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RSUST VC Wins Andy Briggs Report Award
The Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu, Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Prof. Barineme Fakae was among other people honoured by the Andy Briggs Report on people of courage whose lifestyle have inspired others in the society.
Prof Fakae received the award over the weekend at the Silverbird Galleries at former Obi Wali Cultural Centre, Port Harcourt.
Prof. Fakae blazed a trail since his days as a fresh professor in University of Nigeria Nsukka. The Peter Odili administration recognized his talents and recruited him to bail out the endangered Rivers State Polytechnic (RIVPOLY) in Bori, Khana LGA of Rivers State.
By the time he left Rivpoly at the behest of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the demons of cultism and infrastructural decay that had troubled the institution had vanished considerably.
Those who had known Amaechi for quite a while were already used to seeing him take chances but he still managed to surprise a lot of people when he appointed Prof. Fakae as the new vice chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RUST).
Fakae had only been a professor for just a few years and it seemed like a really big throw of the dice to appoint him as vice chancellor in a university where the academia had broken up into several camps and had been waging a war of attrition.
The place had its fair share of university dons with twenty or more years in the professorial chair who would have every reason to see the new vice chancellor as an upstart. But Fakae has proved since 2007 that Rotimi Amaechi knew exactly what he was doing when he appointed him to be vice chancellor of RUST.
Under Fakae’s watch, RUST became the first e-university in the Niger Delta with a coveted ITC Center, running examinations online even its post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screening test and results released with unprecedented alacrity.
The infrastructural upgrade is clear and present. Speaking to a group of journalists on the eve of the university’s recent convocation ceremony, the head of the university’s works department Mr. Chukwu summed it up thus: ‘
For the past four years there has been total transformation in the university, our facilities have changed, our structures are in good shape, you go around the university, you will find them’. It has not been as easy as a walk in the park.
Barineme Fakae has weathered a lot of opposition and remains undeterred in the path of innovation.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
