By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A University of Calabar lecturer with specialty in elementary education at the department of Curriculum Studies, Prof. Mrs. Rita Cyril Ndifon, has attributed her elevation to the rank of Professor to hard work.
The academic made the remarks during a thanksgiving ceremony organized by the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, in honour of her promotion to rank of Professor and to mark the 28th year of her marriage anniversary on Sunday in Calabar.
The academic don charged young couples to stand as pillars to their spouses, whenever their marriages are faced with challenges, urging wives not to worry themselves due to challenges that come with marriage, but to stand firm with their spouses.
She averred, “To young women, I charge you to be steadfast and firm when trial hits your marriage. Love your husband, stand by him, notwithstanding the storm of life that visited your marriage.
“Storm may not be there during the early part of marriage, but as you move along, it may come hitting your marriage. What makes the marriage unbreakable is for you to stand firm, love him and move on.”
She added, “I feel so happy with joy and fulfilled that I had been elevated to the rank of professor. This is what I had been praying for and God has helped me to achieve it. I feel very happy today.”
When asked to give explanation on the secret behind her promotion, Prof. Ndifon said, “Hard work catapulted me to professorship.
“I neither lobby for this nor cut any corner. I just kept on doing what was required. Teaching, travelling for conferences, writing and publishing academic papers. All these catapulted me to a professor.
“For young girls aspiring to become professors, I recommend hard work and reliance on God, as the secrets to actualizing your dreams. Follow whatever standards are set out to be elevated; I tell you becoming a professor is a done deal.”
On how she managed to scale through all hurdles to qualify for professorship, despite the travails suffered by her family, Prof. Ndifon said, “With God all things are possible; God has been my source of strength. I never allow any challenge to weigh me down. If I had look at the challenges, I won’t be here today celebrating.
In his exaltation, the officiating minister, Rev. Fr. Richmond Diala, charged young girls with ambition to rise to the peak of their careers, to borrow a leaf from Prof. Mrs. Ndifon’s virtues by working hard if they want their dreams to come true.
