It was all about joy and glamour for parents, students as well as staff and management of Chrisland University, Owode, Abeokuta as the school held her 3rd annual matriculation ceremony which was to formally confirm the status of the matriculants for 2017/2018 academic session as bonafide students of Chrisland University.
The event which was held at the auditorium of the university was filled to capacity and one could perceive in a glaring term the euphoria of joy and excitement on the faces of both the matriculants and their parents. The Chancellor and founder of the University, High Chief[Dr.] Winifred Awosika as well as the Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof. [Mrs] Chinedum Peace Babalola were not left out of this special moment of celebration as their different speech portrayed their fufillment of joy for the day.
According to the Vice Chancellor, the school which started three years ago with less than ten students was able to matriculate about seventy students for the 2017/2018 academic session, a feat one would indisputably agree to be great.
Responding to a question from CEOAfrica reporter on the challenging task from increasing the number of students from seven to over one hundred in less than three years, the Chancellor and founder of Chrisland University, High Chief [Dr.] Winifred Awosika appreciated the hardwork the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Babalola has put in, which according to her has placed the school in a better position where it could be reached by many. In her words ''we have worked hard at marketing. The Vice Chancellor, she has worked very hard to project the image of the university. Now more people are getting to know us''.
On her part, the joyful Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University who is also the first female Pharmacist Vice Chancellor in Nigeria, Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola could not hide her joy when CEOAfrica reporter had a chat with her. According to the erudite Professor, the matriculation ceremony was the first she will be overseeing as a Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Babalola further enjoined the matriculants to always see themselves as children of light wherever they find themselves. She said'' I feel good. I feel great. It's another first in my life. Everyday God is doing one first or the other. So I'm greatful to God, I'm humble. I didn't pray for it. I didn't know such a thing will happen. So I thank God for that opportunity.''
Continuing, Prof. Babalola stated ''my advice is simple. They should shine as light wherever they are. Let there be no darkness, no evil report. They should just be good, moral, hardworking focused students who have come here to work hard to achieve a purpose, to achieve destiny. They should not allow themselves to be distracted. There is darkness all over the world but people from Chrisland University should be light wherever they are. My advice is, they should shine as light in their room, in their hostel, in their classrooms, every where, they should shine as light.''
One of the matriculants from the department of Biochemistry, Odunsi Mayowa Samuel could not hide his joy as a new student of Chrisland University. He stated that his major goal is to come out as the best academically and also to acquire skills within the duration of his study. ''I feel so good because I've been waiting for this event. I've actually been home looking for admission but now that I'm in Chrisland University, I'm actually very happy and my dreams have come through. I'm so happy. My target here is to have a quality education and to come out with a good standard and also going into the entrepreneurship and have a skill after my graduation.''
Another exciting matriculant, Okoh Precious from the department of Micro Biology who was full of excitement stated that ''I feel very good. I feel wholesome like it's a dream come through especially for my parents. They've been wanting to see me be in this matric gown at least. I'm just so happy today''
One of the parents of the matriculants, Mrs. Sanyaolu Olabisi expressed appreciation to God for success recorded by her children to be counted among the few who were given admission.'' I'm so delighted. I give God the glory, the honour, everything because seeing my children among millions of people that wrote JAMB last year; seeing them among students of this university, I am so grateful to God. I see Chrisland University as one of the bonafide universities in Nigeria, a private institution that is set on solid rock and I believe that with God their guidance, He will surely see them through.''
It was a similar mood of excitement on the part of the Registrar of Chrisland University, Mr. Abiodun Lawale while responding to questions from our reporter. Mr. Lawale who described the event as a landmark achievement for a school that started three years ago with just seven students expressed maximum hope for better things to come.
He said'' well, I think for us it's a very joyous occasion. Starting from seven students in 2015 and I think at that time a lot of people were wondering, how can you start a university with seven students but seven itself if you know the symbolism of seven in the Bible, it has a very significant meaning and we were sure then that things were going to turn around for good. But gradually we are pushing on, this year we are matriculating about seventy students and we think this is just the beginning. By God's grace next year we should be having not less than two hundred students and I think it's the Lord's doing and it's marvellous in our eyes.''
