Education
Don Blames Family, University System For Nigeria’s Problems
A Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Lecturer, Prof. Ngozi Anyanwu, has attributed the country’s socio-political problems to the failure of the family and the university system.
“The two instutions have failed in instilling moral ethics in the younger generation,” she said.
Anyanwu made the observation in a public lecture delivered on Wednesday, at the University,.titled, “Instilling moral ethics in the university community: a sine qua non for national growth and development”.
She said that lack of moral discipline had resulted in Nigerian universities producing individuals who were perpetually preoccupied with finding ways to exploit the society only for their personal advantages at the expense of others.
“Without good moral upbringing of the youths today the nation will not produce good leaders to manage its affairs tomorrow”.
“Without moral upbringing, our institutions of higher learning will continue to mass produce youths who are insensitive to the destruction of the nation’s pipelines, electrical cables and human lives”.
“In the last five years, the Nigerian youths have increasingly adopted habits and tendencies that are destructive to social harmony because the values in the system tend to push them in that direction,” she said.
Anyanwu, a professor of Medical Microbiology, emphasised that there was a compelling need for re-orientation in the country’s value system, adding, “we need to go through attitudinal change”.
“It is only when one has this type of orientation that one realises the futility of acquiring wealth unnecessarily and the joy of hard work rather than money,” she noted.
Anyanwu stressed that good orientation would give the individual the ability to analyse problems and make thoughtful decisions.
She said further that good orientation created the ability to re-order priorities based on how they would benefit the society and not how much they would benefit individuals.
“It is only when this happens that we will be able to graduate people who are worthy in character and learning”.
“The continued neglect of this fact will lead to social paralysis”, she added.
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.