Education
Elechi Amadi Lauds Amaechi For Promoting Arts/Reading
Literary icon and Chairman of the Rivers State Scholarship Board, Captain Elechi Amadi has commended Governor Chibuike for being the govenor who has shown exceptional quest to promote arts and literature in the history of the state.
Captain Amadi gave the commendation during the launching of the Port Harcourt Book Centre at the weekend.
The chairman of the State Scholarship Board said,” Govenor Amaechi is the first governor who has taken a look at the arts’’.
Amadi who is one of the patrons of the Port Harcourt Literary Society therefore challenged Amaechi to ensure that the Port Harcout, Book Centre is completed before the end of his tenure, as that would further cement his name as a governor and arts promoter.
The conception and building of the book centre according to Amadi had been a dream he had nursed over the years as a writer, and therefore congratulated all those who made it a reality.
The celebrated writer of popular novel ‘’ the Concubine’’ decried the dearth of bookshops in the city while exepressing hope that the new centre wold help reverse the trend.
Meanwhile, Proprietor of the Garden City Library and promoter of a new mobile library scheme, Mr Austin Nwaeze has lauded the Rivers State Government for winning the Port Harcourt World Book Capital.
Mr Nwaeze commended the efforts of Mrs. Koko Kalango for her efforts in reviving the reading culture through numerous programmes, most especially the annual Port Harcourt Book Festival.
” I’am delighted that the Rivers State Government is showing commitment to this goal by sponsoring a literary festival, even though I think it is elitist in nature. But it is good having won us the UNESCO World Book Capital City. I must commend he Rainbow Book Club led by Mrs. Koko Kalango and her team. She is a rare gem and an inspiration to young ones like us what we do is complimentary’’, Nwaeze observed.
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.