From Felix Olunkwa, Umuahia
The Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State recently conducted its 29th matriculation ceremony and admitted over 600 students into the different departments of the institution.
The college which was established in 1955 by the Government of Eastern Nigeria, was in 1964, amalgamated with the Agricultural Research Station, Umudike and was taken over by East Central State government in 1970.
In 1972, the Federal Government took it over as part of the Federal Agricultural Research and Training Station (FARTS), and in 1976, the school became the training wing of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike just as the college was relocated to its current site in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State in 1995.
Speaking at the matriculation ceremony, the Provost of the institution, Prof. Justina Uzoma Mgbada called on the newly admitted students to be of good behaviour so as the college, their parents and guardians would be proud of them.
Prof. Mgbada told the students that the matriculation was the first process of their names to be formerly and officially written in ink in the college book as fully admitted and registered students.
She, however, warned that “for any student to graduate from the college, he or she must be found worthy not only in learning, but also in character. You must imbibe the virtues of good human relations and avoid social vices. The college will not condone actions which contravene the college rules and regulations of behaviours that portray the image of the college in bad light”.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Dr Julius C. Okonkwo, congratulated the provost of the college on her achievements in a short period.
One of the matriculating students, Ogbonnaya Rita said that she grateful to God who made her to gain admission into the college.