By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Legacy University, Okija, over the weekend, recorded another defining milestone in its steady march towards becoming one of Nigeria’s foremost private universities, as it officially admitted a fresh batch of students during its landmark 10th Matriculation Ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic session. The University, at the event, also unveiled a new phase of academic expansion that includes the commencement of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Artificial Intelligence, Telecommunications Science and Intelligence and Security Studies.
This is coming as the Proprietor and Pro-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Leonard Nkameme, re-emphasized that the essence of education at Legacy University transcends merely passing examinations, but centres on acquiring knowledge capable of transforming lives, solving societal problems and creating opportunities.
Held at the university’s permanent campus in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, the colourful event attracted education stakeholders, government officials, representatives of the National Universities Commission (NUC), religious leaders, community leaders, members of the university’s Governing Council and Board of Trustees, parents, guardians, security agencies, alumni and well-wishers, all of whom gathered to witness another historic chapter in the institution’s journey.
Beyond the matriculation of the fresh students, the ceremony provided the university with an opportunity to showcase some of the remarkable progress it has recorded within the past one year, including the approval of several new academic programmes, major infrastructural developments, increased staff strength and its vision to commence postgraduate programmes by next academic session.
The event commenced with a special Holy Mass, during which the Chief Celebrant and Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, Rev. Fr. Anthony Edoka, reminded the matriculating students that they were privileged to have gained admission into the university.
Drawing lessons from the Biblical account of the Roman Centurion’s encounter with Jesus Christ, he stressed that success is built not merely on intelligence but on faith in God, hard work, humility and discipline. He urged the students to remain humble and teachable, warning that wisdom departs where pride prevails, while also admonishing them never to become “too intelligent to pray.”
He further charged them to choose their friends wisely and build their academic journey on the enduring pillars of faith in God, discipline and integrity of character.
Addressing the gathering, the Proprietor and Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Leonard Nkameme, described the occasion as a celebration of vision, resilience and collective commitment to quality education, expressing gratitude to God for the steady growth the institution has recorded since obtaining its provisional licence.
He appreciated members of the Board of Trustees, the Governing Council, the university management, principal officers, lecturers, non-teaching staff, regulatory agencies, parents and the host community for their invaluable contributions to the success story of Legacy University.
Recalling the institution’s humble beginnings, Dr. Nkameme said there was a time they secured the university’s provisional licence without knowing exactly where to begin, but noted that determination, divine favour and show of commitment have transformed the institution into one of Nigeria’s fast-growing private universities.
According to him, the university has continued to exceed expectations, with no fewer than ten additional academic programmes receiving accreditation, while targets and preparations have reached advanced stages for the commencement of postgraduate studies by next year.
He described as historic the recent approval granted to Legacy University to establish its College of Medicine and Surgery, noting that the institution would commence admission into the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme.
The Proprietor further disclosed that the National Universities Commission also approved the commencement of degree programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Telecommunications Science and Intelligence and Security Studies following rigorous resource verification exercises.
He added that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria equally granted approval for the university’s Nursing programme and is currently concluding the indexing process for Nursing Science, thereby further strengthening the institution’s position in medical and health sciences education.
According to him, the approvals are complemented by unprecedented infrastructural development across the campus, including the construction and equipping of state-of-the-art laboratories for medicine, artificial intelligence and other science-based disciplines, as well as upgrading of other existing science facilities.
He also listed the installation of high-speed Wi-Fi across the campus, expansion of the university’s solar power infrastructure, construction of additional modern hostels for male and female students, and the recruitment of additional highly qualified professors, researchers and administrators as part of the institution’s deliberate strategy to provide globally competitive education.
While celebrating these achievements, Dr. Nkameme did not shy away from highlighting the realities confronting private universities in Nigeria.
He lamented that Legacy University currently bears the enormous financial burden of providing quality education without any intervention from donor agencies or external funding organisations, despite rising inflation and increasing operational costs.
According to him, maintaining laboratories, paying salaries, providing uninterrupted electricity, sustaining quality academic delivery, and executing capital projects amid rising inflation and increasing operational costs have become extremely challenging; thereby making prompt payment of school fees by students and parents indispensable.
He also passionately appealed to governments at all levels, corporate organisations, philanthropists and public-spirited Nigerians to partner with Legacy University through educational grants, research funding, infrastructural support, scholarship schemes and endowment projects.
According to him, such interventions would enable the university to expand its lecture halls, research facilities, laboratories, hostels and scholarship opportunities for brilliant but indigent students.
Addressing the matriculating students, Dr. Nkameme reminded them that university education is fundamentally about acquiring knowledge rather than merely passing examinations.
“We study here to acquire knowledge, not just to pass examinations,” he declared, urging them to maximise the enormous opportunities available within the institution.
He urged the students to shun cultism, examination malpractice and every form of social vice, while embracing discipline, punctuality, integrity and hard work throughout their academic journey; even as he reassured parents that they made the right decision by choosing Legacy University for their children, stressing that they would never regret the confidence reposed in the institution.
Highlighting the employability of Legacy University graduates, he disclosed that all alumni of the institution are gainfully engaged in different sectors of the economy across the globe, revealing that no fewer than fifteen graduates from the institution are currently working in Japan through opportunities facilitated by the university’s expanding international collaborations.
According to him, the institution is not misusing the resources entrusted to it by parents but continually reinvesting them into infrastructure, staff development and academic excellence.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ezechiel Amarachukwu Ihionu, who officially welcomed the fresh students into the university community, described the matriculation ceremony as the official transition of the matriculants into full-fledged members of the institution.
He congratulated them for successfully making it to the University, while also commending their parents and guardians for the enormous sacrifices made to secure quality education for their children.
Prof. Ihionu noted that the university has continued to witness remarkable progress within the last academic year, particularly with the NUC’s approval of its College of Medicine and other emerging programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Telecommunications Science and Intelligence and Security Studies.
According to him, the new programmes reflect Legacy University’s determination to remain relevant to contemporary national and global manpower needs, particularly in healthcare, digital technology and national security.
Describing the approvals as products of hard work and visionary leadership, the Vice-Chancellor particularly commended the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Proprietor of the university, Dr. Nkameme, alongside members of the university Management, for their resilience and commitment to institutional development.
He further urged the students to justify the confidence reposed in them by remaining focused, disciplined and committed to excellence throughout their academic journey.
Speaking on behalf of the National Universities Commission, the Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, represented by Dr. Babangida Aliyu, congratulated both the management and the matriculating students on the successful ceremony.
He commended Legacy University for sustaining high academic standards and rapidly expanding its academic programmes and infrastructure, describing it as one of the shining examples of quality private university education in Nigeria.
Dr. Aliyu also praised the Proprietor, whom he described as a man of integrity and uncommon commitment to educational development, assuring the university of the Commission’s continued support.
He further joined the institution in appealing to the Anambra State Government to urgently rehabilitate the deplorable access road leading to the university, describing it as critical infrastructure deserving immediate attention.
In a goodwill message, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Moses Chendo, also expressed delight over the university’s remarkable transformation, recalling its modest beginnings and expressing satisfaction that the vision has continued to flourish.
While congratulating the Management on the achievements recorded so far, he advocated for formation of an alumni association, as well as stronger collaborations with foreign universities to enhance research, innovation, staff exchange and global competitiveness.
Speaking on behalf of the Okija community, an indigene of the community, Chief Ben Eze described Okija as the safest community in Ihiala Local Government Area, noting that security remains one of the major factors responsible for the university’s peaceful learning environment.
While assuring parents that the peaceful environment would continue to support effective teaching and learning; the community leader advised the newly admitted students to desist from anything that will constitute threat to the peace and security of the University community and Okija at large, warning that the community has zero tolerance for such. He also charged the students to ensure that education truly passes through them, advising them to allow their university experience shape both their intellect and character.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the matriculating students, Miss Oluchi Benjamin of the Faculty of Arts, Social and Management Sciences expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Proprietor, the Governing Council, the University Management, lecturers, parents and guests for making the ceremony memorable.
She assured that the new students would justify the confidence reposed in them by remaining disciplined, diligent and committed to academic excellence, while pledging to uphold the core values and regulations of Legacy University throughout their stay in the institution.
Others who spoke at the event included the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Dr. Festus Onyima; the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Sir Lawrence Obetta; the Acting Registrar, Dr. Peace Onukelobi; and the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr. Rosemary Chinyere Ibe, among others.
The colourful academic procession by principal officers and the matriculants, formal administration of the matriculation oath, drama and cultural displays, goodwill messages from guests, cutting of the matriculation cake, as well as the symbolic induction of the new students into the Legacy University family, formed the highpoints of the event.
More photos from the event:
