AUN:Chibok school girls gained admission to study Medicine, Law

During the 2018 convocation and pledge ceremony, the American University of Nigeria Yola had matriculated 203 students,four of the new students are from the university new foundation students.

The New foundation students was an education program specially designed for the Chibok school girls to be properly coopted into the main school system of AUN.

Information from the office of Director of communication,Mr Daniel Okere said the three of the Chibok School girls are admitted to study Natural & Environmental Science (with concentration in Biomedical Sciences, to prepare them for Medical School); while one is admitted to study Law.

According to her the four Chibok Girls performed brilliantly in their WASCE/NECO and JAMB examinations meeting up the required standard for them to be admitted into the school.
“The new students took a compulsory ‘AUN Community Pledge’, an American academic tradition; and were presented with Class Sashe.

“All the newly admitted students had participated in their first Community Service the previous Saturday at the Yolde Pate Primary School, in Yola South LGA. All students of the American University of Nigeria are required to take part in compulsory Community Service throughout their academic tenure in keeping with the institution’s philosophy as a Development University.” It reads

On her Welcoming Speech, the President of American University of Nigeria, Dr. dawn Dekle, admonished the newly admitted students to believe on themselves that they can be what they want to be in life.

Liken the AUN as a football game which give room to team playing as the best option of winning the in the game.

“I believe AUN has an important role to play in this effort. How can we do that? We can start by supporting each others’ dreams. When your classmate says to you, ‘My dream is to become a diplomat’ or ‘My dream is to start my own company’ or ‘My dream is to become a university professor’, your immediate reaction should be ‘what can I do to support you to make this dream come true?’ I believe if we support each other, all of our dreams can come true. Let me share some examples with you.

“Pele has been credited with popularizing football as ‘the beautiful game.’ But what did Pele mean by ‘the beautiful game’? Pele saw football, at its best, as a game of ability and skill, a game that was dignified, a game that united us and raised us all up to be our best. Respect for the pitch, for team, and self were paramount, and the chance to represent your country was an honor of a lifetime. At its best, football transcends language, religion, race, and politics.

“Of all sports, it is the most inclusive, tolerant, and diverse. Lionel Messi was told he was ‘too short’ to play football professionally, and yet, many will argue he is the best player of his generation. Lionel Messi is 5’7, which does seem short, but did you know Diego Maradona is even shorter, at 5’5? No one is too short to play football. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was told he is ‘too tall’ to play football, and he nearly quit playing as a teenager to work at the docks unloading ships. Zlatan is 6’5, and Sweden’s most famous football player. No one is too tall to play football. Height and body type are not a limitation to playing football. We all watched Luka Modric play his heart out and become the 2018 World Cup Golden Ball Award best player. He is one of the best deep-lying playmakers, with exceptional long-ball crosses, of this generation, and yet he is slender and stands at 5’8. Luka Modric has come a long way from the war-torn Croatia of his youth.

“The lesson from these footballers is that it is not how big you are, it is how big you play.

“These examples show that football is not just a ball and two goals, it has the magic to connect people from all corners of the world and from all circumstances of birth.

“Pele said, ‘Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.

“Lionel Messi said, ‘You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.’

“I am using football today to provide a metaphor for your approach to AUN. University studies is a lot like football. In both, you have to rely on your team and make a plan for each test of your skill; you have to learn mental toughness to manage your anxieties aou have to take the opportunity to shine in the spotlight when you are asked to lead.

“I want each of you to be wary of negative advice, like Lionel Messi being told he was too short to play football. There will be people during your university years who tell you that you cannot do something. Do not believe them. People who say ‘you can’t’ and ‘you won’t’ are actually afraid that ‘you will.’ And I know you will, because AUN students always find a way to stay on the path of their dreams.

“Yes, you will at times be tired, you will at times be frustrated, you will at times feel like giving up. Don’t. As any football coach will tell you, ‘when your legs can’t run anymore, run with your heart.

“Why is Cristiano Ronaldo so good? His recent move to Juventus is interesting – the medical tests they just completed on him indicates that he has the body of an athlete 10 years younger. Why? Because Cristiano Ronaldo prepares and trains more than any other professional athlete. He doesn’t practice penalty kicks until he gets them right, he practices penalty kicks until he cannot get them wrong. He is competitive and is ambitious to win. But, importantly, for Cristiano, it is not the will to win, but his will to prepare to win, that makes the difference between him and every other football player. It is the 4AM workouts in the gym for strength training, it is the 8AM cardio training at the track, and the 10AM tactical and drill training on the pitch with the team. His preparation is flawless; he listens to every coach and every trainer and learns something new about football each and every day. He has the heart and soul of a champion. His will to prepare to win is in his complete dedication to conditioning himself to be the best he can be, to be his best self, so when he is on the pitch, playing a football match, he is ready for any challenges.

“And so can you – you can learn from these examples. You are so much more than where you were born or your childhood circumstances. You contain multitudes, you have talents and skills you have not yet recognized. Use your time at AUN to develop yourself, make AUN work for you, make the most of it, and you will make your lives masterpieces.

“If I have one last prayer for each of you, it is that you use your time at AUN to develop the mindset of a midfielder on the football pitch. Why do I choose a midfielder, when the striker is the one who bends or chips the ball into the goal and wins the glory for the team? I choose midfielder because the position is the most flexible and fit, the most adaptable, and the best team player.

“An old poem about midfielders explains it all:

“A midfielder can play both defense and offens
A midfielder has 20/20 field vision
A midfielder runs a marathon before the final whistle of every match
A midfielder can execute a pass, a cross, a through ball, a half-volley, or block
A midfielder can intercept, and score a goal if needed.
A midfielder assists the other players to shine.
Indeed, a midfielder is the best player on the pitch.
As beginning university students, if you can remember to have the mindset of a midfielder, you will be successful at AUN.
Welcome to our learning commucommu.” She Said

Recall that the federal government on released of over one hundred Chibok school girls who were abductees of Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria, gave them scholarship to pursue education career of their choice in AUN.