Education
UNIPORT Cheers As Prof Ekekwe Bows Out
The authorities of the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, have described the contributions made by foremost political scientist, Prof Eme Ekekwe to the development of the institution while in service as uncommon .
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Ndowa E.S Lale stated this during a sendforth ceremony organised by the Department of Political and Administrative Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences in honour of Prof Eme Ekekwe ,who retired from the service of the university.
The Vice Chancellor who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof Akin Fahwemi described him as an erudite scholar who contributed to the development of the Department of Political and Administrative Studies, Faculty of Social Science and the university at large, adding that the university community will miss his services
The vice chancellor while wishing him well on his retirement said the various landmark achievements and legacies of the retired professor will be sustained
Also speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Prince Mmom described the retired political scientist as a man with many parts who had mentored many scholars, both within and outside the country.
In his own contribution, the Acting Head of Department, Political and Administrative Studies, Dr Timothy Nte described Prof Ekekwe as a honest and transparent teacher who distinguished himself in his academic carrier
He disclosed that the retired professor was a mentor who exhibited humility through out his years of servic, adding that he was never after wealth.
He urged lecturers and leaders across the country to emulate the leadership style of the academic and impact meaningfully on the society
Earlier in his opening speech, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Kimse Okoko urged the retiree to see retirement as a blessing and not a punishment
Prof Okoko while congratulating Prof Ekekwe on his retirement used the occasion to recall how he was instrumental to his appointment into the university
On his part, Prof Eme Ekekwe ,a professor of Political Science and Administrative Studies thanked those who attended the occasion for honouring him
The climax of the event was the review of a book, a collection of essays written by students of the retired Professor “The State, Politics and Development”, by Dr Kudo Eresia Eke.
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.