The task of building
the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) to an enviable height is one of the dreams of the Rivers State government under the administration of His Excellency Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the Executive Governor of Rivers State.
The university which is located at Rumuolumeni in Port Harcourt with other campuses at St. John’s College and Ndele, came to a full fledged status when Governor Amaechi assented to the bill proclaiming it a University with the approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC), making it the 35th State owned university in Nigeria.
The Governor in order to actualise the dreams and aspirations of the new University decided to appoint Professor Rosemund Dienye Green-Oshahogulu, the Acting Vice – Chancellor of the institution on the 20th October, 2009 to pilot the affairs of the university for maximum academic results.
Indeed, the appointment was appropriate in view of her record as a seasoned administrator, academician and a Professor of Science Education, she brought her wealth of experience to bear in the administration of the University.
Truly, the administrative  strategy with which the Professor embraced the goals that led to the establishment of the university through her efforts in the management and control of the institution would rank her with the likes of retired Professor Alele Williams, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin.
This amazon of Rivers State extraction performed creditable while serving as Acting Vice-Chancellor especially in the completion of the perimeter fencing at Ndele and Rumuolumeni Campuses, which indeed prevented encroachment on the institution’s land and also enhanced security of lives and property on the campuses.
It is also on record that her administration had also renovated and converted the old Provost’s lodge to a guest House, to save the huge sum of money spent on accommodation for official university Guests and to generate fund for the university.
The Professor of Science Education also provided electricity, water supply in the campuses, and more importantly, she was able to secure the release of its graduates for the mandatory National Youth Service Scheme.
Besides, the completion of a one storey Mathematics Centre, a two-bedroom bungalow to boost residential accommodation for the staff, the newly built gate as well as modern office for the security department, science workshop and office accommodations for lecturers are all to her credit.
She was also instrumental to the formal licensing of the institution by the National Universities Commission as the 35th State owned university in Nigeria, including other awards she won for efficiency of her espousal of due process, transparency and accountability to core values in administration.
No wonder, her recent elevation to a substantive Vice-Chancellor position in the University is a welcome development. This elevation ranks her as the first Rivers woman to occupy such an eviable position since the upgrade of the institution to a university status.
This elevation is an indication that she performed the duties expected of her creditably and with the spirit of hardwork. It has also attracted a lot of commendations from well-meaning citizens of Rivers State, Nigeria and beyond.
Today, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Grand Commander of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Ms Ama Pepple, a one-time Head of Service and Minister of the Federal Government would be so glad to hear that Professor R.D. Green-Osahogulu is the first woman Vice-Chancellor of this great institution where they lectured when it was a College of Education.
Therefore, the Vice-Chancellor must continue to place emphasis on human capacity building with regards to training and re-training of the staff to sustain the academic standard of the university.
The new elevation, has prompted traditional rulers, chiefs and people of Ndele Town, comprising Mgbuolua and Mgbuelia communities of Rundele in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, host communities to the Ndele Campus of the university to congratulate her in the dailies.
As a follow up, the Educational Committee of  Rundele has also thanked the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi for elevating the Professor to a substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university.
Dr. Henry E. Eni, who is the Chairman of the Rundele Education Committee stated that her resourcefulness, determination, and good administrative style that resulted to the peace and conducive learning environment were the scores that elevated her.
He thanked the State Governor for the transformation in the area of primary schools, health centres, rural and urban Roads in the state, his human capital development through the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) where a good number of Rivers indigenes were given scholarships to study both in Nigeria and abroad.
Dr. Eni, also commended the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi on the recent employment of 13,000 teachers into the Rivers State primary and post-primary Schools across the state.
The Committee congratulated the Vice-Chancellor for the fencing of the Ndele Campus of the university where the Ignatius Ajuru Demonstration Secondary  School is sited.
He maintained that the fencing has provided adequate security for both the staff and students especially now that there are security challenges in the country.
According to him, the effective staff management, good cordial relationship between the school and the host community, Ndele have been very noteworthy and this has made for peaceful co-existence.
The committee according to the Chairman is  impressed with the level of teaching and learning in the Demonstration Secondary School and this has contributed to the excellent results recorded in both internal and external examinations.
The committee therefore called on the Vice-Chancellor to always consult and to carry other subordinates along in the scheme of things with regard to effective administration.

Mr. Nwagwu resides in Port Harcourt.

Samuel Nwagwu