Education
PH Set To Host ANA’s Convention
Port Harcourt, the Riv
ers State capital is set to host the 2014 edition of the international convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors in October.
The event, according to the chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mr. Obinna Nwodium, will be the greatest assemblage of authors from within and outside Nigeria.
It promises to be the single largest gathering of writers in the African sub-region with writers all over the country and beyond particularly”, he said.
A statement by the State ANA boss credited the hosting of the authors in Port Harcourt to the strides recorded by the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in education and literature.
According to Nwodim, the Governor’s support for education and literature.
According to Nwodium, the Governors support for education in the state started in his days as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, when he sponsored the erection of a building for the Department of English studies in his Alma mater, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)
“Barely a year after he became Governor, he announced the donation of a faculty of humanities building to be named after one of Africa’s foremost creative writers, Dr. Elechi Amadi. The building is almost ready for use, the statement said.
He also recalled the Governor’s support for literature in the state which culminated in its emergence as the UNESCO World Book Capital in 2014, a feat which, according to him, was instrumental to Port Harcourt being picked to host the convention.
The international convention, which has the theme, “Literature, Language and Diversities: How far has Nigeria fared in the last 100 years”, is indeed historic, and would consolidate on the giant strides the governor has recorded in promoting literature and enhancing the quality of education in Rivers State,” the statement further said.
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.