Education

VC Okays UNIPORT, UMAT’s Collaborative Initiative

Published

11 years ago

August 3, 2015

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo (right), receiving a present from the Acting Provost, Rivers State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Dr. Nnamdi Amadi (2nd left) and supported by the Deputy Provost, Mr. Okpara Kingsley (left), during their courtesy visit to her office in Government House, Port Harcourt recenlty

Vice Chancellor of the
University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Professor Ndowa Lale, has expressed satisfaction over the success recorded by the collaborative efforts between the University of Port Harcourt and the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT), Tarkwa, Ghana in the training of Petroleu Engineering students from UMAT.
Speaking at a farewell cocktail organised by the university for the visiting students at the conference room of the International Students Centre, recently, the Vice Chancellor admonished the students to make the best use of their time in the university by enriching their knowledge in the petroleum industry and the Nigerian culture.
“I am aware that the collaboration between UNIPORT and UMAT has just been renewed. Perhaps, by the end of the next four years, there might be another renewal, if that happens, always remember that UMAT has come to its roots in UNIPORT…and we will be there to share in the glory that will come as a result of this unqiue collaboration between two great institutions”, the VC said.
“I also believe that while you were here, you were taken around this environment to see a slice of Nigeria and what we can offer, and I believe you had a better understanding of our country. I wish you the best for your performance and as you graduate to become petroleum engineers.
“For those of you who may wish to either work or settle down here as a result of this exchange programme, I encourage you to do so without hesitation”, Professor Lale stated.
In their separate speeches, Director of the Exchange and Linkage Programmes Unit (ELPU), Professor John Otaigbe and Acting Head of the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Dr. Boniface Oriji, expressed gratitude to UMAT for partnering UNIPORT in sustaining the exchange programme.
The duo, who expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the visiting students and their enthusiasm to learn, charged them to be good ambassadors of both UMAT and UNIPORT.
On their parts, class representative, Iddrisil Abdul-Latif and Kalet Kingdom, who spoke on behalf of their colleagues, lauded the university, especially, the vice chancellors, Professor Lale, Director, ELPU, Professor Otaigbe and Dr Oriji for the sacrifices they made to make the latest outing successful, promising to be good ambassadors of UMAT and UNIPORT.

Sogbeba Dokubo

Education

BUK Taps Content Creators to Expand Its Digital Footprint

Published

6 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has unveiled a team of Digital Media Ambassadors as part of efforts to strengthen the institution’s online presence and deepen engagement with stakeholders.

The initiative was announced in a statement signed by the Head of the Digital Media Unit, Mr Nura Garba, and shared on the university’s official social media platforms.

According to the statement, the Digital Media Unit held its inaugural meeting with the selected content creators on Monday at the unit’s office in the Senate Building.

Garba explained that the ambassadors were appointed to serve as digital brand advocates for the university across various online platforms.

“The ambassadors will serve as digital brand advocates, content creators and community connectors, helping to expand the University’s online reach and engagement,” he said.

He added that the appointees would support official communication, promote university events, document campus experiences and provide feedback on public perception of BUK across digital platforms.

Isa Kaita College

The appointed ambassadors are Ameer Umar Ibrahim, Arafat Yakubu Onono, Okeneme Favour Mmesoma, Abubakar Zubair (Master), Mustapha Sani Jibril, Auwal Muhammad Hamma, Idris Abdullahi, Nuruddeen Murtala Muhammad, Mukhtar Muhammad and Samuel Maina.

Garba noted that the initiative forms part of the university’s broader strategy to enhance its digital footprint and ensure effective, timely communication with internal and external stakeholders.

“The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to professionalism, collaboration and the promotion of the University’s image on global digital platforms,” the statement added.

Education

RIVCHPP Set To Take Health Insurance Scheme To Tertiary Institutions In Rivers State

Published

2 weeks ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), the state health insurance agency, is set to take the health insurance scheme to schools, especially tertiary institutions, in the state.

This disclosure was made by the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Rolegherighan Agala, when she led a team from RIVCHPP on an advocacy visit to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education on Friday, 16th January 2026.

Dr. Agala, who solicited authorisation from the Ministry for RIVCHPP to write to the institutions under Ministry’s mandate so as to begin enrolment of students in the various schools , said that for the health insurance agency to expand universal health coverage of the state, then students need to be enrolled into the programme.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary announced that the agency has also started talks with the State branch of Nigeria Association of Proprietors of Private Secondary Schools (NAPPSS) to ensure that no one in the state is left out from having the opportunity of accessing quality healthcare services without passing through financial hardship.

Dr. Agala also commended the innovative policies that the Permanent Secretary have brought to bear towards improving the educational exploits in the state, saying that the changes align to the interest and mandate of Governor Siminialayi Fubara stance on education.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary appreciated the Permanent Secretary for giving the team audience, pledging her team’s dedication and commitment to clients’ satisfaction, calling on schools to embrace the S-SHIP package dedicated for the well-being of students in Rivers State.

In her remarks and response, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr.(Mrs. ) Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, who warmly welcomed the RIVCHPP team, promised to share with and disseminate all information about RIVCHPP to all public schools in the state so that the schools will be willing to give RIVCHPP opportunity to sensitise them on what RIVCHPP is all about and the benefits of signing up with RIVCHPP.

Dr. Uzoma-Nwogu advised RIVCHPP to be proactive and consistent in the mandate of providing affordable and quality health care to Rivers residents.

The visit witnessed a presentation of RIVCHPP’s sensitisation/campaign materials to the Permanent Secretary by RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary

Education

University Don wants AI to be made compulsory course

Published

2 weeks ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

A university don, Prof. Sunday Olatunji, has argued that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be made a compulsory course for all students in higher institutions across Nigeria, irrespective of their field of study

He also called on Nigeria and Africa to build an intelligent, inclusive and technologically sovereign future to elevate human potential through artificial intelligence.

To achieve these goals, the Professor of Artificial Intelligence urged the nation and continent to: institutionalize capacity building for AI excellence; develop functional policy and ethical frameworks for responsible AI; build artificial intelligence literacy and workforce development; make AI a general course in all higher institutions; promote no-code

AI and machine learning pathways for beginners; develop public-private-academic partnerships; and build inclusive and culturally grounded AI.Prof. Olatunji, who is ranked by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as the Best AI Researcher in Nigeria (2025), made these statements on Tuesday, while delivering the 53rd Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, held at the University Multipurpose Hall.

The lecture was titled, Symbiosis of Mind and Machine: Harnessing AI for National Development.He stressed that artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction but a reality that permeates every stratum of human life. “Just as Computer Appreciation became a national requirement decades ago, the time has come for AI Appreciation as a compulsory General Studies (GST) course.

This course should introduce all students, regardless of discipline, to aspects of AI including: AI fundamentals, machine learning concepts, applications of AI in their respective fields, ethical implications of AI, and its role in national development, among others,” he said.

The lecturer called on governments to establish AI innovation hubs in all tertiary institutions and research centres; promote cross-disciplinary collaboration integrating computing; provide national research grants focused on AI solutions for local challenges; and recruit and train faculty specialised in AI, machine learning, data science, robotics, and computational intelligence.

Prof. Olatunji allayed fears that AI could replace humans or end humanity, positing that, “Many fear that the rise of artificial intelligence signals the decline of human relevance – that the machine might replace the mind. But history teaches otherwise. Every technological revolution – from the printing press to electricity, from the internet to AI – has not diminished humanity but rather redefined it.

Today, AI diagnoses diseases, predicts the weather, translates languages, and protects nations.

Prof. Olatunji has garnered from far and wide and commended his role in setting up the Faculty of Computing and for doing a yeoman’s job as its founding Dean.

The Vice Chancellor also noted that Prof. Olatunji is a well-respected and accomplished academic and researcher who has carved an enviable niche for himself in the digital world of computing and artificial intelligence.