By Gabriel Dike
Chancellor of Ballsbridge University, British Virgin Islands, Prof. Idahosa Charles, has said foreign institutions are bridging the gaps in the admission demand by Nigerian youths.
L-R: Dr. Mensah Jean-Hermann, Dr.Chukwuemeka, Prof. Abba, Prof. Emeje, Prof. Adebayo and Dr. Marius Ahonon
His words: “Foreign institutions are helping Nigerian youths to bridge the gaps in our admission demand.”
Prof. Charles, who was represented by Prof. Simon Emeje, said there were millions of Nigerian youths seeking admission and they can’t get placement every year. “And so, foreign institutions are helping to solve the problem.”
He spoke at the 2023 convocation of Ballsbridge University in which the institution awarded 27 PhDs, first degrees to six graduates and the conferment of PhD honoris causa on nine persons.
Charles commended the graduates for completing their programmes and acknowledged that the degrees they have earned were a ticket to their success in this harsh economy: “The economy is driven by knowledge-based people. We need graduates in this field to drive the economy. Only 20 percent of entrepreneurs have the knowledge of what they are doing. Many business enterprises shut down because the owners don’t know what they are into.”
In his remarks, the chairman at the event, Prof. Joseph Adebayo, informed the graduates that they attended one of the best universities and have been prepared to face the future.
Adebayo said: “Learning is a progressing exercise. Those who obtained degrees need to progress to MSc and then PhD and with these degrees heaven is your limit.”
The convocation lecture by Dr. Kayode Chukwuemeka reminded the graduates that reality was a function of knowledge, adding, however, “in Nigeria, our reality is broken.”
“I have hope that, with your knowledge, our broken reality can be fixed. Your measure of knowledge is not based on degrees or titles you have.”
In his welcome address, the CEO, Divine Doxology Global Limited, Prof. Abba Joel Michael, described the convocation as an epoch-making event, a milestone of his firm’s efforts to boost the process of admission placement for candidates who desire to study in local and foreign universities using their open and distance learning courses.
He stated that Ballsbridge University was a reputable institution recognized globally with presence and accreditation in many countries of the world.
“In addition to our academic and professional programmes, we painstakingly recruit qualified candidates, who have distinguished themselves in their various fields for the award of honorary doctorate degrees of Ballsbridge University,” he said.
One of the first degree graduates, Chibunbu Patrick Onyema, said the online programme was easy, stating, “Four years is four years. No delay, unlike students of the conventional university, who spend more years.”
Onyema, who bagged BSc Nursing Science, explained that he intends to go for master’s in the area of Health Information Management.
Another graduate of Nursing Science, Loveth Joseph Udo, told The Education Report that it took her four years to earn the degree and it wasn’t stressful because, from birth, she has been eager to serve humanity.
Udo said, after the final examinations, she defended her project, stressing, “Without the course, life will not be easy. I have recommended many people to the online degree programme.”
Ekpo Uyime Ekpeyong said she was introduced to the online programme and had equally informed many who were already students.
“A journey of many miles starts one day. I started the course, here I am a degree holder,” she added.