the student handbook and also abide by the dress code which is now a separate document. The VC appealed to parents to support and cooperate with the management in training the students.’’
Babalola used the occasion to announce that the university recorded 100 per cent accreditation of her nine programmes in Colleges of Arts, Social and Management Sciences, and Natural and Applied Sciences. She also said the institution intend to introduce new programmes in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The VC charged the students to keep in mind all that they have been exposed to and being exposed and that the university management is ready to give them an enabling environment to excel, noting ‘’there’s a wealth of potential within you. But you must decide if you will deprive the World or bless it with the valuable, potent, untapped resources locked away within you.’’
In his paper, the guest speaker and Managing Director of Forte Oil Service Upstream, Mr. Oluseye Alabi, described the 72 students as hope bearers of the country that will provide solution to problems confronting the society, policy makers and captains of industry.
‘’You are our future and future leaders and I enjoin you to take after your counterparts all over the World who are making giant strides with great accomplishments through the instrumentality of education. As youths, the energy and drive that abound in you is huge and powerful, it can be deployed for good or bad’’, Alabi advised.
Alabi warned the students to stay away from toxic relationship that can compromise their studentship of the university, or that can bring shame to them and their family.