STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES, IGBO-ENO, MARKS MILESTONE WITH 3RD MATRICULATION CEREMONY
On the early hours of Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, SUMAS campus environment was set agog with activities like a raving scene; everyone was actively participating, anticipating and waiting for the ceremony to swing into full session.
The specially invited guests, dignitaries and parents started arriving gradually, while the new students who are anxiously waiting to be officially matriculated fill up different canopies tagged with the specific names of their faculties accordingly, adorned in their matriculation gowns while their faces was lit, happy and filled with excitement.
State University of Medical and Applied Sciences in Igbo-Eno conducted its third matriculation ceremony. During this significant event, the university welcomed 1,225 fresh students into its academic fold. The ceremony served as an official induction for these new students, marking the beginning of their academic journeys at the institution. This milestone celebration not only highlighted the growth of the university but also underscored its commitment to providing quality education in medical and applied sciences. The event was attended by Prof Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, Honourable Commissioner for Health, Enugu State, who ably represented the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Barr. (Dr) Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. Other dignitaries at the event were; Dr. Ochi Patrick who represented the Commissioner for Education Enugu State, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, the Executive Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, HRM Igwe Sir Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, Ogadagidi 1 of Edem- Ani Ancient Kingdom and the Chairman Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Igwe Sir. Dr. H.I Eze, Eze Chukwudebere II of Ibagwa- Aka Ancient Kingdom and the Grand Patron Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Vice- Chancellors of other Universities and their Principal Officers, Deans of Faculty, Heads of Department, Academic and Non-academic staff of SUMAS, members of the host communities, parents of matriculating students , friends and well-wishers of the institution. The Principal Officers of SUMAS were equally present during the ceremony, Prof James C. Ogbonna, the Vice-Chancellor and his amiable wife Prof. Christiana Ogbonna, the university Registrar, Dr. Anselem U. Onah, the university Librarian, Dr. Mrs. Monica Eze, and the university Bursar, Dr, Elvis Ozoadibe, all gathered to celebrate the students’ entry into the academic world.
Delivering his matriculation address, the Vice-Chancellor of SUMAS, Prof. James C. Ogbonna, stated that “a total of one thousand one hundred and ninety-nine (1,199) students were admitted while twenty-six (26) students changed from other universities to this university, giving a total of one thousand, two hundred and twenty-five (1,225) students. This is a fifty-eight percentage (58%) increase, over the number that matriculated last year”.
The VC further expressed his heart-felt gratitude to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Barr. (Dr.) Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for his transformational leadership that is already bearing unquantifiable fruits in all sectors of Enugu State, ranging from economic growth, infrastructural as well as human resource development, which State University of Medical and Applied Sciences has been a great beneficiary. With His Excellency’s support, SUMAS have no reason to not become the Centre of Excellence in Medical, and Applied Science Education as envisioned by the founders of the university, and as enshrined in our vision and mission.
“Guests were made to know that, the phase one (the Out Patient Department) of the Teaching Hospital, as well as Mother and Child Hospital have been completed while an additional office block and an animal house have been added to our critical infrastructure. These are now awaiting the official commissioning by His Excellency”.
The VC stated further that the initial total admission quota given to SUMAS by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the initial twenty-three programs was 1,150 (50 per program). Following NUC implemented facilities inspection on the 10th of June, 2024, the quota was increased to 2650 starting from the current 2024/2025 academic year. Furthermore, following approval by the National Universities Commission after successful resource verification on 23 September, 2024, we have started three new programs, namely, (a) Public Health, (b) Health Administration and Hospital Management, and (c) Industrial Physics with an additional 150 admission quota. With these new programs, our annual admission quota is now 2,800. We have already admitted students into these programs and they are among the students matriculating today.
“In terms of research, a total of thirty-two research projects are being undertaken by our staff under the TETFund Institutional Based Research. Five out of the eight concept notes we submitted to the National Research Foundation were granted and full research proposals have been submitted. Three of the proposals are on the applications of Artificial Intelligence in collaboration with staff from RWTH Aachen University Germany, Kyoto University Japan, and University of Nigeria Nsukka. If approved, these projects will help to strengthen our AI research Centre. One of the research projects is on Microalgae Biotechnology and seeks to establish the first microalgae culture collection Centre in the whole of Africa with collaborators from University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and University of Agriculture, Makurdi. The last project seeks to use biological method to control Malaria. To be a Centre of Excellency, we must be fully engaged in research and development and one of our missions is to impact our society by providing sustainable solutions to some of our unique problems”.
Speaking, Gov. Mbah who is the Visitor to the university said his administration would continue to take education seriously noting that since the advent of his administration, education had continued to have the highest budgetary allocation every year.
Mbah who was represented by the Commissioner for Health Enugu State, Prof. Emmanuel Obi noted that his administration would continue to give adequate support and funding to SUMAS in order to achieve the state target of making Enugu the centre of medical tourism in West Africa.
“My administration will continue to do its best to position Enugu State globally and make it the centre of medical tourism in West Africa.
“I commend SUMAS VC and his management team on their dedication as well as the university’s rapid growth and academic strides in terms of quality academics, research and increase in student quota.” He said.
The governor congratulated the matriculants for being lucky to gain admission to the university and urged them to take their studies seriously in order to graduate with good results as well as justify the huge investment their parents have made in their education.
