Education
WBD: Don Charges Public To Read
As the world marks
this year’s World Book Day (WBD) last Thursday, a lecturer in the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt, Dr Gbule, Ndidi, has called on the reading public to read.
Dr Gbule, who spoke with The Tide exclusively, noted that the World Book Day is a good initiative aimed at encouraging people to read.
While commenting the initiatives of the WBD, he noted that Nigerians currently have a poor reading habit, hence, “reading at least a book a day could improve our reading culture”.
He explained that “for us in Nigeria, the reading culture is dying. Gone are the days when people read.
Therefore, the WBD will reawaken the reading culture of Nigerian’s. There is, infact, the need to inculcate in Nigerians a reading culture, which will invariably enhance communication”, he said.
Dr Gbule, however, decried the fact that most people in Nigeria “depend on plagiarising materials from the internet, forgetting that those things on the internet were written by people who have read.”
Stressing the importance of reading, a public commentator, Dr Amina Fiberisima stated that books should be the best of friend of any reasonable person.
“If you don’t like book, try ignorance. If you don’t want to buy books, go and buy ignorance”, he said.
According to him, “people should know that the treasures of this world, the wealth of this world, the wisdom of this world that has taken any individual or nation forward is in books.
“So, when you are friendly with books, you are acquiring knowledge, you are expanding your frontiers of wisdom. Nobody will intimidate you because the power of knowledge is more than the power of gun”, he said.
Dr Fiberisima, therefore, urged the public to in recognition of marking of the WBD to encourage themselves to learn how to buy books to read.
“In this context, if you get a newspaper (and read), you are acquiring knowledge. Afterall, there are articles put together as collection of books”.
On his part, a lecturers in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Dr Felix Igwe, acknowledged the fact that, like other events, WBD is also given a special day.
Dr Igwe noted that, “there is the need for that kind of emphasis, knowing that books are beginning to get extinct, as it were, although we are all talking about books now.
Now that we are going into the technological age in which they talk about soft and hard copy, you still cannot do without the hard copy because that is where the repository of knowledge has to be relied on.
“In celebrating the WBD therefore, it is very important to highlight that books have always been what has kept us the way we are now.
In this age, we shouldn’t do away with it. We should keep the legacy, which is one way to ensure sustainability of our knowledge today and the one we are going to acquire tomorrow,” he said.
From the perspective of a part one student of mathematics/statistics, in the University of Port Harcourt, Banimibo-Ofori Georgewill, WBD should serve as a reminder to the world of our appointment with reading and make us want to read in order to explore more knowledge.
It is a period when everybody should not only know, but also appreciate the benefit of reading throughout the year,” he said.
The WBD is a celebration of Authors, illustration of books and most importantly a celebration of reading.
It is the biggest celebration of its kind designated by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, marked in over 100 countries globally.
This year’s edition, with the theme, “Read the World”, is the 18th.
Stories by Sogbeba Dokubo
Students of Edo School of Nursing protesting the suspension of their Student Union Government, unconducive hostel environment, striking lecturers as well as absence of maintenance and security personnel at the school hostels in Benin last Friday
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.