By Asuquo Cletus
Arthur Jarvis University, the newly established private university in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, has matriculated a total of 255 students who were admitted to study courses in Basic, Applied and social sciences.
The matriculation ceremony comes months after a graduate of the university emerged with a first-class result from the Nigerian Law School.
Speaking during the institution’s 10th matriculation ceremony held on Friday in Akpabuyo, Cross River State, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ekpe Edet, said the university had recorded significant growth in academic programmes, research and infrastructure since commencing operations in 2017.
Edet said the university, which started with only 49 students in two faculties, had grown into a vibrant academic community with over 1,000 students and about 300 staff members across six faculties.
“From that humble beginning, the university has grown steadily into a vibrant academic community with over 1,000 students and approximately 300 staff members across six faculties,” he said.
He added that the growth reflected the institution’s “vision, resilience, innovation and commitment to excellence.”
According to him, the university currently runs programmes in Law, Nursing Science, Optometry, Radiography, Medical Laboratory Science, Criminology, Mass Communication, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Entrepreneurship, Political Science, Sociology, Biochemistry and Microbiology, among others.
The Vice Chancellor said one of the institution’s recent milestones was the establishment of its Postgraduate School in October 2025 with programmes at Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s and PhD levels in Law, Accounting, Nursing Science, Criminology and Security Studies, and Computer Science.
“This milestone represents a major step toward strengthening the university’s research capacity and producing high-level professionals and scholars,” Edet stated.
He added that the National Universities Commission had also approved additional undergraduate programmes for the 2026/2027 academic session, including Artificial Intelligence, Telecommunication Science, Community Health Science, Intelligence and Security Studies, Architecture, Estate Management, Surveying and Geoinformatics, Quantity Surveying, Building Technology and Environmental Management.
Prof Edet further disclosed that the university received approval for postgraduate programmes in Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health, Public Administration, Microbiology and Business Administration, as well as an Executive Master of Business Administration programme.
“This approval is not merely an administrative milestone, it is a strong endorsement of the university’s capacity, quality of resources and readiness to deliver globally competitive education,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor also noted that all existing programmes of the university had secured accreditation from the National Universities Commission and relevant professional bodies, including the Council for Legal Education, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.
He said the institution had also made strides in research and innovation through the establishment of its Trado-Medical Research Institute, also known as the Institute of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which focuses on indigenous herbal research for diseases such as cancer, diabetes and fibroids.
Furthermore, Edet said the university’s Entrepreneurship Development Centre was exposing students to industry-academia collaboration, vocational and technical skills, innovation development and business support services.
“This approach ensures that our graduates become not only job seekers but also job creators capable of contributing meaningfully to national development,” he added.
Addressing the newly admitted students, Edet urged them to embrace discipline, integrity, innovation and hard work while avoiding cultism, examination malpractice, drug abuse, violence and other social vices prohibited by the institution.
“As you begin this new chapter of your lives, I urge you to embrace the core values of discipline, hard work, integrity, innovation and excellence,” he said.
One of the matriculating students, Bomfon Iboro, expressed appreciation to the university management for the opportunity to study in the institution.
“We are proud to be part of Arthur Jarvis University at this important stage of its growth. We will remain committed to academic excellence and discipline,” Iboro said.
