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Education, Key To Human Capital Dev – RSG
Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says his administration is committed to human capital development through the development of education at all levels.
Governor Amaechi said this last Saturday during the 25th to 29th Convocation ceremony of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.
Represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi stated that his administration’s huge investment in education was anchored on its determination to provide qualitative education to his people, pointing out that it was the only state in the federation that had continued to “appropriate 26 per cent of its annual budget to education.”
Governor Amaechi, who is also the Visitor to the University, regretted that students of the institution had to wait for several years before being graduated, promising that “never again would this happen,” assuring that the process would be set in motion to ensure early release of results and convocation of graduands, lauding the Vice Chancellor and management of the institution for their efforts at scaling facilities and academic content of the university.
He restated that the state government would not rescind the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Professor Barineme Fakae and commended him for his exemplary leadership qualities.
The governor said that the Iwofe Road leading to the school would be completed in record time to assuage the plight of road users and residents of the area.
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the University and former Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Dominic Anucha, thanked Governor Amaechi for his efforts at elevating the institution from a college to university, and providing funds for the university, and urged him to expedite action on the completion of Iwofe Road.
Lamenting the hardship the university community and other road users face on the road, he noted that the university had sustained its academic programmes uninterrupted for four years now.
Speaking, Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Rosemund Green-Osahogulu, disclosed that a total of 12,110 graduands were awarded Bachelor of Education degrees, out of which 35 had First Class, while 529 graduands were admitted to National Certificate in Education (NCE). She charged the graduands to contribute their best to the task of national transformation, and appealed to the Governor to approve the employment of 400 junior staff.
The Deputy Governor also commissioned the newly reconstructed main gate of the university, funded by the state government.
Meanwhile the authorities of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt have decried the negative impact of multiple campus system in the running of the institution, saying it is very costly for a university to operate.
Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Rosemund Dienye Green-Osahogulu made this remarks last Saturday at the unified 25th 29th Convocation ceremonies held at Rumuolumeni, main campus of the university.
In her speech, Prof Green-Osahogulu said the cost of maintaining the three campuses could not be compared to that used for maintaining one and solicited for assistance of the state government in relocating Faculty of Vocational and Technical (VOTEC) from Ndele as well as moving Faculty of Business Studies from St. John’s Diobu Campus to Rumuolumeni.
“These two campuses can then be dedicated to use respectively as an Agricultural Research Institute and Commercial Farm (Ndele) and a Centre for Business Consultancy Services,” the VC said.
Noting that authorities of IAUE were aware of state government’s plan to move the university to the present location of the State University of Science and Technology, Nkporlu, Oroworukwo, she remarked that since the accreditation searchlight of the National University Commission (NUC) was on IAUE as on other universities, there was compelling need to do the much possible to forestall and obviate risk of losing accreditation of its programmes.
Chris Oluoh
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a Federal Executive Council committee to move swiftly on measures to further reduce food prices across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to him, the directive focuses on ensuring safe passage of farm produce across transport routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced worsening food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy, high transport costs, and insecurity on major highways disrupted the movement of goods.
Despite government interventions, food remains largely unaffordable for millions.
The minister said the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty—beyond availability to ensure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
To back this up, he revealed that government is set to roll out a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and empower rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.
The event, with the theme, “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
The Federal Government has warned contractors, including foreign firms, that any breach of regulations in road projects awarded to them may lead to arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the ongoing dualisation of the East-West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
The section is being executed by Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited.
Responding to questions from journalists, Umahi commended the quality of work on the project but expressed displeasure over the slow pace, stressing that the December completion deadline remains sacrosanct.
On the project, he said:“The quality of the work is excellent, but the pace of work is totally unacceptable. Let me make it very clear to the contractor that this project will neither be reviewed nor varied in price or claims.
“I’m sure we have issued over 10 warning letters to them. If they fail to comply with the completion deadline of December 15, we will not extend it.”
He added that the ministry had already put measures in place to enforce compliance
“The comptroller has negative certificates to issue, and I will recover the money from any of their other projects. All those letters are on record, and when the time comes, they will be invoked. Any contractor who refuses to abide by regulations will have the EFCC and ICPC to contend with,” he said.
Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government had directed that road projects valued below N20bn would no longer be awarded to expatriate companies, in line with its “Nigeria First” policy aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity in the construction sector.
“This is part of the Nigeria First policy of the Federal Government. Henceforth, no expatriate firm will be awarded any project valued below N20bn. Such projects must go to indigenous companies, while expatriates focus on higher-value projects requiring more technical capacity,” he said.
The minister also noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had adopted a funding prioritisation framework to sustain road projects initially financed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that none of such projects should be abandoned, adding that priority would be given to critical economic corridors.
Umahi also decried the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles on highways, saying it was damaging the pavements of completed sections of the road.
He said letters would be sent to state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to enforce punitive measures against defaulters.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs Enwereama Tarilade, said RCC had completed 15km of the right carriageway and commenced work on the left carriageway, with one kilometre already laid in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement.
The Rivers State Government says it will ensure the smooth and successful takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), in Ogoniland.
This commitment was made yesterday by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council and Management team at the Government House, in Port Harcourt.
The high-level delegation was led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Professor Don Baridam and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Mmom.
In his address, Administrator Ibas warmly congratulated the pioneer council and management on their appointments, describing their task as both a recognition of individual accomplishment and a historic call to duty.
“This is not just a recognition of your personal achievements but also a call to history to shape an institution that will have a profound impact on Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and indeed our country,” he stated.
The Administrator commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the specialized university in Ogoniland, describing the initiative as “timely and strategic.”
He emphasized that the university’s presence offers a critical opportunity to drive research, innovation, and community-focused solutions to the region’s pressing environmental and developmental challenges.
He further noted that the university’s core focus aligns perfectly with the priorities of his administration.“We consider this university not merely as another institution of higher learning but as a strategic partner in our collective effort to rebuild Rivers State under the ongoing state of emergency and beyond,” he affirmed.
Responding to specific requests presented by the delegation, Administrator Ibas assured the university of immediate support in critical areas essential for the its commencement.
These include the provision of operational vehicles, key facilities, and the completion of the access road to the campus, adding that other vital needs, such as perimeter fencing, refuse disposal, and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, would be addressed within the framework of the state’s broader infrastructure and support programmes.
To ensure swift action, the Administrator directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to work closely with the university’s Governing Council to prioritize the sequence of requests, particularly those tied to the commencement of academic activities in September 2025.
“Let me assure you that Rivers State Government will stand as a dependable partner to the Federal University of Environment and Technology. We see this university as part of our long-term investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of our youths,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Don Baridam, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community development.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has directed the institution to formally commence its academic session in September 2025, adding that preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth take-off with adequate infrastructure and resources in place.
“Today’s meeting marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Rivers State Government and FUET, envisioned to establish the university as a premier hub for research, innovation, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta”, he said.
