The authorities of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUOE), Rumuolumeni, in Rivers State, have stated that 13 students will be graduating with first class while 182 graduands will bag Ph.D during the 42nd convocation ceremony of the university billed to hold today and tomorrow.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, disclosed this during pre-convocation press briefing held in his office, yesterday, to unveil the programme for the convocation ceremony.
Onuchuku said that the 13 students were among the 4,653 graduands expected to graduate for the 2022/2023 academic session with first degree, while 897 students will be graduating with postgraduate degrees.
The Acting Vice Chancellor while giving the breakdown stated that 13 students made first class, 890 students bagged second class upper while 2,739 students had second class lower for first degree.
He further stated that 182 graduands bagged PhD, 667 got master’s degree and 48 got postgraduate diploma, adding that the convocation ceremony will hold today and tomorrow for first degree graduands and postgraduate graduands respectively.
He said that a total of 47 programmes out of the 54 programmes being undertaken at the first degree levels had been given full accreditation by the National University Commission (NUC) as well as all the programmes at the postgraduate school.
“We have ensured that our programmes both at the first degree and post graduates are in line with the NUC stipulated guidelines and speculations. We have also ensured that we are in line with both our academic and administrative policies,” he said.
Prof. Okechukwu urged the graduating students of the institution to always remember to use thier positions to help their alma mater as well as project the institution in a good image in the larger society.
“Try to ensure you finish any project you want to do, evaluate it first and avoid unfinished or abandoned projects. We will be graduating first degree graduands on Friday while Saturday will be for postgraduates, “he added.
Prof. Onuchukwu also said his administration had achieved a lot since he assumed office as Acting Vice Chancellor, stressing that his administration had improved on the welfare of the staff and the students.
“There are a lot of projects completed in the school; we have also given scholarship to some students and also encouraged departments to do same. We also impacted positively on our host communities”, he said.

Akujobi Amadi

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has appealed to the Federal Government to release the payments of wage award for the months of March and April.
Mr Festus Osifo, TUC President said this during a news conference at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, in Abuja, yesterday.
According to him, the last wage award that was paid to the federal workers was in February and that of March and April, which is just ending is yet to be paid.
“We call the on government to immediately release the payments of wage award for March and April 2024.
“This is to ensure that at the end of the month, when salaries are coming in, the wage award will also be paid and this will be until a new minimum wage is put in place,”he said.
Osifo also expressed concern that while a few states were up and doing regarding the payment of the wage award, some others were not.
He explained that the wage award was fallout of palliative measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.
The TUC president said that states like Imo, Delta, Benue, Katsina, Kebbi, Anambra among others were lagging behind, in spite of the huge allocations from the federation account.
According to him, in the next coming days, we will be engaging these states that have done nothing.
Osifo also expressed worry over the unilateral decision by the federal government to increase electricity tariff without consultation with stakeholders.
He, therefore, called on the government to rescind implementation in the interest of the suffering masses.
TUC also decried the level of insecurity in the country, lamenting that farmers could not go to farms for cultivation, for fear of being killed.
He said that unless government tackled the situation head on, the prices of food and other commodities would keep rising beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.
On the inability of the Port Harcourt refinery to kick off operations by April as promised by the federal government, Osifo said it was part of the reasons for the resurgence of fuel queues in parts of the country.
He urged government to hasten up and actualise it, so as to lessen the economic hardship in the country.
“We urge government to do everything possible to make it operational,” he said.
Osifo also called on the federal government to include labour in the committee currently reviewing the implementation process of Steven Oronsaye Report.
According to him, there is no representation of the organised labour in that committee. We have called on government to incorporate members of organised labour.
“We will not accept any fallout that is not going to impact on our members when they conclude without us.
“So, we demand that we should be included in that committee to also make our recommendations, “he said.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that he is willing to work with people of goodwill and progressive ideas for partnerships that will make life better for the people and ensure sustainable development of the State.
This is even as he acknowledged the unwavering support demonstrated by both indigenes and residents of Azuabie-Okujaku communities in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, who have become good ambassadors of his Administration.
Governor Fubara made the remark while addressing a delegation of the leadership and members of Azuabie-Okujaku communities who were on a peaceful solidarity walk to Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, who received the delegation on behalf of the Governor, noted the people’s support that was largely organic in nature, adding that it was evidence that they were taking back what rightly belongs to them by genuinely supporting the Government they all voted into power.
He said, “You are the people that voted him into power, and that is why you have the right also to say that these are the things you need.
“The Governor also recognises the contributions of your sons and daughters who have served the State in different ways. Your community is one of the greatest communities in the State because it has produced men that have contributed in no small measure to the growth of Rivers State,” he said.
Governor Fubara said: “I want to beg of you, as you go home, let every person here be an ambassador, everybody in your community. Tell them that the Governor means well for his people.
“Tell your people that their Governor is still sitting in the place they elected him to sit, and taking the right decisions. We know there could be people who may be tempted with money to be Judas. But tell them to shun money. Tell them that what matters at this time is the people, and the Governor is people-centred.”
Governor Fubara said he had listened and taken note of their requests concerning the state of public schools in their communities, among other issues that require attention.
He commended them, saying: “I want to even thank you that on your own, you made some community efforts to execute projects, whereas some people, when Government builds schools, they go and steal the things used in building the schools and destroy the schools.
“In your case, you used your own money to build some classrooms in your communities. The Governor will be very happy to hear this and your communities will be supported.
“I want to make one assurance to you: We have received your protest letter, we will not talk about them here, because already, the Governor is thinking along those lines.
“The Governor is thinking about making sure that our people live in a comfortable environment. I can assure you that your communities will receive maximum support,” he assured.
Speaking on behalf of Azuabie-Okujaku communities, Elder Tamunotonkaye Adolphus, said they are ardent supporters of the Governor Fubara-led Administration, and are very impressed with his performance in office, accomplishments and peaceful disposition.
Elder Adolphus explained that the people have fresh hope of Government intervention in their communities because they were neglected by the immediate past Administration, leaving their roads and public schools unattended to.
He expressed the belief that the Governor Fubara-led Administration will come to their aid by rehabilitating the 10km internal roads and the two public schools in the communities.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Gubernatorial Candidate for Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the 2023 general election, Sir Victor Fingesi, expressed excitement with Governor Fubara’s avowed commitment to harnessing the agricultural potential of the State.
He noted that it was the first time since 1999 that a Governor was so convinced and determined to change the narrative in the agriculture sector, which can contribute to making Rivers State become competitive economically.
He called for strategic investments in the agriculture sector to guarantee food sufficiency and security, and reduce the scourge of hunger in the land, adding that it was only through such avenue that enduring peace and development can be achieved.
Fingesi pledged total support to Governor Fubara and his Administration, saying that he was ready to work with the Government to take the State to the next level.