PathwayConnect Advances with Second Graduation in Nigeria

The education system of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to expand its impact in Nigeria as the second  group of students graduated from PathwayConnect Worldwide on August 22, 2018. The first graduating class occurred just three months ago on May 1, 2018. The graduation ceremony was held at the Church’s auditorium at Opebi. Sixty-five students received their certificates of completion.

The graduation ceremony marks the end of a three-semester, gospel-centred academic program that began in September, 2017. Students take a course load consisting of both academic and religious education each semester. During the PathwayConnect program, pupils gather weekly at a meetinghouse where they participate in educational and leadership activities related to their courses.

As a result of the successful completion of this program, some of the graduates are already enrolled for an online degree at Brigham Young University - Idaho USA.

Raymond Oraegbu, the chairman of BYU PathwayConnect, Lagos encouraged the graduates saying, “You need to move forward. Remain positive as you move toward in the things you do. Do not be static, always be moving forward”.

Oraegbu also reminded the graduated there are opportunities for growth through trials and challenges they face. “Always find these opportunities and make use of them”.

Elder Clement Okoye congratulated the graduates of PathwayConnect in Nigeria. During his opening remarks, he announced that PathwayConnect is now open to non-members in Nigeria. According to him, “BYU pathway world wide is now accepting applications from individuals who are not members of the church at all pathway locations.”

For the non-member application to be considered for admission, they must have a close tie to the church, for example, being in a part-member family or learning about the church. The non-members must also meet all other PathwayConnect admission requirement. in the meantime, non-member student who begins pathway connect will pay the standard tuition rate. 

The valedictory speech was delivered by Chioma Ekufu. "The stars is not our limit, but our starting point. Do not let us aim solely for the stars, but let us aim higher. We have bent our knees and now is the time to jump. May we all make good use of our learning from PathwayConnect”. 

The graduation Keynote Speaker, Clement Chigbundu, said “Be the best version of whatever you are going to be from today forward. Do not fall behind. Strive to be the best. Embrace good virtues and do good things others are not doing."

PathwayConnect courses are designed to help students learn basic skills and gain the confidence and abilities needed to succeed in college and in life. Skills learned include: Critical decision making, Goal setting, Time management, Teamwork, Collaboration, Study skills, Budgeting and Career Planning.

After successfully completing PathwayConnect, students can apply to earn a certificate or degree online from BYU-Idaho, consider a local college or university, get a new or improved job, or pursue a variety of other options.

The first BYU PathwayConnect centre in Africa was established in Accra, Ghana in November, 2010. It commenced classes with Twenty students under the leadership of Brother and Sister Samuel Boakye-Yiadom who were called as the first Pathway Missionary Couple in Africa. There are now two additional centres located in Tesano and Odorkor serving students from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire.