Don’t Disappoint Founding Fathers, RSG Tells RSUST

The Rivers State Government has urged the management of
Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu, near Port Harcourt,
to brace up for the challenges of repositioning the institution to meet the
yearnings and aspirations of its founding fathers.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr George Feyii, who said
this while declaring open a three-day retreat organised for members of the
Governing Council of the institution on Wednesday, in Port Harcourt, said that
the university, which is the premier science and technology university in the
country, ought to discharge its functions in line with the dreams of its
founding fathers.

Feyii described the theme of the retreat: “University
Administration: The Role of the Governing Council” as very appropriate in view
of the fact that if the council fails, it will reflect on the performance of
the university.

He also charged lecturers of the institution to act as role
models for the students, noting that they must practise what they teach.

In a keynote address, the Pro- Chancellor/Chairman,
Governing Council of the university, Hon Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte (rtd),
said that if the university must discharge its responsibilities in line with
the dreams of its founding fathers, it must be allowed reasonable degree of
autonomy by the government as it was not the intention of the founding fathers
for the university to be a parastatal of the civil service.

“The statute establishing the university has left no one in
any doubt that the administration of the university is in the hands of both the
council and the Senate.

“However, the reality is different. The critical position
now is that the level of autonomy enjoyed by the university has deprived it of
control of its own staff.”

The pro-chancellor further described the situation as a
veritable inhibition to planning and development, which has undoubtedly
contributed to the prevailing zero pace of development in the institution.

He also said that the institution is in the process of
amending its enabling statute and applicable regulations to bring them in
conformity with present day realities, stressing that the university needs to
be autonomous and self-sustaining to enhance its competitiveness.

The council, he said, has noticed the impending drain on the
much-needed scarce academic and administrative manpower bolstered by the
superiority of the conditions of service in universities, and has taken steps
to prevent it.

In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of RSUST, Prof Barineme
Fakae, said that the retreat would enable the university to experience a new
lease in its operations, and appealed to members of council to collaborate with
the Senate to move the institution to the next level.

He assured them that their recommendations would be fully
implemented.

At the end of the retreat, participants unanimously
commended the governing council and management of the university for initiating
and holding the retreat, which is the first of its kind in the history of the
institution.

While commending the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi
for his unalloyed support to the institution, and particularly the 11th
Governing Council, they also suggested the review of the law setting up the
university to make it autonomous.