Madonna University is set to celebrate outstanding academic achievement as 120 students graduate with first-class honors during its 23rd Convocation Ceremony scheduled for Friday. The prestigious institution will see a total of 1,800 students across various disciplines receive their degrees in what promises to be a momentous occasion.
Steady Growth and Academic Excellence
The Vice-Chancellor of Madonna University, Professor Casmir Anyanwu, revealed that the significant number of first-class graduates reflects the institution's consistent growth and unwavering commitment to academic excellence. According to the academic leader, the university management is celebrating more than just a graduation ceremony - they are marking the institution's quantum leap into becoming a center of academic distinction, moral upbringing, and manpower development.
Professor Anyanwu emphasized a remarkable achievement that sets Madonna University apart from many Nigerian institutions: the university has never embarked on any strike action since its establishment. He stressed that disruptions to academic activities are considered completely unacceptable within the institution's culture.
"We have maintained an untruncated academic calendar for 26 consecutive years," Professor Anyanwu stated proudly. "We established this institution to correct the anomalies of disrupted academic calendars caused by frequent strike actions, and we have successfully achieved that objective. This year, we are graduating 1,800 students, which demonstrates continuity - a seamless graduation process that has been maintained for 26 years. That is what we call genuine growth."
International Recognition and Accreditation Milestones
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted Madonna University's growing international stature, noting that the institution has become a global brand in the educational sector. He revealed that the university now belongs to the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU), with its Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Administration, Professor Martin Anagboso, recently elected to the IFCU board of trustees.
In a significant achievement for institutions in the region, Professor Anyanwu announced that Madonna University stands as the only university in both the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones approved to benefit from TETFUND interventions. Furthermore, all engineering programs offered by the university have received full accreditation, validating the quality of education provided.
The institution has recorded impressive performance in professional examinations, achieving a 100 percent pass rate in both the Registered Nursing Professional Examinations and Law programs. Madonna University also made history as the first institution to produce eight Nursing students with Registered Public Health Licences.
Infrastructural Development and Future Outlook
Professor Anyanwu outlined several infrastructural milestones completed in the past year, demonstrating the university's commitment to providing world-class facilities. These developments include:
- A completed 60,000-capacity convocation arena
- A multipurpose innovation hall with 8,000 capacity
- A three-in-one international conference hall
- A Computer-Based Test hall equipped with 200 computers
- A completed College of Medicine building with multiple classrooms
- 120 guest houses featuring 250 rooms for postgraduate accommodation
As the institution prepares to send forth its newest cohort of graduates, Professor Anyanwu urged the graduands to uphold the strong moral standards instilled in them during their academic journey. He emphasized that the university's mission extends beyond academic excellence to include character formation and ethical leadership development.
The 23rd Convocation Ceremony at Madonna University not only celebrates the achievements of 1,800 graduates but also marks 26 years of consistent academic delivery without disruptions, setting a benchmark for educational institutions across Nigeria.
