……..Provost lists hostel, library, bus and skills centre among urgent needs as officials charge students on discipline, innovation and excellence at 2025/2026 ceremony
By Enitan Abel Johngold
The College of Nursing Sciences, Eku, Delta State, on Wednesday used its 2025/2026 matriculation ceremony not only to formally admit a new batch of students but also to make a strong case for critical infrastructure expansion needed to meet National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, standards, as management, government officials and stakeholders called for deeper investment in nursing education.
The event, held at the college auditorium in Eku, drew health sector officials, community leaders, parents, lecturers and students, and featured a matriculation lecture by Amb. (Dr.) Edward Anoma, presentation of prizes for academic excellence, and induction into the college’s Hall of Fame.
At the centre of the ceremony was an appeal by the Provost, Dr. (Mrs.) Bassey Gloria E., who said the institution, now interfacing with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, and NBTE for National Diploma and Higher National Diploma training, must be better equipped to sustain its growth and accreditation goals.
Describing the occasion as a landmark in the college’s development, Bassey said this was the second matriculation ceremony of the institution and the first under its new framework for training students who will graduate with ND and HND qualifications.
“It is my pleasure to rejoice with our students at this year’s matriculation ceremony,” she said.
“I am particularly joyful as this is the first time we are interfacing with NBTE and JAMB to train students that will graduate with ND/HND certificates.”
The provost praised Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, for supporting the advancement of nursing education in the state, saying the college had continued to record progress through government backing, alumni contributions and community support.
She listed some of the recent improvements in the institution to include installation of streetlights across the college premises, activation of the college website, introduction of online course registration, improvement in students’ academic performance, upgrade of the Computer-Based Test, CBT, centre with faster and more efficient software, expansion of the water project, provision of a solar electricity platform by the Students’ Union Government, and establishment of a mini-market for students.
Despite these gains, Bassey said the college remained under pressure to provide more facilities required for accreditation and effective learning.
According to her, the institution urgently needs a 500-capacity students’ hostel, a 32-seater bus for field trips, a new library capable of seating 120 students, and a dedicated building for procedure demonstration and skills acquisition.
She said the college’s current library can only accommodate 32 students at a time, a situation she indicated is no longer adequate for the institution’s expanding student population and academic needs.
The provost also used the occasion to appreciate the Eku community and key support groups, including elders, unions, alumni and spiritual leaders, for standing by the college.
She congratulated the matriculating students and their parents, urging the fresh intakes to see the ceremony as the beginning of a serious academic and professional journey.
Also speaking, the Functional Director, Department of Nursing Services, Delta State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Okuyade Atake, charged the students to pursue nursing with a mindset driven by innovation, entrepreneurship and clinical excellence.
Delivering an address on the theme, “Advancing Nursing Excellence in Clinical Practice Through Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” Atake said matriculation was more than a formal admission rite, describing it as the beginning of a journey that would shape the students’ future, character and service to society.
She said the nursing profession now demands far more than compassion and care, stressing that excellence in modern healthcare also requires critical thinking, evidence-based practice, digital competence, leadership ability and continuous research.
Atake told the students that the years ahead would be rigorous, as they would be expected to master the science of healing, the art of compassion and the discipline of professional ethics while adapting to evolving healthcare realities.
She urged them to embrace digital health tools such as telehealth and mobile health applications, remain curious in learning, develop creative problem-solving skills and build leadership, management and financial knowledge that would prepare them for a changing healthcare environment.
The nursing services director also advised the students to respect authority, uphold the integrity of the profession, support one another and learn from their seniors.
She expressed confidence in the ability of the College of Nursing Sciences, Eku, to produce quality nurses, noting that the institution has a strong academic foundation and a capable workforce.
Chairman of the occasion, Prince Obiku Morrison West, also stressed discipline, diligence and moral conduct, warning the students against cultism and drug abuse.
West described nursing as a noble profession and said the matriculants must commit themselves fully to their studies through regular attendance at lectures, timely completion of assignments and consistent personal discipline.
He commended the management of the college for maintaining academic standards and moral order, adding that in his assessment, the institution stands among the best nursing colleges in Delta State.
He also called on lecturers to combine academic instruction with moral guidance, while urging parents, guardians and political leaders not to interfere negatively in the academic process or put pressure on lecturers over students’ performance.
Rather, he said, students should be encouraged to succeed through hard work and merit.
Beyond the formal speeches, the ceremony also celebrated academic distinction with the presentation of awards and prizes for excellence, while the Hall of Fame induction added prestige to an event that blended recognition, reflection and renewed institutional ambition.
For the fresh students, the ceremony marked their formal entry into a profession built on service, discipline and sacrifice. For the college, however, it was also a public statement of progress, aspiration and need, a declaration that while important strides have been made, more investment is required to position the institution as a fully equipped centre for high-quality nursing education in Delta State.