On Wednesday, the 1st of February 2023, the staff, students and management of Claretian University of Nigeria CUN, Nekede Owerri, Imo State, gathered at the Claretian Martyrs Chapel of the University to celebrate the commencement of 2022/2023 academic year.
In his homily during the Mass, the Chief Celebrant and Vice Chancellor of the University, Rev. Fr. Professor Wenceslaus Madu said the event was a special one because it was a day the church celebrated the memorial of Claretian Martyrs. Hence, the occasion was another unique opportunity to hand the students and their academic journey into the hands of God.
He explained that the chapel was dedicated to the Claretian Martyrs in 2005 by Late Bishop Gregory Ochiagha of Orlu Diocese. It will be formerly dedicated in no distant time. He said one of the importance of the inauguration of the academic year was to inform the students to brace up with their academic activities, so as to come out with execllent results at the end of their academic sourjon in CUN.
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He then implored the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and the light of the Holy spirit on the students so that they will succeed in their studies and research. The VC appreciated the efforts of the founding fathers of the University, especially, the Father General of Claretian Congregation represented by the Major Superiors of Claretian Missionaries East and West Nigeria Provinces.
In his keynote Address shortly before the end of the Mass, the VC explained that in 2021, the University began with about 50 students, just a year after, in 2022/2023 academic session, CUN now has 250 students. He thanked the parents of the students for counting on CUN. He also thanked the students for choosing the University.
The Vice Chancellor described CUN as a university of choice where birds of the earth will find shelter and human beings will find food. He then advised the students to make good use of every opportunity they have to study and succeed. “In order to succeed in this university you need to allow yourself to pass through the University, so that the University will pass through you,” he said and further advised the students to cultivate good habits and manners that would enable them to leave the University as good products for the society.
The Academic Don equally took time to emphasize on different aspects/places of the University necessary for the students’ growth such as the Library, the Chapel, Social/sporting activities amongst others. He appointed the Registrar and the Chaplain of the University as the Counselors of the students and encouraged them to meet them whenever the need arose.
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He noted that there is zero tolerance for any form of immorality or criminality in the campus and advised students to shun any act capable of endangering their lives on campus. He announced that soon, the University will introduce a dress code for different departments which will make students to appear decent; “and we are going to institute a prize for the best dressed students and staff,” the VC said.
In his remarks, the Registrar, Rev. Fr. Dr. John Ezenwankwor thanked the Vice Chancellor, for presiding over the Mass.
The inaugural Mass is an annual celebration instituted by the University to commence the academic year and to commit all the activities of the year into the hand of God.
Mark Irechukwu
Public Relations Unit, CUN