Education
Rector Lauds Wike Over Accreditation Of Courses
Rector of the Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori in Rivers State, Dr. Onengiye-Ofori Georgewill has commended Governor Nyesom Wike over the approval of 18 programmes offered in the institution by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Georgewill, who made the commendation during an exclusive interview with the Tide at his office in Bori, explained that the approval was the outcome of a recent visit by the NBTE to the Polytechnic.
The Rector said that without accreditation (approval) of programmes, academic institutions hardly earns value for its courses.
“Programmes offered by any academic institution must be accredited by the relevant body otherwise they are just there. 18 of our programmes were approved during the recent accreditation visitation conducted by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
He stated that without the needed infrastructure and the enabling environment provided by visitor to the Polytechnic and the State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike, especially in the acquisition of a world class New Technology Centre (NTC), the feat would not have been possible.
“There is nothing we have asked from the Governor that he has not approved. The road leading to the school was deplorable when we came in, he (Wike) has done it.
“Different companies and investors are coming here to partner with us. The technical hands that were with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, (RSSDA), before now, he (the governor) has moved them into the mainstream.
“Right now investors, companies and Non-Governmental Organizations, NGO’s are coming to collaborate with us to train people because of the facilities we have here and negotiations are on-going. So, all that will be part of our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),” he said.
Georgewill further said, ” With this (accreditation) by the NBTE, the statutory supervisory body for technical and vocational institutions in Nigeria, all our students are qualified to go for the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), “Georgewill explained.
Explaining further in a statement, Ag. Registrar of the Polytechnic, Austin Edeh said, “For the first time in the history of the polytechnic, the accreditation of the pragrammes were approved for a period of five years with effect from the 2017/2018 session:
Edeh stated that the institution will not relent in the production of skilled technical and professional manpower for the development and sustenance of the state and national economy.
Some of the courses covering both National Diploma and Higher Natiional Diploma listed by Edeh include, Mass Communication, Marketing, Banking and Finance, Civil Engineering Technology, Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology.
Others are,:Mechanical Engineering Technology, Urban and Regional Planning, Surveying and Geo-Infomatics, Architectural Technology amongst others.
Dennis Naku
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.