Matriculation Ceremony For Pharmacy Students In Nigeria

The joy of freshmen and women in the university can sometimes overwhelm them. They are new to town, new to the school environment including the new foreign activities. Many don't know what to do, what is expected of them and how to go about it. That is why many fail in the first year. By the time they are strong enough to cope, they are in final year.
One of the things most freshers are confuse about is the matriculation ceremony. Some freshers have had an opportunity to attend one or two whereby their family or friend was the celebrant. Many others have only heard of the ceremony. However, each fresher is always confuse what is expected when you are the celebrant.

Matriculation at convenant university

Matriculation is defined as the ceremony when students are formally join to the university. This is a requirement for all freshers. Freshers include Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (J.A.M.B) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (U.T.M.E) students who gain admission into year one, Jamb Direct Entry students who gain admission into year two and transfer students into any level.
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The ceremony holds before the first semester examination. It usually span a space of a week. The main ceremony may be on Friday or Saturday depending on the school. However, there are other activities line up for the week.

Orientation

The orientation period is lecture free. It normally takes about three days. The various heads of departments or their representatives gives lectures to freshers on the various services they render to the students. These departments include library, hostel, bursary, guidance and counseling, information communication technology unit, etc. They also give room for questions and answer to help the students know what they offer. They do not fail to explain the various sanctions melted out in case students breach their matriculation oath.
Students dressing during orientation can be causal but decent. No other persons are allowed into the venue during this time. Unfortunately, many freshers use this period to travel. It is also this period students are advise to visit their department for matriculation gown to be worn on matriculation day. Most schools don't have enough matriculation gowns hence it will be based on first come first serve.

Matriculation

Matriculation is a formal induction into the university. Because of that fact, many freshers get confuse what the day holds for them. The first problem they encounter is what to wear

What To Wear

Whatever you choose to put on should be smart. This day is special. Along with the smart outfit comes decency. For the guys, a well tailored suit with belt and shoes to match will stand out. Although I was not fortunate to have one in my time. The colour should be carefully selected to match the colour of the matriculation gown. Black suit always goes with any colour. If the guy wants to go native, it should not be an agbada with flowing sleeves. The matriculation gown have all that already. It should be straight attire with no flaps.
For ladies, their varieties is much. An office dressing would have done the killer package. Take for instance, those secretariat skirts on top heels shoes makes them look classy. Now add a matriculation gown to it and see yourself on top of the world. If going for native attire, it should also be pane. No need for multi design. Also bear in mind the colour of the matriculation gown.
The matriculation ceremony is a bit boring when compared to the orientation period. Students with Matriculation gown will be arranged to sit at the front row while those without will sit behind the rest. Family and friends will have their place in the hall. The programme will host top officials from the school. In some cases, the vice chancellor (V.C) will be in attendance.
The highlight of the occasion is the VC speech which will be delivered by him or representative. He will welcome all freshmen to the school environment, dish out advise as well as give a brief history and achievements by the school over the years. The number of students that applied through the various channels as well as the number of admitted students and students who did screening will be reveal officially in that day.
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The point of induction is when the oath form is passed along for each student to sign. It has a space for the students to include their name and department and also for them to sign. The information in the oath form is declaration by the student to abide by all the rules and regulations guiding the school and accept disciplinary action when they failed to do that. At this junction, the VC pronounce all of them students of the institution. This is welcome by hands of applause and jubilation. In some cases, students throw their matriculation cap (if that is the proper name for it) into the air.

Celebration

The VC and his entourage are gone, the students goes their various ways for the celebration. The first thing each student should do is to take pictures with the matriculation gown with different styles including with family and friends. I never did. After that, many goes home. Others visit the club to groove still others join their friends as they celebrate.
Many school groups such as traditional groups organise get together for their kind. For example, an isoko traditional group will create a space with canopies and chairs for newly admitted isoko students to celebrate with them and formally introduce them to the group. Others include religious groups, faculty and others.
For parents that came visiting, they may provide food for neighbours where the child lives. They may also present a cake to celebrate the new dawn. Eat and drink is what they think then.
Some schools organised other programmes for the students. For some, on Sundays is a special school church programme day for the matriculants while Friday is a Muslim programme for the Freshers.
For those who did not go to the matriculation due to circumstances beyond their control, they should visit their departments for the oath form as soon as possible, fill it and return it to the department. This form is suppose to go straight to the senate. Senate will bring it out in case a student commits an offence against the school.

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