Clifford Varsity Graduates 11 First Class Students

By Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo

A total of 11 students have bagged First Class degree out of the 66 students that graduated from Clifford University(CLU), Abia State. Others came out with Second Class Upper division .

The maiden convocation ceremony tagged, ‘Alpha Graduation’ was held at the Ihie campus of the five-year old university in Isiala Ngwa North local government, Abia State, with dignitaries gracing the event.

Among dignitaries that attended the maiden convocation was the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who expressed satisfaction at the speedy growth rate of the ivory tower owned by the Seventh day Adventist Church (SDA), which also owns Babcock University.

He appealed to the graduands to maximize the knowledge and skills they acquired to become agents of development by solving problems in practical realities of life.

” The world today is not looking for those with mere certificates, but those with useful skills and integrity, who could be depended on to find solutions to societal problems and bring development to the society.”

The governor noted that much was expected from them being the first fruits of the university, hence they should be good ambassadors of the institution exhibiting the high academic and moral training they received.

He commended Dr. Deji Adeleke for his benevolence to the university which has contributed to the rapid growth of the institution, assuring that he would also assist in its development through a funding raising.

Governor Ikpeazu announced a masters degree scholarship to the best graduating student of Biochemistry and cash rewards, as well as the best graduating students in all the five faculties of the university, cash support to 20 indigent students and first 20 students to be admitted in the next academic year.

In their remarks, the Pro-Chancellor, Pastor Oyeleke Owolabi and the Chancellor of the university, who is also the President of Eastern Union Conference of SDA, Pastor Bassey Udo, attributed the establishment and growth of CLU to God’,s unseen hands.

They paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the university including ; Dr. Emmanuel Adaelu, for their efforts in ensuring that the second university owned by SDA has become a reality despite the teething problems encountered.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chimezie Omeonu, in his address narrated how the dream of setting up the institution was made a reality after passing through many processes, adding that it is a thing of joy that the institution has eventually produced its first fruits.

He assured that the alpha class would compete favourably with other graduates globally given that they received wholistic education which prepared them for present and future challenges.