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Commissioner Charges ASUP On Constructive Demands

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The  Rivers  State Commissioner for Education, Prof Kaniye Ebeku, has charged members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology Chapter, to engage government constructively whilst making demands.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Commissioner, Faustina Eugene-Nwanekwu, disclosed that Ebeku gave the charge in Port Harcourt when the union paid him a courtesy visit in his office, last Friday.
While urging the union, “to exhaust all channels of dialogue before taking any other steps, if need be”, Ebeku encouraged the new Executive members of the union to work for the benefit of the chapter and the college by “building bridges and mending fences”.
He also congratulated the new Executive on their election, and assured the union of the state government’s commitment in strengthening the education sector, adding that the challenges articulated during the visit would be addressed.
Earlier, Leader of the delegation and Chairman of the chapter, Dr Richard Iloma, said the reason for the visit was to formally present the members of the new Executive to the commissioner.
Iloma expressed willingness of the union to “strengthen existing partnership ties with the ministry in order to provide the needed enabling environment conducive for learning.
“We consider it appropriate to introduce to you the newly inaugurated Chapter Executive Committee of ASUP in Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology, and also explore ways to partner with you and collaborate with your ministry in ensuring that we provide the needed environment conducive for learning and retraining of essential healthcare manpower in the college”, he said.
He assured the commissioner of the union’s readiness to constructively engage the government, noting that “under our reign, we will engage meaningfully. Where there is a need, we will run to you to let you know our challenges”.
Iloma further commended the efforts of the Rivers State Government in upgrading the college to a polytechnic status in 2019 “with all consequential benefits”, and enumerated some challenges the college was facing.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
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Education

BUK Taps Content Creators to Expand Its Digital Footprint

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Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has unveiled a team of Digital Media Ambassadors as part of efforts to strengthen the institution’s online presence and deepen engagement with stakeholders.
The initiative was announced in a statement signed by the Head of the Digital Media Unit, Mr Nura Garba, and shared on the university’s official social media platforms.
According to the statement, the Digital Media Unit held its inaugural meeting with the selected content creators on Monday at the unit’s office in the Senate Building.
Garba explained that the ambassadors were appointed to serve as digital brand advocates for the university across various online platforms.
“The ambassadors will serve as digital brand advocates, content creators and community connectors, helping to expand the University’s online reach and engagement,” he said.
He added that the appointees would support official communication, promote university events, document campus experiences and provide feedback on public perception of BUK across digital platforms.
Isa Kaita College
The appointed ambassadors are Ameer Umar Ibrahim, Arafat Yakubu Onono, Okeneme Favour Mmesoma, Abubakar Zubair (Master), Mustapha Sani Jibril, Auwal Muhammad Hamma, Idris Abdullahi, Nuruddeen Murtala Muhammad, Mukhtar Muhammad and Samuel Maina.
Garba noted that the initiative forms part of the university’s broader strategy to enhance its digital footprint and ensure effective, timely communication with internal and external stakeholders.
“The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to professionalism, collaboration and the promotion of the University’s image on global digital platforms,” the statement added.
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RIVCHPP Set To Take Health Insurance Scheme To Tertiary Institutions In Rivers State

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Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), the state health insurance agency, is set to take the health insurance scheme to schools, especially tertiary institutions, in the state.

This disclosure was made by the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Rolegherighan Agala, when she led a team from RIVCHPP on an advocacy visit to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education on Friday, 16th January 2026.

Dr. Agala, who solicited authorisation from the Ministry for RIVCHPP to write to the institutions under Ministry’s mandate so as to begin enrolment of students in the various schools , said that for the health insurance agency to expand universal health coverage of the state, then students need to be enrolled into the programme.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary announced that the agency has also started talks with the State branch of Nigeria Association of Proprietors of Private Secondary Schools (NAPPSS) to ensure that no one in the state is left out from having the opportunity of accessing quality healthcare services without passing through financial hardship.

Dr. Agala also commended the innovative policies that the Permanent Secretary have brought to bear towards improving the educational exploits in the state, saying that the changes align to the interest and mandate of Governor Siminialayi Fubara stance on education.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary appreciated the Permanent Secretary for giving the team audience, pledging her team’s dedication and commitment to clients’ satisfaction, calling on schools to embrace the S-SHIP package dedicated for the well-being of students in Rivers State.

In her remarks and response, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr.(Mrs. ) Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, who warmly welcomed the RIVCHPP team, promised to share with and disseminate all information about RIVCHPP to all public schools in the state so that the schools will be willing to give RIVCHPP opportunity to sensitise them on what RIVCHPP is all about and the benefits of signing up with RIVCHPP.

Dr. Uzoma-Nwogu advised RIVCHPP to be proactive and consistent in the mandate of providing affordable and quality health care to Rivers residents.

The visit witnessed a presentation of RIVCHPP’s sensitisation/campaign materials to the Permanent Secretary by RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary

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University Don wants AI to be made compulsory course 

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A university don, Prof. Sunday Olatunji, has argued that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be made a compulsory course for all students in higher institutions across Nigeria, irrespective of their field of study
He also called on Nigeria and Africa to build an intelligent, inclusive and technologically sovereign future to elevate human potential through artificial intelligence.
To achieve these goals, the Professor of Artificial Intelligence urged the nation and continent to: institutionalize capacity building for AI excellence; develop functional policy and ethical frameworks for responsible AI; build artificial intelligence literacy and workforce development; make AI a general course in all higher institutions; promote no-code
 AI and machine learning pathways for beginners; develop public-private-academic partnerships; and build inclusive and culturally grounded AI.Prof. Olatunji, who is ranked by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as the Best AI Researcher in Nigeria (2025), made these statements on Tuesday, while delivering the 53rd Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, held at the University Multipurpose Hall.
The lecture was titled, Symbiosis of Mind and Machine: Harnessing AI for National Development.He stressed that artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction but a reality that permeates every stratum of human life. “Just as Computer Appreciation became a national requirement decades ago, the time has come for AI Appreciation as a compulsory General Studies (GST) course.
This course should introduce all students, regardless of discipline, to aspects of AI including: AI fundamentals, machine learning concepts, applications of AI in their respective fields, ethical implications of AI, and its role in national development, among others,” he said.
The lecturer called on governments to establish AI innovation hubs in all tertiary institutions and research centres; promote cross-disciplinary collaboration integrating computing; provide national research grants focused on AI solutions for local challenges; and recruit and train faculty specialised in AI, machine learning, data science, robotics, and computational intelligence.
Prof. Olatunji allayed fears that AI could replace humans or end humanity, positing that, “Many fear that the rise of artificial intelligence signals the decline of human relevance – that the machine might replace the mind. But history teaches otherwise. Every technological revolution – from the printing press to electricity, from the internet to AI – has not diminished humanity but rather redefined it.
Today, AI diagnoses diseases, predicts the weather, translates languages, and protects nations.
   Prof. Olatunji has garnered from far and wide and commended his role in setting up the Faculty of Computing and for doing a yeoman’s job as its founding Dean.
The Vice Chancellor also noted that Prof. Olatunji is a well-respected and accomplished academic and researcher who has carved an enviable niche for himself in the digital world of computing and artificial intelligence.
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