Education
Councillor Wants Stiffer Penalty For Randy Lecturers
Supervisory Councillor for Youths and Sports, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Hon. Boma Friday Daminabo has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) in collaboration with the Association of Vice-Chancellors to henceforth expose randy lecturers and subject them to odium for dastardly act. In order to curb the menace with a view to restoring sanity on university and academic environments across the country.
Speaking with The Tide in Opobo Town, Thursday in an interview on the need to curb excesses of lecturers in the abuse of students and youths under their care, Daminabo described sexual harassment in the nation’s universities as inhuman, wicked and ridiculous to humanity and said any lecturer caught in the act should not be spared rather be made to face the consequences.
He, however, expressed disappointment at lecturers who desperately engaged in-sex-for-marks, describing it as unfortunate. “It is unfortunate that the image of our universities are being dented by a few unscupulous lecturers in the Nigerian universities.”
According to him, when the trend is allowed to continue unchecked, the future of the youths as far as education is bleak in Nigeria and Nigeria should be seen as producing graduates that can compete favourably with their colleagues anywhere in the globe.
Hon. Daminabo, who called for revitalisation of Nigeria’s university education system and stressed that, it was a formidable weapon in the world that could be used as instruments of change and transformation.
He said there was the urgent need for the rapid revitalisation of university education in Nigeria, urging experts to come up with a blue-print on adequate funding of education to secure the future of present and future generations of graduates.
The supervisory councilor said: “we therefore desired to encourage ourselves by stating the fact that the Nigerian education system is not beyond redemption. We only need a purposeful leadership, absolute commitment from all key stakeholders and a sense of urgency to turn around the education sector.
Daminabo added, “I am delighted that the current leadership of the National Universities Commission (NUC) is resolutely committed to this. “It’s style of leadership and on-going restructuring is heartwarming.”
Bethel Toby
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.