May 18, 2017
By Ijendu Iheaka
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State on Thursday charged pioneer students of Clifford University, Ihie in Isiala Ngwa North LGA to fight hard to be found worthy in character to survive in today's world.
Ikpeazu gave the charge during the maiden matriculation ceremony of Clifford University, Ihie, Abia state.
He said that learning without character was useless hence the need for students to acquire character to be useful to the society.
"It is important that I inform these young ones here today that diplomas and degrees are awarded to people found worthy in character and learning.
"It is important to be found worthy not only in learning but also in character.
"Today what we find across Nigeria are many institutions of higher learning but most of them are unfortunately devoid of moulding character.
"And the world is in need of people with character more that the world is in need of people with learning. Therefore if you lack character, you will find it difficult to thrive in the world of today.
"So let your greatest emphasis all the hours you will spend in Ihie let it be that you be found worthy in character and learning but moreso in character", he said.
He said that institutions like Clifford University which prides itself in character moulding had come to fill the gap other higher institutions could not fill.
Ikpeazu said that his administration knew there were lot of work to be done in the university and urged all lovers of progress to help it.
He redeemed his promise of a N5 million bursary to the university students and urged his wife to give five vehicles to the new university through her foundation.
Prof Ted Wilson,VPresident, General Conference of SDA and Visitor to the institution represented by Dr Elie Dido thanked God for the dream realised and prayed that the university will expand to become the biggest and best.
He said that Clifford university was fulfilling the teaching ministry of the SDA Church by educating the head and the heart.
Wilson urged the students to work hard to receive the best the institution has to offer and charged them not to waste the resources invested on them.
The Chancellor of Clifford University and President, Eastern Union Conference (ENUC) of the church, Dr Bassey Udoh thanked God for what he had done for them.
He charged the students to develop themselves mentally and spiritually in order to be useful to their society.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Chimezie Omeonu said students were admitted into 11 departments under the faculties of Management and Social Sciences, Humanities and Faculty of Sciences.
He said that Clifford University was named after Pastor and Mrs Jesse Clifford from England who were the first Seventh-Day Adventist missionaries in 1905 to preach the gospel in Eastern Nigeria.
He noted that Clifford while ministering in Aba started a primary school and laid the foundation for Adventist education in Eastern Nigeria.
He said the naming of the University was to immortalise his work adding that the matriculating students were 89 in number.
Miss Deborah Solomon, speaking on behalf of the pioneer students said that they were happy that God made the day of their matriculation a reality.
She called on all and sundry to pray for and support the new university in order to build people of character for our society.
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