Education
Varsity Targets 80 Lecture Halls In One Year
As part of efforts to cater for the large influx of students, the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) has said that it targets to build at least 80 new lecture halls within the next one year.
Speaking at the university’s 38th Convocation Ceremony at the weekend, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele, expressed joy over the unprecedented progress the university has recorded in recent years and stressed the need for more classrooms/lecture halls to provide spacious and conducive learning environment for the students.
Ndimele disclosed that his administration had built 71 new classrooms/lecture spaces to boost the learning experience of students.
He said, “since my tenure as the vice-chancellor, we have built 71 new classroom/lecture spaces. We can proudly say we have built more classrooms in the past three years than the school had witnessed from inception. Our target is to build at least 80 lecture halls as my administration winds down in the coming year.”
Ndimele noted that less than one year to end his tenure, the university council, said that as a way of commemorating his exit, it has conceived more legacy projects to be commissioned which include a central administration block at the Ndele Campus, 50-units Central Academic Staff Office, 10-unit New Haven Staff Quarters Phase II, nine- unit New Haven lecture halls as well as a Research and Development Centre alongside Departmental Office.
To further achieve this, the vice chancellor tasked the university’s alumni to partner with the institution in the form of cash and kind donations for the growth and development of the university.
“Universities all over the world are known by the quality of their alumni. A huge chunk of their revenue derives from alumni contributions. May I therefore use this opportunity to once again call on our distinguished alumni to contribute towards the growth of their alma mater. There are many ways to do this, including making cash donations or the endowment of chairs and foundations.”
Highlights of the event include presentation of N1 million cheque award of excellence to the Overall Best Graduating Student of the university, Miss Faith Chidinma Igbonekwu, as well as awards to the best graduating students of the various faculties and departments of the university.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu
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.