Education
RSG Hails NYSC On Fight Against Illiteracy
The Rivers State Govern
ment has commended the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in the state for its giant strides in the fight against illiteracy.
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi made the commendation last Thursday during the dwearing-in-ceremony of the 2014 Batch ‘B’ Corps members at Nonwa-Gbam in Tai Local Government Area.
Amaechi who noted that education remained the bedrock of a society said the NYSC has helped to upgrade the standard of the education in the state Universal Basic Education scheme.
In his words, “the people of Rivers State are appreciative of your gallant roles towards national and indeed the state development especially in the fight against illiteracy through participation in the Universal Basic Education (UBE) as well as provision of skilled man- power for our educational institutions”.
While lauding the NYSC predecessors for their cooperation with the state in achieving the dreams of the present policy of the scheme, Amaechi expressed hopes that the batch ‘B’ 2014 corps members would continue from where their predecessors stopped in the development of the state’s education sector.
The governor also noted that the establishment of the NYSC scheme by the founding fathers was a wise decision in mobilising the youths towards national re-orientation and development, adding that it would serve as a medium for national unity and integration while trying to ensure the even distribution of needed professional manpower for the educational institutions.
He said the orientation course was designed to prepare the corps members for the challenges they would face during the service year and urged them to lay a solid and reliable base for a successful, fruitful and rewarding service year.
Declaring the orientation course programme open, the governor further enjoined the corps members to relate fairly with their colleagues and members of host communities for shared experiences and expertise.
Lady Godknows Ogbulu
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.