Obi, Abaribe, Nwoye Grace Shanahan University Matriculation, 700 Students Admitted
Education
By Tony Okafor, Awka
Prominent Nigerians, including former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Senator Tony Nwoye, on Friday graced the matriculation ceremony of Shanahan University, Onitsha, as no fewer than 700 new students were formally admitted into the institution.
The colourful ceremony, held at the university’s temporary site, marked the second matriculation since the establishment of the university.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Josephat Obi Oguejiofor, thanked the proprietor, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, for his vision and commitment to the growth of the institution.
Earlier, Archbishop Okeke presided over a thanksgiving Mass and, in a sermon titled “Do Not Be Distracted,” said the university was already showing signs of greatness.
He urged the students to remain focused on their studies, stressing that university education was meant for learning and character development.
The Archbishop advised the students to avoid distractions and pursue academic excellence and moral rectitude, assuring them of the university’s resolve to provide quality education.
“Study as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God,” he said.
At the matriculation ceremony held at the Shanahan Auditorium, key stakeholders present included the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Sir Cletus Ibeto; Mr. Peter Obi; Senator Tony Nwoye; and Sir (Engr.) Francis Anyakwo. Senator Abaribe, who delivered the keynote address titled “Excellence in Character and Learning,” charged the students to uphold integrity and moral clarity.
In his remarks, Chief Ibeto commended Archbishop Okeke for the steady progress of the university, while Mr. Obi urged the students to remain focused, patient and diligent, and to emulate people of integrity and good character.
Engr. Anyakwo reminded the students that it was their responsibility to lay a solid foundation for their future.
Highlight of the event was the announcement by the Vice-Chancellor that the university had acquired facilities for the study of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
