By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi has matriculated 3, 888 newly admitted students for the 2016/2017 academic year.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Saminu Abdulrahman Ibrahim has during the matriculation ceremony told the new students that their success in the university depends on how well they conduct themselves.
Professor Ibrahim, who was represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University, Professor Abdullahi Umar, noted that some students make the mistake of missing the orientation programme for fresh students which, he said, avail them with the dos and don’ts of the university.
“Over the years, we have observed that some students who make certain terrible mistakes were usually those who did not take advantage of the orientation programme”, he said.
The Vice Chancellor therefore advised the new students to apply themselves diligently to the matriculation exercise and take full advantage of the orientation exercise.
He reminded the matriculating students that understanding the rules of the game in academic pursuit is most important, saying that they cannot progress if they did not understand what brought them to the university.
“You are unlikely to win if you don’t know the rules of engagement. You are unlikely to win if you don’t know how. Therefore, to win, you have to know what is not allowed, so you can avoid actions that will get you penalized”, he added.
The Vice Chancellor further warned the students that they must be enthusiastic about their studies which, he said, is very crucial.
He explained, that despite the fact that a student does not get the subject of his first choice to study that should not affect his motivation, but should regard it as an opportunity.
“This is because a man can succeed at almost anything for which he has an unlimited enthusiasm. Enthusiasm enables you to control the emotional climate of any given situation”, he added.
A breakdown of the 3,888 matriculated students indicate that 272 were in the Faculty of Agriculture, 718 in the Faculty of Engineering and Engineering Technology, and 639 in the Faculty of Environmental Technology.
It also shows that 545 students were matriculated in the Faculty of Management Sciences, 950 in the Faculty of Science, 723 in the Faculty of Technology Education and 39 in the College of Medical Sciences.
