University don tasks young Akalites on education.
3 min read
A university don from the Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Associate Professor Herbert U. Nwoke has appealed to Akalites seeking admission into the Federal University of Technology Owerri to endeavour to pass their JAMB examinations first and officially inform him with prove of their academic excellence for advice and assistance. Speaking with an Umuaka Times correspondent over the weekend on the challenges facing university admissions across the country, the university don identified some certain factors that are responsible for many Akalites and other students from other towns across Igboland find it hard to secure admission after meeting up with all the academic and non-academic requirements. Chief among these factors is the inability of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board JAMB, to offer admission to all the students across the country who did well in their examinations due to lack of facilities, materials and limited number of universities. He asked; “How many universities do we have in Nigeria that can afford to offer admissions to all the successful JAMB candidates per year? That is why it is highly competitive.”
The Associate Professor who passionately appealed to well to do Akalites around the world to invest in, and develop their fellow Akalites in any way they can, also stressed the need for parents to continue to direct their children towards the path of excellence, especially in education.
On his own contributions to the academic development in Umuaka, the professor disclosed to Umuaka Times that he assists about 5 to 7 Akalites yearly to gain admission at the Federal University of Technology Owerri FUTO. In total, the university don who is currently the chairman of Umuaka National Union Owerri Branch, has assisted close to 30 Akalites gain university admission over the years. “The opportunities are there for Umuaka youths to embrace education but the only regret is that the “get rich quick madness” that has affected and enveloped the Nigerian youths of today has also made young Akalites pay little attention to academics”.
When asked why he has not let the people know the role he has been playing by assisting Umuaka students to gain admission into the university, he smiled and slowly answered, “I don’t like blowing my trumpet and also don’t like it blown for me. I do whatever I could as my service to humanity and allow God take the glory. I know in due time, the beneficiaries will be appreciative. There is even one that I helped in his Master’s degree and today he has joined me in my department as a lecturer.”
On his advice to students and non students across the country, he finally put it so. “Prepare well and get high scores so that it will be easy to push through the admission process. Use your office to serve humanity and be humble so that God can lift you higher.”
On the future of education and the need to acquire education by today’s youths, hear him. “Education is and will remain the key to anything anyone wants to become in life. It’s unfortunate that the Nigerian system has relegated education to an abysmal level but it shouldn’t deter people from getting educated. One can venture into any legitimate business after good education and you will notice the difference. The importance of education cannot be overemphasized. No matter the distraction from quick wealth syndrome, education will continue to thrive in Igboland.”
