No fewer than 18 students have graduated with First Class Honour at the maiden convocation of the Arthur Jarvis University, the first private university in Cross River State.

251 graduated with various degrees and certificates during the convocation ceremony held at the university campus in Akpabuyo, near Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Ani Nkang, said the graduands were combined sets of the 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic sessions.

Nkang said aside the 18 with first class, 115 secured second class upper division, while 91 graduands came out with second class lower division.

He urged the graduating students to continue to entrench the culture of discipline, hardwork, integrity, and excellence wherever they find themselves.

“We hope that you will maintain strong links with the university and assist it in building up an enduring reputation.

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“I take this opportunity to welcome you into the Arthur Jarvis University Alumni Association; on registration you will be on the alumni portal to receive regular updates on the university,” the VC stated.

Nkang disclosed that the university has initiated the process of starting a School of Postgraduate Studies with the National Universities Commission (NUC).

He said to ensure early realisation of the plan, the university management has approved the creation of the graduate assistantship cadre for first class graduates of Arthur Jarvis University.

Nkang admonished the graduands to apply and avail themselves of the opportunities offered by the graduate assistantship scheme.

He also revealed that the institution’s Nursing students would be joining their counterparts across the country for the professional examination for general and post-basic nurses slated for April.

The Chancellor of the University, Arthur Archibong, reaffirmed that the institution was not a rehabilitation centre for drug users, unruly students, and cultists, saying anyone apprehended would be sanctioned.

Archibong also enjoined parents and guardians to be more proactive in their roles as first custodians of their wards.

His words: “As an investor in education, a school administrator, father and friend to our students, I have come to a rather distasteful conclusion that not all parents deserve to be so called.

“When you renege on your responsibilities and allow for the society to mould your children into what they become, you don’t only fail as a parent, you also fail the society.”

The chancellor said no fewer than 100 students from host communities of Akpabuyo and Bakassi Local Government Areas of Cross River State enjoyed full scholarship from his desk.

He further revealed plans to train more than 400 students for global competitiveness within the next five years.

On his part, Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon, enjoined the people of the state to avail themselves of the opportunity created by the establishment of the institution, to send their wards to the university.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to the three best graduating students; Yeneochia Agbor of Biological sciences 2020/2021 who graduated with 4.92 CGPA.

Others were Edidiong Edet of Political Science Department 2019/2020 with 4.73 CGPA and Diligence Benson of Physics Department, 2021/2022 with 4.70 CGPA.

The Star