The American University of Nigeria (AUN) welcomed its newest students and their families on August 27, 2026, to a President’s Welcome Dinner marked by praise for the university’s hospitality, organization, and standards.
Parents attending the dinner for Fall 2026 freshmen commended AUN for creating what many described as a welcoming and well-structured environment for their children.
Mr. Izuyong Akime, an accountant, praised the university’s airport reception and orientation arrangements. He encouraged new students to take advantage of the academic, leadership, and extracurricular opportunities available to them, noting that AUN sets a high standard from arrival.
Mrs. Okonkwo Juliet Nkiruka (Esq.), Director of Legal Services at the Enugu State Ministry of Justice and Senior Special Assistant to the Executive Governor, also lauded the student volunteers and the warm atmosphere on campus. “I am thrilled, overwhelmed, and impressed. I feel like I am in a home away from home,” she said.
She said the university’s standards and approachable leadership gave her confidence in AUN. She highlighted the President’s interaction with students, including dining alongside them in the cafeteria, as an example of the culture she encountered.
Mrs. Okonkwo also expressed interest in exploring possible areas of collaboration between the Enugu State Government and AUN.
The dinner also featured messages to the incoming class about the purpose of an AUN education.
AUN President Prof. DeWayne Frazier told freshmen that their time at the university should be about more than earning a degree. He encouraged them to see AUN as the beginning of a transformative journey that would equip them with the knowledge, character, and skills to lead, serve, and become global problem-solvers.
He emphasized that AUN is preparing students not just for jobs, but for lives of meaningful contribution and service.
Current students reinforced that charge.
Godwin Esio, a senior, Law major, welcomed the incoming class and reflected on how the warm reception he received from the AUN community helped his transition.
“AUN has taught me that there is no success if it doesn't impact the masses,” Esio said. “It shifted my mindset from how I can make money to how I can contribute to transform others.”
He urged new students to build strong support networks early.
Gladys Teyi Teni, a senior, Natural and Environmental Science major, spoke on how AUN’s liberal arts-based education teaches students to analyze and apply knowledge.
Drawing from her leadership experience as Personal Assistant to the Senior Director of Events, Dr. Usor E. Usoh, Teni advised: “Stay curious, build relationships, serve selflessly, and above all, practice balance.”
As the evening concluded, Interim Provost Prof. Bolade Agboola thanked parents for entrusting their children to AUN. He noted that combining the Nigerian university curriculum with the American liberal arts tradition helps produce graduates with the critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills needed to contribute meaningfully to society.
Reported by Udoh Victoria Clement