By Ikenna Nwokedi
Ifitedunu Town Union recently made history by holding a successful one-day hybrid orientation programme for admission seekers.
The one-day orientation programme which was held at Ifitedunu Civic Centre had its theme as: “Keeping Hope Alive.” The programme which was the first of its kind in the community domiciled in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State was an initiative of the community’s President-General and immediate past Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UNIZIK Chapter, Comrade Stephen Uchenna Ufoaroh.
In his welcome address, the President-General of Ifitedunu Community, Comrade Ufoaroh admonished the students to take their studies more seriously as plans are already in place to honour all first class graduates from Ifitedunu as well as provide scholarships to indigent students of Ifitedunu origin to help them pursue their dream of acquiring higher education certificate. The scholar assured that the community leadership is poised in its effort in promoting educational values.
In her remarks, the Guest Speaker and current Deputy Registrar (Admission) UNIZIK, Dr. Chinenye Okeke commended the Ifitedunu Community for organizing such a wonderful orientation programme geared towards inundating young ones on the importance of education and processes involving towards furthering their academic career by gaining admission into a higher institution.
Dr. Okeke reeled out the admission processes involved in getting an admission into any Nigerian higher institution while highlighting the minimum requirements needed for admission into various departments at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She advised the students to see gaining admission into a tertiary institutions as the first step in achieving their dreams of becoming a graduate while admonishing those who are lucky to be admitted to focus on their studies and work hard to ensure they graduate with good grades at the end of their four or five-year stay in the University, Polytechnic or College of Education.
Speaking also, a Lecturer at Bowie University, USA, and the International Coordinator Ifitedunu Professionals, Prof. Ben Arah who joined the programme online appreciated the community leadership for an opportunity to speak at the event and holding such an orientation programme which he described as the right step in the right direction in channeling the minds of the young ones into a productive sector for their mental, social and physical development.
Prof. Arah inundated the students on the requirements for foreign students admission in the United States of America (USA). The scholar advised students to remain persistent and steadfast in their academic pursuit by eschewing any form of distraction. He also pointed out that education is the key for societal growth and development.
On his part, Rev. Engr. Dr Chidozie Nwakire, a scholar from the Department of Civil Engineering, UNIZIK, who also was the pioneer First Class Graduate of his Department at UNIZIK, informed that the only way towards academic success is by reading hard and devoting majority of one’s time towards academic studies.
The scholar turned clergy advised the students to stay away from any form of academic malpractices as it can truncate a student’s effort in graduating successfully from the University, he admonished the students to always pray in the course of their studies for God’s guidance, wisdom and examination success.
In his closing remarks, the President-General informed that admission process and procedures discussion would continue on a special WhatsApp platform created to ensure that all sons and daughters of Ifitedunu who wrote JAMB and WAEC secures admission into higher institutions in keeping faith with the Soludo Government Agenda for Youth Empowerment and keeping them away from crime.
He also revealed that an Education Trust Fund account was opened to raise funds from Umu Ifitedunu in order to bankroll school fees payment for indigent students while also eulogizing Umu Ifitedunu for responding positively to this commitment to help the indigent students in and out of the community.
Other highlights of the one-day orientation programme were interactions in form of question and answer session from students both physical and those who joined online as well as prayers for the student attendees of Ifitedunu Community and beyond.
