By our reporter
Huge waves of excitement and thrill engulfed the Federal University of Gusau (FUGUS), Zamfara State, as a total of 2,229 students offered admission into the centre of academic excellence,were on Thursday, February 20, administered the oath of matriculation for undergraduate studies.
The vital exercise qualifies them as bonafide students of the 12-year-old University.
Of the 2,229, 343 are Medical and allied Health Sciences students.
The figure represents 44 percent of the 5,066 candidates who applied for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry admission into the University for the 2023/2024 session.
A further breakdown of the number of matriculated students showed that 1,381 were enrolled into the Science, Medical and allied Health Sciences programmes in compliance with the Federal Government (FG)’s directive on Science to Humanities students’ 60:40 ratio, as well as the institution’s deliberate response to the nation’s quest for science education and technological advancement.
These were disclosed in a statement issued by the University’s Head,Committee on Media and Communications, Dr Linus Akor,on Thursday.
The statement added that the 343 students offered admission and matriculated into the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Nursing Sciences, Dental Sciences, Physiotherapy and Dietetics degree programmes of the University’s newly-established College of Health Sciences, underscored “the institution’s commitment to closing the modern healthcare provisioning and delivery gap in the North-West zone of the country.”
Addressing the jubilant students after administering the matriculation oath at the Convocation Square, Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University, Professor M.G. Abubakar, enjoined them to shun examination malpractice and other social vices such as cultism, sexual harassment, theft and drug abuse.
He warned that the penalties for such are clearly spelt out in the institution’s student handbook.
The VC charged them to embrace the spirit of hard work, ensure strict adherence to University rules and regulations, exhibit personal discipline, display high ethical standards and demonstrate unalloyed respect for constituted authorities in the course of their academic journey in FUGUS.
Professor Abubakar, who assured the matriculants of their security and safety, however, urged them to be vigilant and security-conscious by reporting any suspicious movement of persons or groups to the relevant security authorities.
Congratulating the students for scaling the admission hurdles, the VC enjoined them to take their studies seriously, noting that the University’s degrees are conferred only on those found worthy both in character and learning.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Dean, Student Affairs Division of the University, Dr. Mu’awiyya Umar Ladan, commended the VC for the enormous support towards the success of the matriculation exercise.
The colourful occasion was graced by members of the University Management, Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Deans of Faculties, Directors, Heads of Departments and Units, heads of paramilitary agencies, traditional rulers, parents, guardians, members of the University community and students.
Highlights of the event included rendition of poems and display of drama sketches which mirrored life on campus focusing on the importance of Nigeria’s unity in diversity.
