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What started as a passion for writing with a platform provided by BusinessDay, Nigeria’s foremost business daily has grown to bear fruits of unimaginable proportion as a one-time contributor to the now-rested campus life pages of the newspaper, has graduated with a First Class degree in mass communication.
Aniekan Udonquak, who will turn 25 years in July, started contributing to Campus Life while in 200 level at the Akwa Ibom State University where he was studying Mass Communication. He was among the 916 students who recently graduated from the University at the institution’s second and third convocation ceremony.
Aniekan was among 31 other students of the University that graduated with First Class in various disciplines and topped his class as the best graduating student of the department.
Attributing his success to God’s special grace, he wrote on his facebook timeline that ‘God favoured me,’ explaining that despite the challenges he faced as a student, it was an extraordinary grace from God that saw him emerge top of his class.
“I have not decided on what to do next; my mind is on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, when I am done with the service, I will think of the next step,’’ he said.
He thanked the management of BusinessDay Media Ltd for providing the platform for him to hone his skills in writing, adding that as a participant in one of the training programmes organised by the newspaper in Owerri, Imo State, many years ago, it helped to broaden his horizon and exposed him to the world of journalism which made him to work harder.
Commenting on his success, a community leader where the University is located and his friend on a social media site noted that “Aniekan came to the University community as an unknown quantity but was leaving as a hero.”
Meanwhile, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has called on Universities in the country to focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education to equip graduates with the right skills that would enable them compete with their counterparts in the global work environment.
The governor, who during the convocation ceremony of the Akwa Ibom State University held at Ikot Akpaden, urged citadels of learning to prepare students to view the world as a vast land of opportunities where they would translate creative ideas into sustainable wealth and cited people like Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell and others whom he said have impacted the world through creative endeavours.
“The world today is driven by Information and Communications Technology (ICT). We live in a world that is highly dependent on science and technology. Institutions of higher learning must therefore, put emphasis on ICT development to equip our graduates with the right skills-set needed for them to compete favourably in today’s globally competitive workplace,” he said.
The governor said his administration has started the process by sending youths abroad to learn and equip themselves with skills that would make them drivers of industrialisation programme of the administration.
He directed the state-owned university to “begin a new academic conversation to the effect that while it is wonderful to look forward to building a career in the civil service or other professional lines, we can equally be successful or if not more, if we think up ideas and match them with technology and then begin to put the building blocks towards wealth creation.”
He commended the graduating class of 2017 for conducting themselves in a manner that qualify them for the award of degrees and certificates in various disciplines and wished them well as they take up the challenge of building their career in the future.
“I have no doubt that the quality of education you have received here will stand you in good stead to compete with your contemporaries and in the process, project the foundation tenets and vision of this great institution as its ambassadors,” the governor said.
Udom, who is also the visitor to the University, expressed appreciation to the Chancellor of the University, Emir of Kazaure, Najib Adamu, Governing Board, and the Vice Chancellor, Eno Ibanga, for maintaining academic excellence thereby making the institution among the best in the country.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Eno Ibanga, said that additional facilities have been provided to accommodate the increasing number of students, adding that the 2nd convocation was for students who had completed their academic programmes in the 2014 /2015 session while the 3rd convocation was for those who concluded their studies in the 2015/2016 session.
A total of 241 students graduated in the 2014 /2015 session while 675 students were recorded in the 2015/2016 session.
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo
