The Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Sciences, AKSCONS, Ituk Mbang Campus, has taken a significant step towards excellence in nursing education.
Recently, the College matriculated and capped 88 students in a ceremony that emphasized excellence in nursing education as a prerequisite for seamless integration into the global nursing community.
In her address, the College Provost, Mrs. Ekaette Akan, charged nursing personnel and students to upgrade their skills and align with global best practices, ensuring that AKSCONS as a centre of excellence, committed to professionalism, remains at the forefront of nursing education.
Chaired by the Chairman of Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, AKICORP, Pastor Godwin Ukwat, the event at Ituk Mbang Campus auditorium was ecstatic as the College Provost, Akan, shared a cheering update on AKSCONS, highlighting its distinction as a monotechnic institution with most campuses nationwide, even as AKSCONS boasts collegiate status, offering JAMB – compliant ND and HND Programmes.
The former Principal, Schools of Midwifery, Ituk Mbang, Anua, and State Director of Nursing, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Akan, unveiled strategic academic reforms as follows : Masters Degree (M.SC) as minimum qualification for lecturers, incorporating new courses such as Citizenship Education, Politics and Governance in Nursing into the curriculum, and JAMB regulation of admission processes, effective next academic session.
These reforms, the Provost emphasized, are potent measures deployed to enhance academic excellence and align AKSCONS with global best trends.
The pioneer AKSCONS Provost and former Principal, School of Nursing — Ikot Ekpene, attributed the success narrative of the College to the education – sensitive blueprint of Pastor Umo Eno’s administration, ARISE Agenda; and emphatically thanked the state Governor for facilitating the accreditation of the institution and also according nursing education its place of pride in the vast education sector.
The elite nursing Administrator, Akan, poured encomiums on the Traditional Institution of Uruan local government area, and particularly lauded the Traditional Ruler of Ituk Mbang, for cooperating with Government and providing the conducive environment for the College Campus to thrive.
Describing them as worthy lieutenants, the Provost commended the Director of Ituk Mbang Campus, Mrs. Mary Essien, and Directors of other Campuses for their team spirit, healthy collaboration and sacrifice, which she stressed, have made her job easier in her quest for all-round excellence.
Earlier in her speech, the Director of Campus, DOC, Ituk Mbang Campus, Mrs. Mary Joseph Essien, had described the matriculating students as future pathfinders, while urging them to demonstrate a high level of determination and diligence in their studies, in order to attain excellence.
While Mrs. Essien corroborated the Provost’s commendation of Pastor Umo Eno for facilitating the College accreditation, she hinted that the campus’ admission quota was on the increase, thereby increasing the yearly entry of new students.
The DOC, Essien, used the occasion to thank the Chairman of Uruan local government, Surv. Iniobong Ekpenyong, describing him as an amiable Public Officer who donated the main auditorium edifice during his first tenure in office.
The DOC, moved by the teeming population of nursing students, made a passionate appeal to the Uruan Council Chairman, to come to their aid through provision of 2 mega auditorium/lecture halls, a spacious library hall to accommodate the ever- increasing number of students across diverse specialties, and tarring of access road to the Campus.
The prime point of the ceremony was the Capping of 88 matriculating students by the Provost, Mrs. Ekaette Akan, and the administration of Florence Nightingale’s oath to the matriculants by the state Director of Nursing, Mrs. Patricia Etim.
The ceremony featured a Matriculation Lecture by Dr. Jenny Church, cultural display, cheorography, and aerobics by AKSCONIT Nightingale’s Troop
Dignitaries, including SSA to the Governor on Health Matters, Dr. Charles Mbong, and SSA to the Governor on Humanitarian Services, Hon. Nsikak Umoekpo, commended the College’s efforts and pledged support.
