By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
It was indeed a remarkable event at College of Nursing Sciences, St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha Anambra State when the College marked her 6th Matriculation and capped 99 students.
The ceremony which was held at the College premises attracted the presence of parents and guardians, relatives, well-wishers, priests, and religious, politicians and government functionaries.
Delivering his homily, Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke reminded the people that St. Jerome was the one who transcribed the Holy Bible into Latin, noting that St. Jerome made a positive mark in the world.
He added that St. Jerome spent greater part of his life in translating the Bible into Latin which he said makes the Bible acceptable throughout the whole world, even as he admonished that people should not waste time in doing anything considered evil.
“Spend your time doing what you consider very good. If you do that, you will be fulfilled in your life and your works will bless others,” said Archbishop Okeke.
He advised the students to be compassionate and hard-working, and enter the culture of excellence and finesse. Do not go for mediocre. Go for the finest and the best. Archbishop Okeke concluded.
Recall that the proprietor of the College, Archbishop Valerian Okeke conceived the idea of College of Nursing as part of the expansion programme of St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha due to his desire to contribute in filling the existing gap in the production of Nursing manpower nationwide.
According to the history of the College, former Governor Peter Obi was briefed on the plan to establish the Nursing College, he funded other logistics which led to the blessing of the project site for the School by Archbishop Okeke on December 19, 2022.
On May 19, 2015 the institution was commissioned by former Governor Willie Obiano followed by its full accreditation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) on November 14, 2017.
In the welcome address which was presented by the provost of the College, Mrs. Obi-Odunukwe Theresaita Aniedu, she described the Matriculation Ceremony as the official entry of students into higher institutions of learning.
She disclosed that 99 matriculants were subjected to a preliminary training session for six months with intensive academic activities, just as she noted that students of set 2019 who sat for the final qualifying Nursing Council examination on November, 2022 scaled through with a hundred per cent pass.
According to the College provost, the College has keyed into digital in most of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria Operation which included; Computerized methods of examination, computer based test ( CBT), Computer Assisted Objective Structured Clinical Examination (CAOSCE) and establishment of Computer based test center in the College amongst other.
She solicited for financial assistance from all relevant stakeholders to aid the College to install a modernized computer center.
Similarly, Nnaji Blessing Ngozi in her address on behalf of set 2022 students described College administrator, Rev. Fr. Fidelis Nwanze was a man of finesse and the largest lion on the mountain.
She also appreciated the provost, Mrs. Theresa Aniedu, course adviser, Mrs. Cynthia Nwonu, Academic and non Academic Staff, parents, guidians, relations and well-wishers.
Speaking with newsmen, the administrator of the College, Rev. Fr. Fidelis Chukwunonso Nwanze urged the matriculants to remain focused and be mindful of their mission in the institution, saying that they should pay attention to their lecturers especially in their clinical area.
The cleric attributed quality facilities, best training, environmental conducive and standard lecturers to the high academic performances of students, explaining that the school authority subsided every cost even below the values of quality of facilities and lecturers in the College.
” You can not give what you don’t have. When the institution was accredited in 2017, we presented our Nursing students for the Council qualifying examination, they all came out with distinction in the area of academics, Said the administrator.
The Catholic clergy lauded Archbishop Okeke for his prayer and financial support, describing him as a compassionate father.
He extolled the coordinator, Health Services of Onitsha Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Basil Ekwunife, CEO, St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Rev. Fr. Dr. Izunna Okonkwo, parents and guardians as well as staff and management of the college for their unalloyed support.
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