Education
Nigerian Universities, Not Among World Best – Don
A lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Port Harcourt, Dr Steve Wordu says Nigerian universities are not among the first 100 rated universities in the world.
Wordu stated this while speaking as a guest lecturer during the public presentation of two books, “Deepening Crisis in Nigerian Education System and Ikwerre in the 21st Century” written by Eze Chris Akani held at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt over the weekend. He disclosed that Nigerian universities were lagging behind in the 21st century in terms of social and economic development.
In this 21st century, he said there is a lot of competition in the university system by different countries in the world. According to him, the system today was driven by knowledge competitions, noting that countries are competiting in order to excel in both global resources and social economic development.
The Uniport lecturer however opined that African universities are far, far below the standard of global education compared to their counterparts across the world. Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion Eze Sir Mike Elechi said that the crisis in Nigerian educational system was uncalled for, adding that educationalists have important roles to play for the development of the country’s educational system.
Elechi commended the author of the two books, Eze Chris Akani for taking time to write the books, adding that the books have x-rayed the crisis of education in the country as well as provided solution to it among others.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the author of the two books, Eze Chris Akani described education as an essential tonic that would move, develop and transform the society from one state to the other.
He averred that “since 859 A.D when University of Alkarouine was established in Fes, Morocco (Africa) to the 21st century, university education has been responsible for the production of human capital and ideas that promote human and social development in the society.
Kiadum Edookor
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.