MAiden matriculation ceremony

The JAMB Registrar,
The Principal Officers of the College,
All Directors,
Heads of Departments,
Parents and Guardians,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Greatest Nigerian Students

On behalf of the Chief Promoter and Visioner of Nubian American Advanced College (Dr.
Azhinoto Ozodio Ikpah, PhD), the Governing Council, and the entire Management team, and
with gratitude to the Almighty for a dream manifesting under my leadership, I wholeheartedly
welcome you all to this maiden matriculation ceremony, implanting the feet of this citadel of
learning in the sands of time. History is being made today and you are all part of this epochal
event, especially those pioneering the studentship and faculty of the approved and accredited
status of this institution.
I particularly welcome the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board
(JAMB), Professor Isaaq Oloyede, very ably represented by the Lagos State Coordinators of
JAMB, Mrs. Mary Essien and Mrs. Grace Ojekwe
My very hearty congratulations go to the matriculants, whose names go into the annals of
history as the pioneer students of the take-off programme of the college duly accredited by the
National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), full-time and part-time; trainees opening the
doors for certificates and certifications; their parents and guardians; and warmly welcome all
guests to this auspicious occasion.
The establishment of this college is predicated upon the notion that education is functional
when it serves to bridge the community/society with its economy/industries. This tripod being
the hallmark of the American tertiary education model serves as our motivation to realign
educational delivery from mere paper qualification to practical minds and hands reorientation.
To this end, this administration places a premium on students as vital stakeholders in the
revolutionary drive to take education to the point of progress and development of society
through the industries and businesses thereof. It is our anticipation therefore that the students
that will pass through this institution will not be mere paper carriers but champions that will
conquer the world with massive innovations in technology, entrepreneurship, business
remodeling, cultural rebirth, and educational confidence for lifelong learning. To actualize this vision, we have started out by deploying such technologies for teaching/learning,
curriculum delivery, exploration and critical thinking, that open up the mind of our students
and faculty to the suppressed past of ancient African (Nubian) knowledge base and to the vast
possibilities of human endeavours. You are invited to visit our multifaceted and
multifunctional Learning Resource Center and Digital Entrepreneurship Development Center.
The JAMB Registrar, Sir, very distinguished ladies and gentlemen, please permit me to point
the torch on some of our foundational settings that assure of our building a firm and solid
educational citadel that is beyond the ordinary to justify our choice of model to prove its
efficacy.

In choosing to mirror the American model of education, which itself metamorphosed from
Germany, and having a great deal of ancient African wisdom, science and technology,
upkeeping the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), we hope to be
internationally accredited by an accrediting commission in the United States of America. To
this end, we have established curriculum benchmarks and having sought and obtained
requisite recognition by the Federal Ministry of Education and the ascent of the NBTE, we are
poised to deliver on our promise to make students learning here in Nigeria to be excellently
competitive and globally sound from the standpoint of our national curriculums. We are
thankful to the honourable minister for education and the NBTE for their approval and
accreditation, which give us the impetus to hold this matriculation ceremony. We do not
despise our take-off accreditation and our day of little beginning, as we look forward to a big
future.

It will interest you to know that although we are new to the sector, we have already taken
leaps that have put us in the foreground of education delivery through massive deployment of
revolutionary technologies. We pride ourselves in achieving the enviable status of being
approved and licensed by Microsoft Corporation to enjoy its corporate social responsibility in
education to revolutionize learning and teaching experiences in our college. In the same vein
we enjoy the license of homegrown software giant, MRSoft of M-R International, whose
Enterprise School Portal (ESP) drives our processes. Working with both providers and our
developing website www.naac.edu.ng has given us very robust leading edge learning
platforms and learning management systems that we continue to explore and engage. Faculty
members and students in tertiary institutions in this country have not had this good. Many
thanks to you Microsoft and MRSoft. At NAAC we are digitalized and still improving our
processes from application for admission through awesome learning to transcript generation
and alumni activities in due course.

Understanding that a college is the mix of library/libraries and other structures, and the
current state of affairs of the era, NAAC meets the needs of today’s learners by deploying a
digital e-library covering all spheres of human study. We are also stocking our physical book
library not merely to satisfy accreditation requirements but to also meet the curiosity of
library users. By the time we are done with the process of integration with libraries around the
world, access will be available through our facilities to a rich harvest of knowledge across the globe and beyond boundaries. Accordingly, we are eagerly open to contributions and
donations and hereby express our thanks in advance to contributors and donors.

In line with trends in ease of doing business, NAAC is approved by the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) to receive electronic payments via our portal directly from our website.
Tuition and other fees can thus be made from the comfort of one’s place and time. Our system
is being positioned to seamlessly run all financial transactions including donations, grants,
and scholarships. Our enthusiasm to serve our students and give them the best call for the
active involvement of partners, friends, and well-meaning individuals and organizations. We
thus hereby solicit the joining of hands with us in this transforming journey.

In so far as we are open to receiving people in our facilities, we have made provisions for the
care of health emergencies that may occur without warning. While we do not wish for any
eventuality, our Sick Bay is established to serve this need, and serious cases will be referred
to facilities outside the campus.

In recognition of the benefits of sports and games, we have mind developing indoor games in
place while other more mobile and space-demanding activities can be availed outside the
campus. The college plans to promote competitions and fiestas and hopes to be a place for the
birth of champions. Athletes and various sectors of sportsmen and women within our students
and staff cadres will be supported. In preparation for these aspirations, the Provost has
provided trophies awaiting the commencement of the championships.

Having presented the visionary offerings and preparedness of the college to cater to the
aspirations of our students and communities, it seems expedient for me to address our very
dear students on gems to be held in mind in their sojourn at NAAC.
My very dear students, during your orientation you were introduced to several facets of
college life, some of which seemed quite unfamiliar to you, especially the areas of
technology. You nevertheless accepted our offer and chose to let us be your strong ally at this
stage of your life. We have promised to guide you well in the fear of God and in the interest
of your glorious future. Your teachers and other staff have been committed to your knowledge
acquisition and general wellbeing while you are with us. You have also pledged to be of good
conduct and to abide by the rules and regulations guiding your studentship. In this ceremony
you have openly made such declaration to be obedient. Mutually the college and yourselves
will hold each other to these vows. Be assured that on behalf of the college I promise you that
we shall do our part. Your success, however, depends more on you applying yourself to the
conditions and terms that take you to limelight. You are mounted on hilltops and cannot be
hidden as society esteems the college, and industries expect you to meet their requirements
upon completion of your studies at the college. I have no doubt that you shall be celebrated.
Relent not!

The amiable JAMB Registrar, Sir, my depth of gratitude cannot be fully expressed for your
unflinching support to our college since the NBTE notified you of our approval and
accreditation status, and for honouring our invitation through your very able and equally
supportive representative. We trust that you will continue to support us as we grow to fulfill
our purpose. We wish you well as you return to your destination.
To you parents and guardians who have, in spite of our being new and relatively unknown,
believed us to the point of allowing your children and or wards to be part of us, we thank you
and pledge not to betray your confidence as we demonstrate commitment to excellence
through this matriculation ceremony of which you are witnesses.
A special greeting and recognition must be made of the custodian of the tradition of the land,
HRM, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, Sateru II, the Ojomu of Ajiran Land, who received and
welcomed us with open arms to this community. In the same vein, I greet specially, the priest
at Our Lady Star of the Sea the Catholic Church, who has proved to be a true friend of the
college.
We acknowledge the enthusiasm and gifts from our friends upon learning of this event. Some
of your insignia are on our photoshoot backdrop. Thank you.
On behalf of the Governing Council, Management, Staff, and Students of this promisingly
great college, I congratulate the Chief Promoter, the Nubian Group, and all of us who have
joined faith and forces with him to come this far. The journey is well underway!
As I make to resume my seat, I want to very warmly appreciate my fellow Principal Officers,
Directors of Schools, Heads of Departments and Academic and other Services, the Academic
Board and entire Staff (Teaching and Non-Teaching), without whose active support we would
not have come this far.
To the Press and everyone here present, all our friends and sponsors, I say a big thank you and
congratulations.
For your attention which I very much cherish, thank you and be blessed.
Patrick Oyinkari, DBL
Professor of Business Management & Leadership
Provost/CEO