BY IFEANYI UWAGWU/AMAYINDI YAKUBU
THE Vice-Chancellor, Dennis Osadebay University (DOU), Asaba, Prof. Ben Oghojafor has underscored the importance of academic excellence, discipline and intellectual rigour as the university matriculated 5,835 students for the 2025/2026 academic session, today.
Prof. Oghojafor gave the charge at the institution’s fifth matriculation ceremony held at the 1,000-Capacity Hall, where he described the ceremony as another milestone in DOU’s steady growth into a major academic centre in Delta State.
Addressing the new students, the Vice-Chancellor urged them to take their academic pursuits seriously and remain focused on the goals that brought them into the university system. He reminded them that matriculation marked the beginning of a demanding but rewarding intellectual journey.
“As you begin the process of being initiated into the world of intellectual pursuit today, you can be proud of yourself and the progress you have made,” he said. “Today, you are matriculating without hoods and caps, but on the day of your convocation, you shall be decorated with hoods and caps. That is when you can boldly say, ‘I came, I saw and I conquered.’”
Prof. Oghojafor also spoke firmly on the issue of discipline, stressing that the university would not compromise its standards in creating a safe and decent learning environment. He warned that misconduct would attract appropriate sanctions, disclosing that five students had recently been disciplined for drug-related offences.
Quoting from Proverbs 22:29, the Vice-Chancellor encouraged the students to embrace diligence and avoid behaviours that could undermine their academic goals. He urged them to be studious and committed, noting that excellence is the pathway to distinction in life.
Reflecting on the university’s growth, Prof. Oghojafor noted that since his appointment as pioneer Vice-Chancellor in April 2021, DOU has expanded from 46 approved programmes in six faculties to over 84 courses across nine faculties. He attributed the progress to the support of the Delta State Government under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the collective efforts of the pioneering management team.
He observed that DOU was the only one of the three universities established by the state in 2021 that started from scratch, a challenge he said required vision, resilience and firm commitment to overcome.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Quality Assurance at SEVICOM, Dr Ndudi Francis, explained that the establishment of additional universities in Delta State was necessary to address the growing demand for university education. He noted that while tens of thousands of candidates apply annually to Delta State University, Abraka, only a fraction can be admitted, making institutions like DOU critical to closing the admission gap.
Dr Francis commended the Vice-Chancellor’s leadership style, describing the institution as well organised and steadily gaining academic reputation. He advised parents and students to see education as a powerful tool against poverty, stressing that it remains a key driver of personal and societal development.
Some of the matriculating students also expressed optimism about their academic future. A 100-level Medical Laboratory Science student, Amorighoye Ayari, said she was determined to graduate with a first-class degree and be known for positive achievements. Odita Emmanuel of the Faculty of Computer Science department said his goal was to graduate with outstanding results and strive for a 5.0 CGPA, while Michael Favour Chidera, also of Medical Laboratory Science, said she planned to adopt focused and extensive reading habits to succeed academically.
The admission of 5,835 students across nine faculties represents a 33 per cent increase over the previous academic session. The Faculty of Behavioural Sciences recorded the highest intake, while the Faculty of Agriculture had the least number of admissions.
