Lorine Emenike
The Rivers State College of Health and Technology, Port Harcourt on Friday, held its matriculation ceremony for the 2018/2019 academic session.
The event was duly attended by the institution’s invited guests including the State’s Commissioner of Health (duly represented), host community of the institution, parents and guardians of the matriculating students.
In his welcome address, Dr Franklyn Nlerum, the provost of the institution said that the matriculation ceremony is an official process of a tertiary institution to welcome newly admitted students into the college that are interested in earning academic qualifications in tertiary institutions.
Continuing, Dr. Nlerum said that the college is matriculating seven hundred (700) students into different programs of the school. He added that all the courses offered in the institution are fully accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and as a result is admitting and graduating students in Certificate, National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND). He also said that the institution now admits students through JAMB and that the college’s HND students now go for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) like any other tertiary institution in Nigeria.
Dr. Nlerum said apart from training up employable workers, programs offered in the institution are also structured to produce medical technicians who would be self employed and employers of labour.
He charged the matriculating students to be regular and prompt in attending lectures, to do their assignments meaningfully, participate in practicals and demonstrations, to prepare we for their test and examinations.
According to him: “It is said our dreams will come through if we have the courage to pursue them. Let me also make it plain that this administration has zero tolerance for cultism, hooliganism deviant tendencies and examination malpractices”.
“Be reminded that the college has a responsibility to inculcate good values in you and to ensure you graduate as persons found worthy in character and learning and as persons who can serve as positive influences in the society. We cannot achieve this if we do not address your moral needs alongside your academic needs”.
Also, Mrs Precious, one of the matriculating students expressed her joy in the realization of her dream as one of the matriculating students of the college.
She said “Today is our matriculation and just the beginning of the journey and I pray that the God that has started this journey will surely bring it to an end.
“I want to graduate as an outstanding student, we are being celebrated today by our families, relatives and friends. Some of us here are married, we should count ourselves lucky, so many persons started this journey with us, but some could not make it today, some are in the hospital, but by the grace of God we are here today strong and healthy”.
“I advise my fellow students to be focused, know the reason why we are here, don’t come here and forget the purpose of coming to this place. So many things will distract you but be focused. I also advice my fellow students to read their books and do their assignments as at when due and success is sure”.
