Nigeria’s premier private university, Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), on Saturday, February 22, matriculated over 1,500 students across the institution’s seven colleges and three schools.
 
The university also recently increased its internal revenue generation sources by establishing a paint production unit within the campus in addition to the existing water factory, bakery, palm oil mill, fishery enterprises, and drug manufacturing and methylated spirit production unit.
 
The paint unit offers students the opportunity to be trained in paint production in collaboration with the university’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition. 
 
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, disclosed this during the institution’s 26th matriculation ceremony held at the university’s main auditorium.
 
Ezemonye, who christened the 2024/2025 set of matriculants as the STELLARS, congratulated the students on their admission to the university and charged them to be exceptionally outstanding and excellent in their abilities, achievements, and qualities, as well as stand out from others in life their endeavours with remarkable talents and accomplishments. 
 
In his goodwill message, the Honourable Chancellor, Founder and Chairman Board of Reagents, IUO, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, stressed that the gathering was a celebration of the fresh students’ potential, talents and articulation. He urged the students to remember that the world needs their unique perspective, innovative ideas, and passion for excellence, as they embark on the journey of their academic pursuit.
 
“As you journey through this noble institution, you will discover that it’s a vibrant citadel of diverse culture. This cosmopolitan spirit is our strength, fostering an inclusive environment where every voice is heard, valued, and celebrated,” said the Honourable Chancellor, ably represented by the Deputy Chancellor and former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.
 
“Here we nurture intellectual curiosity, and critical thinking, empowering you to become a global leader, who will be an indelible mark on our society,” he said.
 
Delivering the matriculation lecture entitled ‘Work – A Call’, the guest speaker, Farmer Samson Ogbole, Team Lead for Eupepsia Place Limited (Soilless Farm Lab) and IUO Alumnus 2012 Set, inspired the students, placing them in good stead to navigate their academic journey ahead.
 
Enlightening the matriculating students on the lecture topic, the guest speaker emphasised that one cannot be fruitful in life endeavours in the absence of work, noting that work is of no essence if everything needed in life is already provided.
 
“One of the dangers of being in a private university from a privileged background at times, is not understanding the reason to work, because you feel everything is already given,” Ogbole said.
 
“Work is being intentional in not being idle. If you are not working, we say you are lazy,” he said.
 
Drawing reference from soilless farming and its importance, Ogbole stated that the function of loamy soil in farming is to act as an anchor to plant, retain water, and allow air to pass. He maintained that any material that can play such similar functions that can be used to replace loamy soil becomes soilless.
 
He challenged the fresh students not to consider any substitute to formal education as their solid foundational structure in their life work endeavours. 
 
Emphasizing the right attitude to work and nation-building, the guest speaker encouraged the matriculants not to entertain excuses, to be intentionally determined that their efforts produce results while cultivating good relationships, and to maximise opportunities and potential to achieve desired goals.
 
The ceremony’s highlights included the presentation and admission of matriculating students, administration of the matriculation oath, symbolic signing of the matriculation register, and award for outstanding academic performance.