It was a remarkable day for the Academic Board, Staff and members of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) as 33 students of the institute matriculated in Lagos for the 2019/2020 academic session.
The NAGAFF Academy, which was established to advance the standard of learning, knowledge and skills for freight forwarders in Nigeria, is the training and education organ of NAGAFF’s parent body.
In his address, Founder of NAGAFF and the Academy’s Visitor, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, pointed out that matriculation in all higher Institute of learning marks the formal admission of fresh students into the institution, including the oath of admission and signing of the matriculation register before they could be regarded as bona-fide students of the institution.
Aniebonam encourage the students to face their academics squarely and not to give room to the devil, stressing that the Academy would maintain zero tolerance for all anti-social behaviours, such as cultism, examination malpractice, hooliganism, prostitution, among others.
He further advised them to keep to the matriculation oaths and stay away from any act that might constitute a breach to the peace of the Academy’s community, warning that culprits would be dealt with in accordance with the institution rules and regulations.
The Visitor used the opportunity to remind them of the need to be security conscious in view of the state of the nation and to avoid keeping late at nights.
Aniebonam, who expressed joy over the milestone achievement, announced his decision to pay one year tuition fee for the 33 students and prayed God to enable them to actualise their goals of excellence in their academic pursuit.
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Also speaking, the Chairman, Board of Trustee. National Association of Government Approved Freight Fowarders (NAGAFF), Chief Chidiebere Enyelema, admonished the students to devote more time their studies, and never to consider frivolities, be good ambassadors of the association, adding that the body is after professionalism.
In his goodwill message, Chairman, Governing Board of the Academy, Simeon Nwonu, said academic pursuant called for hardwork, commitment and not for social interactions, even as he urged the students to understand their chosen career in the profession.
Nwonu, who described the occasion as very crucial, enjoined them to be focused, studious, obey rules and regulations, mindful of characters or else lose their admissions.
External Consultant /Adviser to the Academy, Prof. Iyiola Oni, of the Faculty of Transport, University of Lagos, described Aniebonam as highly cerebral, embodiment of hardwork, straightforward and truthful, who had contributed immensely to the realisation of this noble dream and remarked that the matriculation ceremony marked first and the better things that would happen to NAGAFF.
Also in his goodwill message, Legal Adviser to the Academy, Barrister Fred Akokia, noted that academic pursuit was a serious thing that required full concentration and urged them to avoid distractions and character traits that may puncture their efforts.
Secretary General of NAGAFF and a member of the board, Mr. Olayan Dipo, who congratulated the students, described knowledge as power, urged them not to toy with it as well as to mingle with only those with same mind in order to actualise their academic dreams while thanking the Founder for investing his resources for the smooth take off the Institute.
Earlier in his speech, the Registrar, NAGAFF Academy, Mr. Francis Omotosho, revealed that the Nigeria Board for Technical Education (NBTE) would in the next two months, visit the school for accreditation of the courses.
He announced that the door for admission was still open after the matriculation exercise and called on others yet to register, to join.