Education
VC Inaugurates C’ttees To Resolve Crises
In an effort to promote lasting peace and engender unity in the university, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Stephen Okodudu, has inaugurated two committees to resolve grievances among members within the university community.
The committees inaugurated were Committee on Resolution of Subsisting Legal Issues between the University and Other Parties which is headed by Professor Anele Ihekwaba, and Committee on Staff and Students’ Grievances chaired by Professor Kanu Nkangineme.
Inaugurating the committees at the council’s chambers in Choba over the weekend ,the Acting Vice Chancellor said the committees have one month to submit their reports, saying that the numerous court cases and disaffection among staff and students had continued to widen the gap of communality in the academic environment which must be bridged without further delay.
He advised the respective Committees not to use this opportunity for dialogue to open new contentious issues or engage in blame game.
“To everything there is a time and season. For me, who is right or wrong is immaterial at this stage. What is right is what matters now. Just do justice to all by addressing the issues and resolve them on the basis of the fine principles that are encapsulated in the Statute and other regulations governing such issues in the University and by convention established by the founding fathers of this University,” he stated.
Okodudu, however, enjoined all stakeholders to eschew divisive tendencies to return the university to the path of inclusiveness to promote team work with brotherly love to move the institution to more enviable academic height.In their separate speeches, the Chairman of the Committee on Resolution of Subsisting Legal Issues between the University and Other Parties, Professor Ihekwaba, and a member of the Staff and Students’ Grievances, Professor e Chairman, Professor Kanu Nkangineme, commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for their appointments into the committees and promised to carry out the task to the best of their abilities.Osaretin Ejele, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman, Professor Kanu Nkangineme, commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for their appointments into the committees and promised to carry out the task to the best of their abilities.
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.