Education
RSUST: ‘Wike Committed To Establish College Of Medicine’
The Rivers State
Government under the leadership of Chief Nyesom Wike says it is committed in ensuring that the state-owned Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) has a College of Medicine.
Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku, gave the hint recently during his maiden official visit to the university.
According to him, the Governor’s Interest in establishing the College of Medicine stems from his interest in improving the educational standard in the state, including the state-owned tertiary institutions.
He continued that the governor particularly made his interest in the RSUST known on the day of his inauguration as Governor.
“Governor Wike demonstrated his love for this university from the very day he was sworn into office on May 29, 2015 by ordering the return of lecturers who had been forced out of the university for many years.
“More importantly, I can tell you categorically that UST is an institution after the heart of His Excellency, Governor E.N. Wike”, he said.
Professor Ebeku, an aluminus of the University, explained that the governor demonstrated his intention to develop the university within his first 100 days in office.
“He demonstrated this recently by transforming the Law Faculty of this university within 100 days in office, from a small faculty in terms of learning facilities to a leading Law Faculty in the whole of West Africa.
“Moreover, His Excellency, Governor Wike is strongly committed to ensuring the establishment and commencement of a College of Medicine in the university”, he said.
In his address at the occasion, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Blessing C. Didia, stated that since assumption of office in August 2015, he had focused on tackling key areas that have prepared grounds for development.
“The university has recovered from the trauma of uncertainty which existed before my assumption of duties. Staff morale has been boosted, with the clearing of backlog of promotion.
Already, over 15 senior staff have been assessed for Readers and Professors, with their papers already sent out for external assessment. Some reports have also been received”, he said.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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.