The first private university in Cross River State — Arthur Jarvis University — was on Saturday inaugurated with the matriculation of 100 students, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

The university, located at Akpabuyo Local Government Area, has two faculties — Basic and Applied Sciences and Social Management Sciences.

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, who performed the inauguration ceremony, said investment in education was the surest way to achieving success and breakthroughs in any nation.

“As I officially declare open the commencement of this university today, I wish to commend the proprietor for nursing the idea to invest in education,” she said.

Mrs. Oyo-Ita, who commended the proprietor, Arthur-Jarvis Archibong, for establishing the institution, expressed the hope that it would boost socio-economic and educational activities in the area and the state.

The institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Julian Osuji, said the vision of the university was to groom students to be ambassadors of the university and the country, promising to inculcate moral discipline and academic excellence in the students.

Bassey Asuquo, the chairman, Board of Trustees of the university, said the university took off with 10 departments in two faculties and 15 programmes.

Mr. Asuquo, a professor and former vice-chancellor of the University of Calabar, said the management would work assiduously to ensure that the institution complemented the efforts of the state government to change the status of the state as one of the educationally disadvantaged states.

The Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu, called on well-meaning people to emulate the proprietor of the university by investing in the state.

One of the pioneer students, Paul Okon, expressed satisfaction with the standard of facilities and infrastructure provided in the university, saying it would create a conducive environment for both students and staff. (NAN)