Education
Rivers Wins 2013 Spellbound Africa Competition
Rivers State has won
the national finals of the 2013 Spellbound Africa Spelling Competition. The Rivers State representative, Olivia Okechukwu from the Community Secondary School, Egberu-Ndoki in Oyigbo Local Government Area, beat contestants from other 11 states to win the trophy.
The Spellbound Africa Spelling Competition is for children between 10-15 years old. The winner of the competition, Olivia Okechukwu said winning the competition was a dream come true. Olivia Okechukwu stated that the victory would spur her up to achieve greater things in life. She also expressed gratitude to God for giving her the victory.
Spellbound Africa is a competition designed to challenge children studying in Africa, to learn new words and recognise them by sound, definition and etymology in an informal environment.
In this competition, children between 10 and 15 years old show their ability to spell English words randomly selected from a prior-circulated wordlist .The objective is to help each participating child learn and use at least 1000 new words each year, thereby developing effective communicators who will do their country and Africa proud in future.
The facilitator of the programme Ifeanyi Ogbu, said the competition was for children studying in the English speaking African countries remarking that the children were given six months to study the manual before the competition.
He noted that teachers would compete in the competition next year. Ifeanyi Ogbu also commended the Rivers State Government for his commitment and passion for Education especially in the provision of adequate infrastructure for learning in the state.
Also speaking, a teacher at the Community Secondary School, Egberu-Ndoki, Mrs Umerah Peace praised her student, Olivia Okechukwu for winning the competition. She attributed Olivia Okechukwu’s success to her hardwork and dedication in studying the manual throughout the long vacation.
The final of the 2013 Spellbound Africa National Competition took place at the Ambassador Nne Furo Kurubo Model Secondary School, Eleme.
In February 2012, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi promised a well organised spelling competition as had never been seen in the state in a move to encourage healthy reading habits in the children.
The Commissioner for Education stated that the State Government has invested so much in the sector to enable the pupils and students to have a bright and fulfilled future.
“We have invested in quality education to provide you with life skills that will enable you prosper later in life. Skills that enable you lead a healthy quality existence, grow into a resourceful and socially active adult and make cultural, political, scientific and economic contributions to your communities and the Nation” she stated.
Other winners at the competition are Ayegbusi Olaoluwa from Lagos State and Chukwu Victory from Oyo State.
Education
‘Our Target Is To Go Beyond Academic Accomplishments’

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
Education
Niger Delta Students Suspend Protest Against NDDC In PH

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
Education
Administrator Inspects School

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.
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