Anthony Anyalewechi,
Owerri
No fewer than 471 students of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo, Imo State admitted for various courses and departments have matriculated for the 2023/2024 academic session.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of UAES, Professor Christopher Eze disclosed this in his address during the third matriculation ceremony of the institution which took place in the school recently.
He also disclosed that with the successful admission, the student population has increased to over 1,100 just as he expressed hope that it will become higher in the years ahead.
Maritime Bits checks revealed that the tertiary institution which was established three years ago was faced with the challenges of infrastructure, accreditation, human and material resources.
However, the appointment of Eze by Governor Uzodinma in November 2022 changed the narrative as UAES assumed aggressive dimensions to actualise a conducive learning environment that will catalyze innovative, entrepreneurial and scientific transformation in various fields of pursuits.
The Vice Chancellor stated that UAES accreditation process is ongoing in the faculties of Agriculture, Science and Computing, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Arts, Social and Management Sciences while contacts is being established for financial support from well to do indigenes of the state to upgrade the university status.
Eze who appreciated the enormous support of Uzodinma posited that AUES drive to key into Federal and State Governments policy on improving the agricultural sector which was the reason the school authority made it mandatory for all students to have exposure on Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
According to him, modalities were already in place to make the university a world class institution of learning and affirmed that before June 2024, accreditation for all departments would have been completed.
His words: “Our programmes are such that if you are here for any course, you must have excellent experience on hands-on tools in Agriculture and Environmental Studies outside your majors. Our interest is that when you graduate from here, you will contribute meaningfully to developmental discourses across the globe and in fields different from the certificate you are carrying.
“We envision a university that is world class, run on a template unparalleled academic dicta, unblemished moral ethos, and matchless entrepreneurial gusto to achieve our goals of raising godly men and women who will dominate in their various fields of endeavours”.
Eze said the university is currently having national and international partnership with International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Onne Office, National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike, Umudike Seed Company Limited, Maejo University Thailand, European Union (EU) and other Diaspora friends in academics.
According to him, UAES has also concluded arrangements with TETFund to access a robust ICT to back up Google classroom it recently installed to facilitate smooth and unhindered interaction between its lecturers and their partners across the globe.
While admonishing students, especially the students, Eze reminded them of UAES zero tolerance to all form of misconducts.
He outlined examination malpractice, cultism, violent behaviour, drug addiction, prostitution, internet fraud, kidnapping, vandalism and armed robbery as offences for which the school authority would not hesitate to bring severe sanctions on offenders.
