Education

UNIPORT Protest: Students Hopeful Of Fees Reduction

Published

12 years ago

June 16, 2014

About a week after the
protest by students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) on the hike in school fees, the students have expressed optimism that the school authorities would listen to their plea and reduce the fees.
A cross section of the students who spoke to The Tide shortly after the protest said that the protest was meant to seek for consideration on the part of the institution’s authority in order for them to continue in their educational pursuits.
A final year student of the department of Mechanical Engineering, Sabbath Akanyiyere said “though the school authority did not respond for now, I believe that before the school will resume properly and payments begin, something will be done. Our efforts so for cannot be cut short, we must continue and the school by God’s grace will help us”.
Claude Amadi of the faculty of Humanities said “the percentage of the increase is high. It’s about 40 percent from the former fees we paid though depending on the faculty and department. But then, we are asking that the school management should consider the times we are in and be careful of low it increases the fees”.
Another student of the School of Medicine, Dappa Horold said “this protest cannot be for nothing. What the students did was normal and I believe it will yield something positive. The times we are in are hard and with such increases, some of us whose wards and parents are only struggling to get to school may not be able to continue. And so I pray the school authority would tramper justice with mercy and hear the plea of the students”.
A post graduate student of the department of Environmental Sciences who also condemned the hike in fees said such hikes in the fees of most Nigerian higher institutions have contributed to the high level of uneducated youths in the society.
“Universities, even the public ones are discouraging youths to go to school and this is also contributing to the Youth violence we are experiencing. For the ones already in school, two to five percent increase can be adjusted to but anything beyond that would be too much and can send some them packing from school. I wish the school authority will reconsider its stance”, he stated.
It would be recalled that students of Uniport last Monday embarked on a peaceful protest over the hike in school fees.
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Williams Wodi, in an interview said however that the school was not in session describing the protesters as touts who were being hired to disrupt the activities of the institution.
The Tide also gathered that the students’ representatives, the Students Union Government (SUG) and other bodies, on hearing of the plans to increase the fees met with the school’s management prior to fee day of protest. They however, never gave a feedback of the dialogue to the students which necessitated the protest.

Cross section of pupils of Abec Nursery and Primary School at the 2014 Unity Day celebration held at the school compound in Port Harcourt, last weekend.

Lady Godknows Ogbulu

Education

ENUC President tasks ASTEC foundation Schools on dedication, value oriented teaching

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

ASTEC Foundation Schools (AFS) owned by the seventh_ day adventist church had the distinct honour of hosting the President of the Eastern Nigeria Union Conference (ENUC), Pastor Onyebuchi Thomas Opara, on his first official pastoral visit to the institution Owerrita in Abia state, recently.

The visit which marked a significant moment in the history of the school, featured the dedication of the newly landscaped roads, dedication of renovated buildings and the consecration of pupils and staff.

The ENUC President who was accompanied by the President of the Aba North Conference (ANC), Pastor Henry Emeka Nwankwo, further emphasized the importance of the visit and the strong support of the Church leadership toward the advancement of Adventist education.

It is noteworthy that Pastor Onyebuchi Thomas Opara also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Management of ASTEC, demonstrating his deep commitment to the institution’s progress and mission.

Addressing the teachers students and pupils of the college at Owerrenta in Abia state over the weekend,Pastor Opara charged the teachers to see themselves as missionaries within the school system, emphasizing the need to model Christ-like character and values before the pupils entrusted to their care.

He encouraged them to regard their profession as a divine calling, shaping both the intellectual and spiritual lives of the learners.

In his welcome address, the Principal of ASTEC, Pastor Ahaoma Chigozirim Nwanma, PhD, warmly received the distinguished guests. He expressed heartfelt appreciation to the ENUC leadership for their continued support and commitment to the growth of the Adventist institution and humbly solicited their prayers for the staff and pupils.

The Headmistress of ASTEC Foundation Schools, Mrs. Charity Nwankwo, delivered the vote of thanks, and expressed deep gratitude to Pastor Opara for his pastoral visit and dedicatory prayers. She also acknowledged Pastor Henry Emeka Nwankwo and the ASTEC community leadership team for their consistent support, guidance, and commitment to the development of the Foundation Schools.

A special recognition was accorded to the PTA Chairman, Hon. (MG) Uzoma George, for his invaluable contributions and steadfast support to the school.

The visit was graced by ASTEC community leaders, as well as members of AFS staff and pupils, who gave a warm and enthusiastic reception to the visiting dignitaries.

The visit and dedication ceremony reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Church and school leadership to fostering a conducive learning environment that promotes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and character development.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

Opobo Kingdom moves to incorporate Ibani Language Into School Curriculum, Takes Off April

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

In a bid to preserve the cultural heritage and promote the values of Opobo Kingdom, the Ibani Language will be reinstated and incorporated into the various communities and institutions of learning.

This reinstatement was declared by the Amanyanabo-Elect of Opobo Kingdom, Alabo Charles Douglas MacPepple-Jaja, Jeki VI , saying that the initiative will take effect from next month

The Amanyanabo-Elect made this statement during his speech recently in port Harcourt,where he stated that the initiative was a key component hinged on his five-point agenda.

The Monarch explained that the goal was to enhance the indigenous language and incorporate everyone at different strata including children and youths from ages 4-16.

The King Elect further added that, in order to achieve this, there would be deployment of modern multimedia tools to facilitate the process.

The Monarch also assured that research techniques will be deployed as there will be partnership with schools and communities across the Opobo clan.

He maintained that the execution of the project is a major step in the preservation of the Ibani Language and Cultural heritage of the people.

Education

NUJ demands strong actions in revamping education in Rivers

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

Members of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have taken bold steps regarding the deteriorating educational standards across the state and called for urgent government actions to stem the tide. They argued that both basic and secondary schools across the 23 local government areas of the state require state government action towards restructuring the highly decayed infrastructure.

This was part of the eight-point communique reached at the end of the special congress of the union in Port Harcourt to mark the first-year anniversary of the present union leadership in the state. The union observed that if no immediate government action is taken to address the infrastructural decay in public schools in the state, the educational future in the state will be a mirage.

The communiqué signed by

Mr. Paul Bazia -Nsaneh

Chairman NUJ Rivers State Council ,

Ijeoma Tubosia Ph.D

Secretary NUJ Rivers State Council , and members of the

Communique Drafting Committee.

Dr. Justice Ihunwo – Chairman ,

Dr. Joy Grant-Amadi – Secretary and

Mr. Chukwudi Ejimofor – Member reaffirmed the position of the union on the state affairs and the nation at large.

The union also urged the state government, as a matter of urgent public concern, to commence the immediate employment of new teachers to fill the gaps caused by the dearth of teachers, stressing the need to post the would-be new teachers to local communities that are lacking teaching manpower.

Recently, the newly appointed Commissioner for Education in the state, Dr. Peters Nwagor, reaffirmed his commitment to implementing transformative education with the sole purpose of achieving inclusive and equitable learning across the state.

We hope that the commissioner will match his words with action and swing into action to give schools in the state a breath on new academic life.

By: Akujobi Amadi