Education
Schools Furnishing: RSG Assures Due Process On Contract Award
The Rivers State Government has assured that due process would be followed in the award of contracts for the furnishing of five new model secondary schools built by the government.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Richard Ofuru, gave this assurance during the opening of tender for contractors in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
Mr Ofuru explained that the essence of the forum was to give everybody equal opportunity to bid as well see others bidding, adding that, “we in the Ministry of Education, we want to do our things orderly and transparently, that was the reason for inviting the bidders for everybody to see”.
The Permanent Secretary said there was need for bidders to be competent and be ready to executive the jobs at the lowest costs, even as he noted that more than 100 companies have tendered for the contract.
He said that even as the state government was determined to equip the newly – built Model Secondary Schools in the state, it would not tolerate low standard of work in furnishing of the schools.
“We cannot go below what we have started. We want the best. The governor wants the best for Rivers people, the commissioner wants the best for Rivers children,” he said and told bidders that they would not encounter any challenge as all jobs have been budgeted for. He said that government was working in accordance with the budgets.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Director and Project Manager, in the Ministry, Loveday Pepple, who advised bidders to be patient, assured that they would be given everything as due process requires.
Responding on behalf of the bidders, the Managing Director of R. I. Ihuanne & Sons Nigeria Limited, Mr Richard Igwe, spoke of the need to guard against a situation in which some contractors who did not bid are made to win the award.
He suggested that names of those to be selected after the analysis be published in the spirit of honesty and transparency.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.