First private university takes off in C’River

Ndoma Richard|6 May 2017 

No fewer than hundred students yesterday in Calabar began pursuing
degree programmes in various field of disciplines at the first private
university in Cross River State.

The private university, called `Arthur Jarvis University’, just*kick-started its  programmes on Saturday with over 120 pioneering students who will read to obtain bachelor’s degrees in arts, applied
and management sciences.

Vice chancellor of the institution, Prof. Julian Osuji while speaking at the first matriculation ceremony of the school charged the 120 students admitted into the school to work hard so as to come out in flying colors.

Osuji who delivered his speech at the assembly hall of the institution in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State said graduates of the institution will graduate and become self-reliant and big employers of labor.

Speaking also at the ceremony, Head of Service of the Federation Winifred Oyo-Ita said she was happy with the facilities that she had seen on ground at the Prof. Fidelia Ngozi-Obasi campus.

Oyo-Ita who joined other dignitaries at the ceremony to declared the university opened, said she was glad to witness the take-off of the first private university in Cross River State.

The Head of Service who thanked the proprietor of the university, Mr
Arthur-Jarvis Archibong for conceptualizing the idea of establishing
the university and urged other Cross Riverians to emulate Arthur Javis
in investing in education.

She said that with the establishment of institution, the socio-economic wellbeing of the host community and the state in
general will witness massive improvement.

Oyo-Ita maintained that education being bedrock to any given society was a sector that citizens of the country needed to invest massively upon in that sector if Nigerians were willing to attract development into the country.

“As I officially declare open the commencement of this university
today, I wish to commend the proprietor for nursing the idea to invest
in education.

“I am well convinced that this university will add economic value to
Akpabuyo local government and the state in general”, she added.

 Chancellor and founder of the university, Arthur Javis said that the university is founded on strong academic principles by season educationists.

Jarvis maintained that the focus of the university was to groom students to be future ambassadors of the university and the country through moral discipline and academic excellence.

“As we commence proper academic work of this great institution, I
wish to advise the students to be dedicated to their studies and moral
values.

“Arthur Jarvis university is a great institution that stands proudly
as a citadel of moral discipline and academic excellence”, Javis
maintained.

Chairman for the institution’s Board of Trustees, Prof. Bassey Asuquo
maintained that the university is taking off with 10 departments and
15 programmes.

Asuquo, who doubles as former VC, University of Calabar, stressed that the institution was going to add value to the educational advancement of the state.
The former Unical VC said  that the 

university will compliment the state government efforts in the quest to bring the state out from her
educationally disadvantaged status.

Also speaking at the occasion, His Royal Majesty, Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu, Obong of Calabar, charged the people of Cross River State to emulate the virtues of proprietor of the institution by coming home to invest particularly in the educational sector to pull the state from her status of being rated as educationally disadvantaged state.

The Efik monarch urged the matriculating students to see themselves as the pioneering students of the university by taking their studies
seriously so that they can graduate in flying colors.

One of the institution's matriculating students, Mr Paul Okon, expressed satisfaction with the facilities and infrastructures in the university and charged management of Arthur Javis University to provide adequate security measure for students in the campus.

Ndoma Richard 

Writes from Calabar