Education
Rivers Education Sector In Focus
With the inauguration of the present administration in Rivers State, under the able leadership of Chief Nyesom Wike on May 29, 2015, the state began to witness massive infrastructural development across all sectors of human endeavours. These development projects which are visiable across the 23 local government areas of the state, including Port Harcourt metropolis indeed, have direct bearing on both the rich and ordinary citizens in the state.
At the inauguration of this present administration in the state, the governor did among other things promise rapid transformation and development across the length and breadth of the state. Indeed, Governor Wike has kept his social contract with the people of the state through his NEW Rivers Vision mantra.
In keeping with this promise, Governor Wike has not left any one in doubt with the infrastructural and sectorial rebirth being witnessed in the state including educational sector.
The present administration embarked on a radical developmental approach to redeem the state educational system from the comatose it inherited from the past administration.
Within the two years in office, Governor Wike had through the Ministry of Education and its various parastatal anchored a deliberate and sustained policies which have made the educational system more vibrant, effective and functional.
This was due to the critical role education plays in the development of every society, hence, no meaningful government can undermine the importance of education in development of the state.
Rivers State plays a very important role in the economy and development of our country, therefore, the people of the state need to acquire the relevant educational skills and qualifications in order to continue to occupy her prime position in the comity of states and drive the wheel of governance in the country.
The present administration had made some landmark achievements in the development of the education sector in the state within the period under review.
Wike made a historic landmark achievement through the renaming of and upgrading of the former Rivers State College of Arts (RIVCAS) to Port Harcourt Polytechnic. With this new status, the state now has two Polytechnics. These measures have also added to the high number of graduates the state produces, every year.
Also, it was the administration of Governor Wike that made it possible to the change of the former “Rivers State University of Science and Technology to now Rivers State University (RSU). This initiative has given the university the needed opportunity to advance the scope of its operations. The Rivers State University (RSU) at the moment has commenced a full programme in medical sciences and other related courses associated with medicine. This noble achievement was made possible courtesy of Governor Wike’s administration.
Recently, Governor Wike in pursuance of his administration’s avowed vision and commitment in the infrastructural development of the state built and commissioned two faculty blocks for management sciences and environmental sciences and also proscribed sorting, a social crime being perpetrated in the university.
The governor’s action received commendations among the students and major stakeholders in the education sector.
Secondary and primary schools were not left out in the New Rivers mission Initiative anchored by the Wike-led administration. The governor embarked on the reconstruction and remodelling of some secondary and primary schools in the state to make teaching and learning easier.
The benefiting schools that have received the Wike led administration midas touch include Nyemoni Grammar Secondary School, Abonnema, Birabi Memorial Secondary School, Bori, Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokuta and Etche Girls Junior Secondary School, Umuola, among others.
The Wike-led administration had in a concerted effort to ensure quality, efficient and affordable education through the state Ministry of Education last year, clamped down on the unapproved and substandard schools in the state.
The ministry further set up a taskforce across the of the state for effective monitoring of the state government’s directive.
In October last year, the Ministry of Education through a proactive campaign suppressed the monkey pox scare that rattled schools in state on the alleged rumours of virus vaccination by military authorities in the country.
Teachers and students in the state have also felt the positive impact of the the various development policies of the Governor Wike led administration. The state governor during a recent visit to the Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Oroworukwo promised to construct a befitting modern secretariat for National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS) as well as the approval for the payment of their bursary allowances which hitherto were not made possible in the last administration.
The welfare and regular payment of teachers’ salaries have continued to be the hallmark of the present administration.
Governor Wike without equivocation fronties has advanced 30 months of education within the of his administration in the state. A great achiever, an icon of education development, W has made indelible marks in the development of education in the state. The past two years have witnessed outstanding achievements in the education sector. This will in no measure position the state for future greatness. With the dexterity and commitment of Wike-led government in the remaining years, it is sure that more good days are ahead for the education sector in the state.
The Covenant University (CU) has, for the second time, been rated as the best university in Nigeria.
According to Times Higher Education‘s 2024 rating, Covenant Unirersity, as a growing, dynamic vision-driven university, founded on a Christian mission ethos and committed to pioneering excellence at the cutting edge of learning, is among the top 1,000 universities in the world.
The 2024 ranking includes 1,906 universities across 108 countries and regions. The Ranking Website indicates that the grading was compiled based on their new World University Ranking (WUR) 3.0 methodology which includes 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
Analysis of the latest ranking on Thursday showed that the university based in Ota, Ogun State, is following on the ranking by the University of Ibadan (UI) as the second-best in the country, with the Federal University of Technology, Akure clinching the third position.
Currently ranked 801st university in the world, CU first gained prominence in 2018 after it emerged as the best university in Nigeria and the sixth-best university overall.
The ranking webpage explained that the site is trusted worldwide by students, teachers, governments, and industry experts, adding that the 2024 league table reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting.
It stated thus; “This year’s ranking analysed more than 134 million citations across 16.5 million research publications and included survey responses from 68,402 scholars globally. Overall, we collected 411,789 data points from more than 2,673 institutions that submitted data”.
Meanwhile, also captured on the list of universities with the top rating in Nigeria are the University of Ilorin, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Afe Babalola University, and the University of Benin.
Others include the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lagos State University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Port Harcourt.
Available statistics showed that of the 15 top universities in the country, nine are located in the South West region, two in the South-South region, two in the South East region, one in the North Central zone, and one in the North West zone. Interestingly, the North-East zone was conspicuously missing from the list.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have raised an alarm over fake sites for the ongoing printing of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Notification Slip which contains vital information such as the date, venue, and time of candidates’ examinations.
In a joint briefing by the NPF and JAMB recently in Abuja, candidates are enjoined to patronise only the approved sites by the JAMB, so as not be defrauded.
The Force Spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who signed a press release on behalf of the two Government agencies said: “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) hereby bring to the attention of the public the ongoing printing of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Notification Slip which contains vital information such as the date, venue, and time of candidates’ examinations.
“Unfortunately, the emergence of several fake websites created by unscrupulous individuals with the intention of misleading candidates has been observed necessitating this joint press briefing.
“These fake sites are designed to deceive innocent candidates into providing personal details such as registration numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers. These details are then exploited for malicious purposes.
“Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force condemn these fraudulent activities and hereby reiterate the readiness to safeguard the interests of candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination process.
“We urge parents, guardians, and all stakeholders to ensure that candidates print their UTME Notification Slips only from the Board’s approved website: www.jamb.gov.ng. Candidates can print their slips from the comfort of their homes or visit any of the over 700 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
“It is important to note that we are familiar with the tactics employed by these fraudsters, especially during the annual assessment and admission exercises. We are actively sensitizing candidates and the public about these deceptive practices.
“Any candidate who visits these fake sites will definitely have unreliable information and thereby miss out in the forthcoming exams.’’
“Candidates are advised to print their UTME Notification Slips before Friday, 19th April, 2024, to access vital information about their examinations. Any website other than www.jamb.gov.ng offering UTME slip printing services is fake and designed to defraud candidates. Candidates should also beware of sites offering ‘live’ questions and answers, as they are false and deceptive, and accessing such materials is prohibited.
“The 2024 UTME is scheduled to commence on Friday, 19th April, and end on Monday, 29th April, 2024. We call on parents, guardians, and the general public to join hands in fostering a culture of integrity and compliance with established guidelines. Together, we can nurture a generation of upright and law-abiding leaders by discouraging fraudulent practices and desperation.
“Furthermore, JAMB is partnering with the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) to address online scam-related issues seamlessly. We assure candidates and the public of our firm dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process.
“In addition, the Inspector General of Police has ordered the NPF-NCCC to go after scammers and fraudsters who engage in cyber related crimes and create phishing sites/portals, and cause them to face the full wrath of the law”.
The authorities of the Rivers State University (RSU),Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt says it will commence the First semester examinations.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Registrar of the university, Mrs. I. B. S. Harry and made available to Dean’s and Heads of Departments, adding that the the examinations were earlier shifted to begin today from its initial date of last Monday to enable students who were yet to complete their registration and pay the necessary approved fees and give all students equal opportunity to participate in the examinations.
The statement reads “This is to inform all staff and students of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, that the First Semester Examination for the 2023/2024 academic session earlier scheduled to commence on Monday, 8th April, 2024, has been shifted to Monday, 15th April, 2024.”
“The change in date of the Examination is to enable students who are yet to pay stipulated fees/ charges and complete their course registration for the First Semester, to do so.”
All students in this category are advised to utilise the period to make necessary fee payments as well as course registration.”
By: Akujobi Amadi
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