NAUTH matriculates 164 student nurses, 126 student midwives

By: Ijeoma Sandra, Nnewi.

The College of Nursing Sciences of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has matriculated and capped a total of 164 student nurses and 126 student midwives.

The ceremony, which marked the 26th Matriculation/Capping Ceremony of the 2024 set of student nurses and the 2024 set of student midwives, was held at Gilbert Uzodike Auditorium, NAUTH, Nnewi, on Thursday, August 21, 2025, with the theme” Entrepreneurship: A Veritable Tool For Resilience.”

During the ceremony, 290 new students were formally conferred with the official status of student nurses and student midwives in the college.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of NAUTH, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja (OON), Ifeoma Ejiamatu, was represented by Dr Odili Okoye (Okedibia), who congratulated the students and stressed the importance of hard work and determination in this noble profession.

He urged the matriculants to take their studies with uttermost seriousness and shun peer pressure, adding that the institution would provide them with enabling learning environment for smooth running of their programs.

He further urged them to uphold the institution’s legacy of excellence, integrity, discipline and resilience.

“If you want to succeed in this great citadel of learning, you must work hard, prepare yourself ahead of time by reading at least four hours a day. Be wise and remember your root. Don’t allow anyone to deceive you” he admonished them.

He ended by appreciating the efforts of the academic staff nurses and non academic staff, parents/guardians and prayed that their efforts would not be wasted but rewarded.

The AG. Provost of the College of Nursing Sciences, NAUTH, Nnewi, Mrs. Uyoh Eudora Uzoma while addressing the students enjoined them to embrace every lesson, to seek wisdom beyond the classroom and build relationships that would inspire and support them.

She said the College is rated as one of the best colleges of Nursing in Nigeria, disclosing that they have won awards of overall best student of the year in Professional Qualifying Examination and best behaved.

She revealed that since the College got her full accreditation in May, 2023, the college has recorded tremendous achievements through the support of the Board and Management of NAUTH.

Mrs Uzoma outlined the challenges the school faced in smooth running of its program as; a well- furnished administrative building, well equipped classrooms/halls, well equipped offices for lecturers and non-academic staff, students hostels, well equipped entrepreneurship workshops for students’ empowerment, well equipped and spacious library to capacity of students ratio, well equipped ICT unit for tutorial, more ICT lecturers among others.

She implored the hospital Board, hospital Management, philanthropists, friends of the school, parents and Nnewi Community to favorably consider their needs with view of meeting them.

She expressed her immense gratitude to their amiable, humble, hardworking and people-oriented leader, their CMD, Prof. J.O Ugboaja (OON) for his unalloyed support to the Staff and students of the college.

Mrs. Uzoma also appreciated the C-MAC, Prof. O. I Ezejiofor, the C-DCMAC, Prof. C. O Ifeadike, all the DCMACs, Director of Administration, Mrs Ugochukwu J. U,NAUTH management, staff, the Director of Nursing Services, Nurse Managers, the retired principals and vice principals, parents and guardians of the matriculating students, who according to her have helped the students to get to this stage of their career.

Others who spoke during the Matriculation/Capping ceremony were; the keynote speaker, Dr. Chika C.H. Odira, who spoke on the “Entrepreneurship: A Veritable Tool For Resilience”, the NAUTH DA, Mrs J. U Ugochukwu, and Mrs N.N Onyejekwe.They advised the students to take the noble profession as a calling,shunning peer pressure that would rob them this golden opportunity.

Highlights of the event included administration of Oath of Allegiance by the Matriculating students, award of prices to the best brains of the 2024 nursing students and student midwives.