The Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University (KOMU) Ideato, Imo State, an emerging pride in quality and uninterrupted education held her 5th Matriculation ceremony on Thursday, February 16, 2023, in the University Senate Chamber. The historic event was witnessed by parents and guardians, top government officials, members of the host communities, gentlemen of the press and a host of others. 

In his Matriculation address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor I.N.S. Dozie advised the students to let the matriculation oath be a guiding compass throughout the period of their education. He urged them to make diligent use of the modest facilities in the school, especially the library that has lots of resources such as ProQuest, Research for Life and a host of open sources such as OpenLearn, CosmoLearning, MIT Open, Yale Open, etc. He listed the benefits of studying at KOMU to include; stable academic calendar, timely graduation of students, quality teaching and mentorship, accredited programmes, good students’ experience on graduation [collection of transcript and degree certificate on graduation], affordable fees, impressive facilities for teaching and learning and for recreational purposes, modest ICT facilities [robust and interactive website, virtual classroom for online teaching and learning and other academic purposes], smart and secure campus with great ambience for teaching and learning, friendly host communities and experienced Management team. 

The VC and Principal Officers in a group photo with matriculants

He cautioned them against involvement in anti-social behaviours such as fighting, bullying, cultism, examination misconduct, use of drugs and alcohol, smoking, rape, stealing, sexual harassment, forgery, threats etc. He emphasized that every student must be found worthy in learning and in character to earn the prestigious degree of the university. He informed the freshmen that the University Senate gave various sanctions to nine (9) students in the 2022/23 academic session ranging from warning to rustication for one academic session and indefinite suspension. He further advised them to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene and to observe and respect the customs, cultures, and traditions of the host communities. Finally, he assured parents that University Management will do her best to give their children and wards quality training and comprehensive education as encapsulated in the institutional philosophy. The Vice-Chancellor thanked His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma, The Governor of Imo State and Visitor to the University for unstinted support to the institution and the premium placed on education in the State. A total of 180 students in the Faculties of Science, Arts, Environmental Sciences and Social & Management Sciences took the matriculation oath. 

The VC and Principal Officers in a group photo with matriculants

The Kingsley Ozumba (K.O.) Mbadiwe University was created as a public institution by the Imo State of Nigeria Law No. 1 of 2021 to replace the former Eastern Palm University which was established in 2016 as the 42nd State University in Nigeria and 143rd in the Nigerian University System. The mission of KOMU is to “produce talented men and women with passion and skills to apply knowledge and technology sensibly to solve the problems of the nation and the global community at large”.