Education
Journalist Tasks Noun Students On Quality Leadership
A photo journalist and
motivational speaker, Israel Ibeleme, has challenged members of the Political Students Association (POSA) of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Port Harcourt Study Centre to nurture the leadership qualities in them.
Mr Ibeleme gave the charge during a seminar and end of year party organised by POSA in Port Harcourt recently.
“A leaders is simply a person who has decided to reach for more than that average person. Average is common. The majority of people on earth live average lives. So a leader is an average man or woman who decides to improve his or her lot in life”, he said.
The motivational speaker further said though many have claimed that leadership was in-born, research has shown that one can develop his or herself to be a good leader.
The photo journalist identified confidence as one attribute that qualifies one to be a leader, explaining that the lion is considered the king of the jungle because of its confident nature.
In his words, “I have discovered that this truth in the jungle is also true in politics, church, finance, business and culture in which we live”.
He believes that all human beings are imbued with this quality but that it must be awakened and used, “It’s time to awaken the lion in you. There is a lion living inside you and that lion will make you bold and confident”.
Mr Ibeleme also charged the students to emulate the leadership qualities of Jesus, whom he described as the lion of the tribe of Judah.
By emulating the leadership qualities of Jesus, the photojournalist said the students will learn to become greater leaders, as they will align themselves with God’s words and His plan for them.
He said, “God’s overall desire for us is to become like Christ the leader, we realize that to be on top means climbing, pushing, working, letting go of wrong thinking and excess baggage”.
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
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
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.