By Timothy Ekpo
ESSIEN UDIM
The Akwa Ibom government has applauded Topfaith University, Mkpatak, for its decision to partner it in the task of educating future leaders in the country as the institution matriculated the first set of students.
Gov Udom Emmanuel stated at the inauguration and first matriculation ceremony, which took place at Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Essien Udim Local Government.
Emmanuel, who was represented by the deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, described the project as very commendable, pointing out that government was proud of the creativity, ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of the chairman, Board of Trustee of the university, Dr. Emmanuel Abraham, and promised to work with him as partner and coordinator in the government’s quest for good education in the state.
He stated that the proprietor of Topfaith Universityrepresented the true Akwa Ibom spirit of hard work, dedication and excellence and saluted his vision and as well urged other well meaning sons and daughters of the state to emulate the shining example of Dr Abraham, stressing that it would only take people of his kind to birth an institution of such standard.
The governor stated that Senator Hilary Clinton of the United States, once said that it took a village to raise great and inspiring children, noting that Dr Abraham with the cooperation and support of the people of Mkpatak, had brought forth the university.
Governor Emmanuel explained that Topfaith had been a brand and a name associated with academic excellencethrough carefully designed curriculum that had attracted students from within and outside the state and at the same time brought people to Mkpatak for job opportunities to advance the growth and development of the state.
The governor said he has no doubt that the same dedication for excellence and quality at the primary and secondary school levels of Topfaith would be replicated at its tertiarylevel and commended the university management for choosing him as the special guest of honour at the inauguration and first matriculation ceremony.
Governor Emmanuel also commended the students for choosing Topfaith University, urging them to consider their studentship as a great privilege to be the first set of students to be accepted into the institution to pursue various degrees to enhance the manpower need of the country.
He charged them to keep to the core values of Topfaith University, bothering on integrity, character, honesty, intellectual curiosity and morals.
On his part, the governor’s representative, Mr Moses Ekpo,who described himself as a friend of Topfaith educational dreams, said he was happy to be identified with the progress made by the chairman of Board of Trustees, Dr Emanuel Abraham, in providing an educational platform that groomed the people from the pre-primary, primary, secondary up to the university level in Akwa Ibom.
He thanked the management of the institution for the quality of infrastructure provided at the university, adding that such step was an indication that Topfaith meant real educational business in the state.
The vice chancellor of the institution, Professor Patrick Ebewo, said the university in its first outing, admitted and matriculated 102 students spread across four faculties of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, Management and Social Sciences and Law.
Ebewo explained that the 102 students registered for various courses available within the 18 programmes structure, stressing that that it was the hope of the institution to expand the course content of the university as contained in academic brief anchored by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The vice chancellor implored the newly admitted students to develop good willpower for self management to end well.
The chairman Board of Trustees of the institution, Dr Emmanuel Abraham, said the matriculation of 102 students, was the celebration of another gigantic idea of the academic vision of Topfaith brand, the Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State.
Abraham told the gathering that the event also symbolized and commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Topfaith group of educational institutions, noting that the journey to the inauguration and first matriculation ceremony of the university began in 2003, with the acquisition of land, while the ground breaking and prayers for the success of the university was done by late Madam Affiong Abraham, his mother in 2018.
He said the university arrived at a time when the most valuable factor of production in the new world is knowledge and stated that it was an undisputable fact that the university came at the right time to join the league of reputable knowledge creators and vendors for the solution of problems of mankind.
Abraham thanked the Mkpatak community for supporting his ideas in the establishment of the institution and other Topfaith brands to assist in the educational development of the people, employment generation and economic uplift of the state.
Highpoints of the ceremony were the inauguration of the Governor Udom Emmanuel House which accommodates the Department of Accounting; the planting of an Iroko tree and the installation of the paramount ruler of Onna, HRH. EdidemRaymond Timothy Inyang as the chancellor of the university.
The former vice chancellor, University of Uyo, Professor Akaneren Essien, serves as the pro-chancellor of Topfaith University, while Professor Okon Ansa, is a member of the Governing Council.
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