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UNIPORT VC Advocates Review Of University Funding

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13 years ago

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Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Joseph Ajienka has raised alarm that unless the existing pattern of funding higher education in the country was reviewed, public universities stand the risk of collapsing in the next ten years.

He said critically-needed funding was dwindling by the day, while the average cost of running each institution was correspondingly escalating, and decried a situation where parents were willing to pay astronomical school fees for their wards at Nursery, Primary and Secondary School levels, yet they were not encouraged to pay fees to keep critical university system afloat as is the case in other countries.

Prof Ajienka, who disclosed this at the 29th convocation of the university, explained that many parents were willing to pay outrageous fees for their children in universities outside Nigeria.

“How can we explain this untenable situation in which we pay to sustain quality education in other countries while treating our own universities system with inexplicable contempt?” he queried.

The VC said the scenario no longer makes sense as the university system in this country continues to strain under the weight of underfunding from statutory sources and indifference from society.

“The truth is that statutory Federal allocation alone can no longer be relied upon to run the universities as little or nothing is left to embark on meaningful research and infrastructural development, after payment of salaries to staff, who are not interested in stories of lack of funds,” he stressed.

He maintained that, “we can no longer shy away from considering the introduction of some form of school fees, if we hope to dig it out of the deep morass into which years of tuition-free has placed the public universities, if we still hope to see them in ten years period.”

Insisting that government alone cannot fund higher education, Prof. Ajienka suggested that government should consider the option of converting subventions given to universities , to loans for indigent students while those who can afford, pay fees.

Graduates, he said, should be made to start paying back the loans from the time of National Youth Service, adding that evidence of loan repayment would be mandatory like NYSC discharge certificate in any employment and business ventures by every graduate.

“Unless we secure sustainable funding of our higher educational institutions, we are only postponing the demise of the public higher educational sector,” the VC remarked.

 

Chris Oluoh

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Education

Akwaibom WASCO students gets scholarship award for academic excellence

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2 weeks ago

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December 22, 2025

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In recognition for their academic excellence and innovation, three students of Western Annang Secondary Commercial School WASCO, in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have been honoured with cash awards.
Faith Uwen Uko in SS 2, Goodluck Monday Otobong and God’swill Ndifreke Silas, both in SS3, were awarded scholarships and cash for distinguishing themselves in academics and traits such as curiosity, attention for details and other qualities notable of engineers.
The senior secondary school students were given the award by the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, NSChE, Akwa Ibom/Cross River states chapter, during their end of year dinner and award night held at Helemah Events Center, Uyo, with the theme “The roles of chemical engineers in fostering sustaining health sector.”
They were identified earlier in the year during the society’s visit to the school for career counselling and donation of science equipment, textbooks and stationeries to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM, education.
The tokens of recognition and awards were presented to the students by the Chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, Rt.Hon. Edidiong Joseph Inyang, the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, Prof Urua Antia, the representative of the Chairman of the occasion, Dr Jeremiah Anietie and the General Manager, Projects, Oilserv Ltd, Chief Augustine Ukpong.
The occasion featured a presentation on medical oxygen production, a dream project of the society aimed at making medical oxygen available at primary health care facilities through out Akwa Ibom state.
Also, a drama by the wives of chemical engineers helped to deepen understanding of the value of medical oxygen project. The NSChE chapter chairman, Mr Ikemesit Orok, led the dignitaries while Prof Esang Esitikot, moderated it.
Other high points of the award night was the award of scholarship to three outstanding chemical engineering students: Mfonido Ransome Bassey from the University of Uyo, Ifeoma Sandra from Akwa Ibom State University and Linus Owogeka Ogar from the University of Calabar.
Also, presentation of recognition awards to some distinguished personalities for their positive impacts on the engineering profession, commitment to corporate social responsibility and invests in human capacity development.
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Education

Community seeks government intervention over Herders Occupation Of School

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2 weeks ago

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December 22, 2025

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The people of Omerelu community in Ikwerre local government Area of Rivers state have called on the state government interventions over an alleged Herdsmen taken over the premises of community  Secondary School in the area.
This state of the secondary school have left the students of the community  displaced.
Speaking to journalists at Omerelu on the occupation of the school by the herdsmen , an opinion leader from the community , Mr Obinichi Amadi, briefed journalists shortly after the commissioning of the Egbeda–Omerelu Link Road by the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, recently .
Amadi claimed that the problem has persisted for months, but was renewed by commissioning of the road  renewed which he said, called for urgent government attention.
According to him, the school which is strategically located along the newly inaugurated road has become unsafe as roaming cattle and herdsmen now occupy its classrooms, open fields, and access routes.
Reports have it that some students who attempted to access the premises in recent weeks confirmed that dilapidated buildings, broken desks, and the presence of herders have made learning impossible.
The Community leader further described the development as both an educational and security crisis.
“The takeover of the school by suspected herdsmen poses a direct threat to children and undermines the developmental prospects expected from the newly completed link road. We want Governor, Siminalayi Fubara to come to our aid”, he said.
He also pointed out that the school which was established to serve the Egbeda–Omerelu corridor, has suffered long-term infrastructural decay, creating the vacuum that allowed herdsmen to encroach on the premises.
He further explained that the community has repeatedly appealed for intervention and is now placing renewed hope in the Governor following the commissioning of the road.
 “The irony is stark: while the state government has enhanced access into Omerelu with a modern road, the only major secondary school along that axis is non-functional and overrun by intruders. The road should lead not just to mobility but to meaningful development,” he said.
Meanwhile, student representatives lamented the collapse of their learning environment, citing leaking roofs, collapsed walls, overgrown bushes, and the absence of security as reasons many parents have withdrawn their children for safety.
Parents  as it was learnt had warned against closing the school completely and added that it could force them to send their children to distant communities for education purposes.
As the newly commissioned road receives accolades, the people of Omerelu are issuing a clear and urgent call saying that the Government Secondary School, Omerelu must be rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to its students.
It was also gathered that the once-thriving citadel of learning has been in this deplorable state for nearly two decades.
By: King Onunwor
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Education

Rivers NYSC Cordinator task corps members on peace building 

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1 month ago

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December 8, 2025

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Corps Members have been urged to use the rich cultural heritage of Nigerians to promote peace in the state and country at large.
The Rivers State Coordinator  of NYSC Mr. Moses Oleghe gave the charge  during the inter-platoon cultural carnival competition for 2025 Batch C Corps Members deployed to the State orientation camp, Nonwa-Gbam Tai held over the weekend.
Oleghe while addressing the Corps Members, further charged them to be a “source of light in their host communities,” noting that the “symbolic lighting of the cultural carnival torch means that every Corps Member must be the light that dispels darkness.”
He urged them to integrate and internalize the culture of the people of their area where they serve, strengthen cultural practices that promote human dignity, rights, and respect.”
The radiant and colorful event witnessed the regeneration and rebirth of various ethnic cultures by the Corps Members.
At the end of the competition, 4 platoon was adjudged the overall best, 9 platoon 2nd and 6 platoon 3rd.
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