ST. AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, AKOKA – YABA, LAGOS
(An Affiliate of the University of Ibadan, (UI) IBADAN)
2021/2022 ACADEMIC SESSION FOR NCE, CATECHESIS, DEGREE AND PDE NEW STUDENTS
MATRICULATION ADDRESS
BY
Rev. Fr. Vincent Olofinkua (B.A., B. Th., M. Sc., Ph.D.,)
Acting Provost
Protocol.
The Proprietor, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of Lagos,
Director of Education of the Archdiocese of Lagos, Monsignor Jerome G. Oduntan,
Director of Affiliated Institutions, Prof. Francis Offor
Director (DLC), Prof. Omobowale,
Deputy Registrar (Admissions), Mr. Dada,
Deputy Registrar (DLC), Mrs. Ayodele,
Deputy Director, (Academic), Dr. Olutade Onifade,
Affiliation Secretary, Mr. Oluwafemi Ajani,
Registrar (JAMB), represented by Mrs. Awosanya,
TRCN Registrar represented by the State Coordinator, Mrs. Adaobi Ekwuno
Acting Registrar, Mrs. Mary O. Aipoh
Acting Bursar, Mrs. Victory Ukaegbu
Directors of Programme,
Dean of Schools,
Reverend Sisters,
Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff,
Parents/Guardians,
Our Matriculants,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am greatly pleased to welcome everyone here present to yet another academic ceremony in the history of St. Augustine’s College of Education (SACOED) Akoka, a unique College that is affiliated to the University of Ibadan.
To our matriculants, I welcome you all with great joy to this occasion that marks your official entry into a higher institution of learning. The occasion is symbolic because it is a statutory gathering to formally admit qualified candidates who are fortunate to be offered admission into this institution. It may interest you to know that you are the second set of students that I am admitting into our NCE, Catechesis, degree and PDE Programme in my capacity as the Acting Provost of this reputable institution.
I equally want to thank the parents of our matriculants for their efforts and support towards ensuring the success of their children thus far. May God continue to bless the work of your hands.
I wish to remind you, our dear matriculants that the distance between today’s ceremony and your convocation ceremony in about three years for NCE, three semesters for Catechesis, four years for B.ED degree and one year PDE Programme are quite wide and it is important that the journey you are starting today ends well. For the convocation to become a reality, you need to regularly attend lectures, participate in class discussions and make sure you do all your class assignments.
This College is known for its moral values. The College has zero tolerance for examination malpractice, corruption and cultism. I also want to emphasize the importance the College places on respect for teaching and non-teaching staff as well as students in the College. I expect you to establish relationships of lasting consequence between yourself, other students and the people who teach and advise you during your years of study. Despite the division in political and social life of Nigerians, the College has never relented in championing good relationships among students from different intercultural backgrounds while enabling students to explore equity and diversity in a setting that is socially engaging. We hope this can help to foster unity in our country that is widely divided. We also encourage personal and social responsibility by creating opportunities for students to share their learning with the community and to make meaningful contributions to the places where they live. In other words, we expect you to make your contributions to the growth of the College by your creativity and innovations. The result of this, we believe, will produce graduates who are prepared to engage the complexities of life in a changing world with curiosity, empathy, joy, resilience and resounding success.
In spite of our financial challenges, the College has managed to stay afloat to deliver good services to our students. Your role as students in assisting the College in this regard is your prompt payment of fees and other charges. On our part as administrators, we promise to make good use of our meagre resources to achieve the goals of the College.
Beside your academic endeavour, it is our belief that you will make yourself available for one entrepreneurship skill acquisition or another during your years of studies with us. There are available hands-on activities that you can engage in alongside your studies that will prepare you for the limited opportunities in our Nigerian society today. We are glad that each of you will become a full, active and engaged member of the SACOED community today. Welcome therefore to a lifetime experience you will never forget!
Congratulations to our dear students! Congratulations to our esteemed parents! God bless you all for being part of this ceremony. Thank you.
Rev. Fr. Vincent Olofinkua, Ph.D.
Acting Provost
16th June, 2022
