Education
…Pleads For Non-Retirement of Lecturers
A university don,
Professor Rosemund Dienye Green-Osahogulu, has called on the Rivers State Government to reconsider its decision to compulsorily retire lecturers who are sixty years and above.
She made the call recently during the 30th-32nd Convocation ceremony of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE).
“We plead passionately with the State Government to reconsider the devastating implications for the state university system of immediate retirement of all serving officers who are sixty years old or over sixty, their academic standing/readiness notwithstanding,” she said.
Professor Green-Osahogulu, who made the request in her speech at the occasion, noted that implementation of the government’s decision to retire such lecturers in the state-owned tertiary institutions would mean that the universities would lose a considerable number of their good hands.
“If this state government policy actually gets implemented, the grave consequences of the state university system would be so debilitating that the state’s universities would literally crumble,” she said.
This is because, “the residual institution in each case can no longer duly retain its place as an accredited university in the Nigerian University system, as governed by Nigeria universities,” she stated.
The professor of Science Education further explained that if the policy is implemented, given the existing realities, “it will be baseless to hope on the possibility of professional recruitment since most professors worth their salt today, will neither enter, nor remain in a system which will retire them at sixty rather than seventy.”
She, therefore, urged the governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, as a world-renowned governor of the World Book Capital State, to consider what she called, “Crucial appeal.”
While thanking the governor for the last employment exercise which saw the university employ 350 graduates, Professor Osahogulu used the occasion to request for the employment of “at least 400” staff comprising junior staff, cleaners, gardeners, security, drivers, messengers, etc.
She also urged the governor to do everything possible to ensure the completion of the Iwofe Road, currently under repair.
While assuring on the state government’s determination to enhance the improvement of education in all the state government owned tertiary institutions, the governor noted that the key challenges facing the state government is the accomplishment of projects in the deprivation of the state by the federal government of funds due the state from N25billion to N12billion.
This, he said, is due to the fact that the federal government, under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, has legalized “stealing” in public service.
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.