Education
Students Laud Appointment Of New RSU VC
Rivers State Students of the Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu Oruworukwo, Port Harcourt have described the appointment of Prof Nlerum Okogbule as the new Vice Chancellor of the university by the Governor of Chief Nyesom Wike as the beginning of a new academic era in the institution.
The students also described the new vice chancellor as an erudite scholar as well as astute administrator and achiever per excellence
The students made these expressions while speaking to The Tide over the weekend.
It would be recalled that the Visitor of the institution and the state governor had approved the appointment of Prof Nlerum Okogbule as the substantive vice chancellor following the recommendation of the 13th governing council of the university.
Prof Okogbule was until his appointment the Dean of Post Graduate School and also served as the Dean, Faculty of Law in the same institution among other positions.
Speaking to The Tide a female student of the institution, Miss Akuchukwu Amaele described the new vice chancellor as a square peg in a square hole and expressed optimism that Prof Okogbule will live up to the expectations and yearnings of the students.
She urged him to tackle the issue of cultism and other antisocial vices that have been ravaging the premier university, which according to her, have become a nightmare to the university community at large.
Also speaking, a four hundred level male student who spoke on condition of anonymity appealed to the new vice chancellor to fight corruption and sorting which he said, has become a norm among lecturers in the university.
He further called on the new vice chancellor to strengthen the existing security architecture in the university with a view to checking crime and cultism within and outside the institution.
In his own reaction, a year two male student in the Faculty of Education, Sunday Dimkpa commended the visitor of the university and advised the new vice chancellor to improve on the existing infrastructure and ensure adequate power supply in the university at all times.
He used the opportunity to appeal to lecturers, non academic staffers and students to give the new vc the needed support and cooperation to enable him succeed in his assignment.
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.