Education
RSUBE Board To Drop Non-Compliant Contractors
The executive chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Sir Alli Orutemeka has restated the Board’s resolve to disengage any contractor who performs below expectation.
Addressing the 23 contractors who emerged successful after the bidding exercise carried out by the Board recently, the chairman advised them not to compromise quality while carrying out their jobs, saying that the board would expect nothing but the best.
He, however, congratulated them for emerging successful, stressing that as stakeholders in the educational development of the state, they are also expected to apply diligence in the discharge of their duties. He assured them of the Board’s readiness to mobilise them adequately.
Describing them as seasoned contractors, Sir Orutemeka stated that the Board will not hesitate to carry along any contractor who lives up to expectation, reminding them that the recent “best state in education in the South-South” award won by the state was as a result of hard work.
Also speaking, the board member, Hon. Lucky Ugochukwu Worlun appealed to the contractors to ensure that professionalism was not compromised and congratulated them for emerging successful.
Worlun used the opportunity to inform the contractors that the present Board led by Sir Orutemeka has always made due process, transparency and accountability its watchword, a factor, he said, is the hallmark of the Amaechi administration in the state.
In their different statement Board member II, Hon. Dominic Piamen and the director, Finance and Accounts of the Board Dr. Oliver Amadi called on the contractors to endeavour to carry out a good job in a bid to maintain their integrity.
It would be recalled that the board recently carried out a bidding exercise for the construction of fourteen classroom blocks across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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.