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Education

Rural Areas Neglected In Reportage – Don

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A university teachers,
Professor Nkereuigem Udoakah, says rural areas in Nigeria are not given enough coverage by the media.
Udoakah, who stated this at the maiden conference organised by the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), noted that “the way our rural areas are reported calls for concern uptill now, our rural areas are seen as ‘good for nothing’ for the media”.
He, therefore called on Nigerian Journalists to reassess the values which inform them that there is no news in the rural areas, or that there is no market for rural news.
This, he said, is because Nigerians rural condition is a newsworthy phenomenon, hence development journalism must focus on the rural condition.
Professor Udoakah also noted that same manner, the rural areas are treated by Nigerian Journalists is how the international news media neglect developing countries.
“A cursory look at the package of media products presented by Nigerian Journalists shows that the rural areas are alarmingly neglected in the same manner that the developing countries are neglected by the international media.
“Nigerian Journalists are stationed  at the state capitals and selected local government headquarters rated as economically and politically important. Hence,  journalism in Nigeria has been made essentially an urban phenomenon,” he said.
In the keynote address, which was based on the theme of the conference, “making the unreached Heardi: Reporting Development Strides in Rural Nigeria”, the professor further noted that the rural areas were only in the news when there is something to take government officials there.
At such points, he continued, “the news will be what the government officials said at the occasion. Nigeria’s rural areas have thus become “Third World in Nigeria with the national media performing like the international news media”.
He, therefore, recommended that the pathological condition in our rural areas can be conferred a social problem status and brought to the social mind through analytical or persuasive write-ups in the press or broadcast programmes.
“This can be done through interviews to unearth causes of these deplorable conditions and the feeling on victims”, he said.

 

Sogbeba Dokubo

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Education

‘Our Target Is To Go Beyond Academic Accomplishments’

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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

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Education

Niger Delta Students Suspend Protest Against NDDC In PH

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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

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Education

Administrator Inspects School

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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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