Education
VCs Task FG On Varsities’ Security
The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and the Committee of Prof-Chancellors have called on the Federal Government to ensure safety of lives and properties in institutions of higher learning.
The Secretary-General of the committees, Prof. Michael Faborode, told our correspondent on Thursday in Abuja that the worsening situation in several campuses was a source of concern.
Faborode said that during the recent meeting in Abuja, the committees also condmned the killing of students of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa and the murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt, in Rivers.
“This recent development has become very worrisome and we are talking of students of higher institutions of learning, we know the enormous investments on students in higher institutions.
“So, for such lives to be wasted just like that bothers the Committee of Chancellors and the Pro-Chancellors seriously because no human being should be subjected to such a depraved treatment.
“Both the committees are calling on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to protect lives and property in all our campuses of institutions of higher learning.’’
“If nothing is done, service delivery in the institutions will be affected.
“If students refuse to go to classes and if lecturers refuse to go and teach just because their lives are not safe, then we are saying bye-bye to quality education in the country.’’
He said that the situation could have a ripple effect on many aspects of national development.
Faborode expressed the hope that the Federal Government would take decisive steps to reassure staff and students in higher institutions of their safety.
He said that the chancellors and pro-chancellors also expressed serious concern about what they described as arbitrary taxation imposed on institutions by some state governments.
The secretary-general said that a number of universities in Nigeria were having serious problems with taxation in their domains as some states were imposing enormous tax on the university community to get Internally Generated Revenue.
According to him, the development “ has started to create a lot of tension between the universities and the governments of their respective states; staff unions are becoming restless.’’
Faborode called on the Governors’ Forum to look at the issue very seriously in order to forestall looming crisis in the university system.
“There is need for the governors to look at the issue and come up with proper taxation regime and not to impose arbitrary taxation regimes that will create problems for the national university system.’’
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.