It was a moment of jubilation and thanksgiving to God,as Clifford University Owerrinta,in Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, holds her first convocation ceremony, graduating over 11 First Class students.
The convocation ceremony of the Alpha Class was held at the School pavilion,with the Governor of the State,Dr Okezie Ikpeazu,the Former Commissioner for Education,Dr Kanelechi Nwangwa and other government functionaries,as well as top clergymen were in attendance.
The school which started earnestly on the 5th of March 2017,had sixty six students as her pioneer students.
Delivering his Address captioned “Clifford University: Before The Beginning Began To Begin” the Vice Chancellor,Prof Chimezie Omeonu,gave a brief history of the institution, commending all those who worked tirelessly to the making of the Clifford University, particularly the Technical Committee under the chairmanship of Dr kanelechi Nwangwa,for proposing the name “Clifford University”, in memory of the evangelical, sacrificial and educational exploits of Pastor and Mrs Jesse Clifford,the first missionaries to proclaim the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) message in Eastern Nigeria.
According to the V.C, the school kick started academic works on the 5th of March 2017, having successfully
obtained the needs of the university and met the stipulations of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Prof Omeonu revealed that the Clifford University is a school founded to raise men and women who are soldiers of Christ and as well change agents in the society.
He said the university is skin colour,,racial,tribal, ethnicity and state of origin blind,with the aim of propagating unity in diversity.This he said could be seen among their five faculty deans,who are from four different states of the federation.
The Vice Chancellor reaffirmed that the University belongs to all men and women who have something good to offer in consonance with the tested philosophy of education of the Adventist Church, adding that the school abhors negativity and societal ills,stressing that only those that have something good to offer are allowed to come to the school.
While appreciating God for the first set of students that started the institution, Prof Omeonu, thanked all the parents of the graduating students for having faith in the institution to develop their child/ward academically, morally and physically, praying that the graduands would be among those that would show forth light in Nigeria,as they would grow and become sources of motivation to themselves, sources of joy to their parents,as well as sources of faithful service to God and good public image to Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor, however, appreciated the Banks for standing by the Clifford project and also commended the efforts of some political leaders who gave their immense contributions to the actualization of the project.
Prof Omeonu further acknowledged the contributions of the Governor of the State,Dr Okezie Ikpeazu,who consistently encouraged the students with bursary and scholarship funds.
I
Similarly,he thanked the former Governor of the state,Chief T A Orji, for giving the C of O for the two campuses at Owerrinta and Ihie at no cost, praying for God to prosper him in good health with adminstrative and political wisdom.
The VC also appreciated members of the church for their contributions and for volunteering to teach the students without demanding payment.
He advised the graduands not to derail from all what they have learnt, praying God to help them in their future endeavors and making them to become sources of upliftment to humanity.
In an Interview with the Chairman of the first Technical Committee for the establishment of the school and the former Director Academic Planning of the Institution,Dr Kanelechi Nwangwa, recounted his contributions to the birthing of the university, expressing joy that the first set of students have successfully finished their courses of study.
Nwangwa urged the graduands to see their graduation as ushering them into another phase of life,where they have to be strong to surmount any form of challenges they would face.
He called them to be an onward Christian soldier,marching as to war and see every challenge as a stepping stone to greatness.
The former Commissioner for Education, however,advised the undergraduate students to shun every form of vices like cultism, malpractices and remain focus and resolute to the glory ahead.
Also, the Traditional Ruler of the host Community,Ihie Autonomous Community in Isialangwa North Local Government Area of the State,Eze John Ogbuanu, expressed happiness that the first graduation of the school was being held while he is on the throne as the Paramount ruler, stating that the school has put the donor communities in the world map and also on the internet.
The Ihe II of Ihie Autonomous Community,said the name of their community means light and one way to bring in light to a place is by education, thanking the SDA Church for helping to bring Christian education to their land.
While praying for the graduating students, the royal father called on the school’s management not to forget their donor benefits, pointing out that the community is looking forward to receiving Donor scholarship as well as employment of indigenes,adding that electricity and water provisions would further be appreciated by the people.
Earlier, the guest lecturer, Prof Arthur Chuemere in his lecture, entitled the “Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Health and Tertiary Education, Challenges and Concern: A Paradigm Shift”, said Covid -19 has weakened our educational system and it has also offered us the opportunity to think outside the box,inorder to build a formidable system of education.
He said Covid 19 was a pivotal moment in many ways and offers a unique opportunity to build back a better and healthier health and educational systems,adding that we all need to contribute to the response to Covid 19 by engaging with sound science and data to help our country strengthen preparedness for future epidemics and other emergencies.
I
