Education
New Rector Promises To Upgrade LASPOTECH
The newly appointed
Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Mr Oluyinka Sogunro, last Thursday pledged to improve the institution’s fortunes during his tenure.
Sogunro made the pledge during his formal inauguration as the 10th Rector held in the School of Agriculture auditorium, in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The Tide’s source reports that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State had on June 25 approved the appointment of Sogunro as the incumbent rector to replace Mr Abulazeez Lawal whose tenure had expired on June 1.
“I am humbled by the state government’s announcement of my appointment as Rector of our great institution.
“Under my leadership, all my efforts shall be geared toward the sustenance of the culture of excellence handed over by successive administrations in the polytechnic.
“I promise to do my utmost to ensure that LASPOTECH improves on its current rating, from being one of the foremost polytechnics in our country, to becoming the best tertiary institution in Nigeria and on the continent of Africa.
“Also, we shall strengthen the cordial relationship currently existing between the polytechnic and all government agencies and institutions that are relevant to the continued development of the polytechnic,” the rector said.
Sogunro said that his administration would focus on the high quality status of academic programmes, intensify research activities and improve teaching and learning facilities.
He also promised that his administration would provide a broadband internet connectivity on the three campuses of the polytechnic, improve staff welfare and infrastructure, amongst others.
The rector solicited the support of the state government in surmounting the challenges faced by the institution.
“These challenges, which are not peculiar to the institution, include: inadequate funding, poor staffing, ill-equipped laboratories, dwindling internal revenue, and containment of land grabbers,” he said.
Sogunro promised to work closely with the institution’s labour unions, the Students’ Union and other stakeholders to ensure the school attained an enviable position.
Earlier, in her address of welcome, a senior staff member of the institution, Mrs Ronke Ige, described the new rector as “an amiable, kind and erudite scholar”.
“He has been in this terrain as the Deputy Rector, Administration, which he handled brilliantly and successfully, and has been part of LASPOTECH’s success story since,” Ige said.
Another staff member of the institution, Mr Emmanuel Adesina, administered the oath of office to the new rector, whose tenure would end on May 31,2020.
Former rectors of the institution, government dignitaries, and members of staff graced the inauguration.
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.