SUMAS Hosts 3rd Matriculation Ceremony Amid Rapid Growth and Innovation
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The State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, held its 3rd matriculation ceremony on Saturday, March 22, 2025, formally admitting 1,225 students. This impressive cohort includes 1,199 newly admitted students and 26 transfers, signifying a remarkable 58% increase in enrollment compared to the previous year.
Delivering the matriculation address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor James Chukwuma Ogbonna, celebrated the university’s rapid growth, including academic advancements and infrastructural achievements. He revealed that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has increased the institution’s admission quota to 2,800 students, further cementing SUMAS’ reputation as an academic hub of excellence.
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Infrastructural Milestones
SUMAS continues to make significant strides in infrastructure. Key facilities, including the Teaching Hospital Phase One (Outpatient Department) and the Mother and Child Hospital, are set for commissioning. The university recently connected to the National Grid through the 33 KVA National Transmission Company facility at Nru Junction, enhancing power supply, while expanding solar-powered solutions across administrative buildings, hostels, and faculties. Starlink installations have further revolutionized internet connectivity.
Ongoing projects, such as the TETFund-sponsored main library and engineering workshop, are on track for completion by the third quarter of 2025. These developments align with Governor Peter Mbah’s vision to provide cutting-edge educational and research facilities.
Academic Innovations and Research Excellence
SUMAS is at the forefront of academic innovation, launching three pioneering degree programmes: Public Health, Health Administration & Hospital Management, and Industrial Physics. These offerings position the university as a leader in Nigerian higher education.
Research thrives at SUMAS, with 32 projects under the TETFund Institutional-Based Research program. Highlights include collaborations with RWTH Aachen University (Germany), Kyoto University (Japan), and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, exploring artificial intelligence applications. Plans are also underway to establish Africa’s first Microalgae Culture Collection Centre, with notable research on malaria control using biological methods.
Global Collaborations and Visiting Scholars
The university’s global presence continues to grow through academic partnerships and faculty exchange programs. A Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship has brought a professor from West Virginia University to SUMAS, enhancing academic expertise and equipment. Additionally, visiting professors from the UK, Austria, and Germany contribute to SUMAS’ international reputation for academic excellence.
Student Welfare and Accountability
To ensure transparency and accountability, biometric lecture attendance devices have been deployed, enabling parents to monitor students’ academic activities via the institution’s portal. Meanwhile, SUMAS recorded the highest number of NELFUND beneficiaries in Enugu State, with 189 students receiving fee refunds and monthly stipends. Parents were urged to support their wards in applying for the 2024/2025 NELFUND program.
Upholding Discipline and Excellence
Addressing the students, Professor Ogbonna emphasized the university’s zero tolerance for misconduct, citing recent disciplinary actions, including the expulsion of three students and the suspension of five others. He urged the matriculating students to focus on their academics and uphold the values of discipline, excellence, and innovation.
Government Support and Visionary Leadership
The ceremony was graced by notable dignitaries, including Professor Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, Enugu State’s Commissioner for Health, who represented Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. In his remarks, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming SUMAS into a world-class institution, emphasizing investments in education, research, and healthcare to empower future generations.
Governor Mbah commended SUMAS’ rapid growth and urged students to embrace the opportunities the university offers within its conducive learning environment.
Looking Ahead
Professor Ogbonna expressed gratitude to Governor Mbah for his unwavering support, reassuring parents and students of SUMAS’ dedication to producing globally competitive graduates equipped with academic, technical, and entrepreneurial skills. As SUMAS continues to break new ground in Nigerian higher education, it solidifies its position as a leader in medical and applied sciences education.
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