Six thousand  students matriculated on Saturday ,February 25 to become bonafide students of the University of Nigeria with a charge from the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Barth Okolo to ensure they meet the attendance requirement and shun cultism.

Cautioning the fresh undergraduates against the notion of limitless freedom in the university, Prof Okolo stressed that ”the academic regulation provides that students who fail to register their courses within the stipulated time will forfeit the session, and all full-time students must attend 75 per cent of all lectures in order to qualify to write examinations in the courses.”

He said that UNN would implement to the letter all the regulations, having provided necessary facilities and enabling environment to enable students concentrate on their studies.

The Vice-Chancellor reiterated that “University of Nigeria has a zero tolerance policy on cultism and anyone caught involved in cultism will be expelled and, thereafter, prosecuted.” Professor Okolo warned:  “Under no condition should you embark on the wilful destruction of university property.

As civilised people, we must find legitimate and rational ways to express our feelings without undue recourse to violence and wanton destruction of public property,” noting that the University of Nigeria awards its degrees to those “found worthy in character and learning.”

The UNN Vice-Chancellor spoke on the limited access to higher education caused by inadequate facilities.  The 6,000 fresh students represent only 20 per cent of the over 300,000 candidates who chose UNN in the qualifying examination.

As a result, Professor Okolo remarked that the matriculation called for both celebration and sober reflection due to the limited number of persons the university is able to admit from the large pool of candidates. “While congratulating you for this achievement, I make haste to urge you to make the best use of the golden opportunity presented by your admission into the University of Nigeria.

You need to stay conscious of the expectations of your parents as well as the enormous sacrifices they are making to see you through school at this point in time.”