Education
VC Lists Funding As Major Constraint Of RSUST
Acting Vice Chancellor
of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Professor Blessing C. Didia has categorised challenges faced by the institution into six key areas, among which is funding.
He made the categorisation recently in an address he presented during the maiden familiarisation visit of the state commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku to the university.
Professor Didia stated that while funding is critical to the achievement of a world class university, the state-owned university “does not receive subvention from government for capital projects”, and budgetary allocation are also not released.
“The TET fund and similar intervention funds when released are tied to specific projects. The university only relies on Internally Generated Revenue for its municipal services and running costs.
“This is grossly inadequate to sustain the university and make it to discharge its numerous responsibilities”, he said.
Other areas of constraints, Professor Didia continued, are what he captioned Accreditation, Litigation against the university, Nimi Briggs hospital abandoned faculties of Environmental and management Science building project, as well as the College of Medicine.
In accreditation, the Acting Vice Chancellor revealed that the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) recently concluded accreditation of twelve programmes of the university which have been due since 2014.
According to him, accreditation fee in addition to other expenditure and personnel requirements have also been met. For this purpose the governor had approved the sum of N150 million out of a bill of over N600 million.
He noted that the university has eleven litigations involving the university, but that efforts are being made to settle some of it out of court.
Professor Didia further informed the commissioner that while the school has taken over ownership of the Nimi Briggs Hospital in the campus from the contractor, “the facilities need adequate maintenance for sustainability.
On abandoned facility projects in Environmental and Management Sciences, he urged the commissioner to revisit the projects “with a view to commencing and completing the faculty buildings “, which he said are prerequisites for their accreditation.
Meanwhile, Professor Didia, noted that while the university is ready to admit students into the medical school by the 2016/2017 academic session, there is the need for the commissioner to “Consider to classify the College of Medicine as a special project and assist with commensurate funds for its take-off”.
Responding, the Commissioner for Education assured the Acting Vice Chancellor of the state governor’s interest and determination to improve the educational standard of the institution and other state-government owned educational institutions.
“I can tell you categorically that RSUST is an institution after the heart of His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike … moreover, His Excellency is strongly committed to ensuring the establishment and commencement of a college of medicine in the university”.
SogbebaDokubo
Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Prof James Oyatse (right), with Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja (middle) and Prof. S. J.S. Cookey, during the Vice Chancellor’s visit to the monarch in Port Harcourt recently.
The 11th Global President of the Rivers state University Alumni Association (RSUAA), Dr. Marry- Ann Perekebina has praised the Obarijima Waite’s led Postgraduate Students Association(PGA), describing his tenure as ” visionary, transparent and worthy of emulation.
Dr. Perekebina , who spoke with journalists at the sideline of the commissioning of projects embarked by Obarijima Waite’s administration in Port Harcourt, eulogises him for leading a purposeful administration – characterised with team work, love and result.
She maintained, that Obarijima Waite’s have led a purposeful administration that touches on cole values expected of any leader,adding that he has embarked on several projects that will have direct bearing in the lives of PGA students who will make use of the facilities.
“I think it’s worthy of emulation and recognition and he deserves all the accolades. He is a transformational leader who believes in carrying everyone along.” she said.
Also speaking at the sideline, a Postgraduate student of Law and Diplomacy, Edward Olaka, equally lauded the President of PGA, Obarijima Waite, for his visionary and outstanding leadership style, and describing him as “a Square peg in a Square hole”
According to him, the performance of the incumbent President and his team will throw a huge challenge to his successor’s, stressing that their administration will be used as a yardstick to measure whoever that would be coming after them, describing his performance as a commitment and testimony to hard-work built on the fear God.
” This is the handiwork of God, because it is said that when the righteous rules, the people rejoice.”
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is set to establish a Driving Training Centre at the University of Port Harcourt, to be domiciled at the Centre for Logistics and Transport Studies, NEMA House.
A team from the FRSC National Headquarters visited the University on Friday, September 12, 2025, to inspect proposed facilities in line with the Driving School Standardization Programme (DSSP) mandatory requirements.
Speaking at the end of the inspection, Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, represented by the Head of Driving School, Mr. Sunday Attah, expressed satisfaction with the standard of facilities available at the institution. He commended the University for its readiness to host the pilot scheme, noting that the Centre will be replicated in other parts of the country in due course.
Earlier, during a courtesy visit to the University Management, the Corps Marshal explained that UniPort was selected to host the pilot project because of its strategic importance to the nation.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Chukwudi Onyeaso, welcomed the initiative and assured that the University remains open to partnerships that will promote academic excellence and national development.
A scholar and the 119 Inaugural lecturer at the Rivers state University, Prof.Chukwu Sancho Nwobuisi has called on political leaders across the world and Nigeria in particular to be transparent, accountable and lead with the fear of God, bearing in mind that when we depart the earth, we shall take home nothing, except the spirit who shall return back to the maker to give account of how we lived our lives.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after delivering his inaugural lecture on Wednesday in port Harcourt with the topic: ” War and The Dynamics of Ehianomics Economy The Nigerian Experience Who Are The Losers”, called on political leaders and those at the position of trust to think outside the box if they truly want the Nigeria to be great again.
He explained that the topic of the lecture basically is about social ills and how to correct the false narrative affects the system, while maintaining that the system has worsen to the point that the future of our younger generation now in dire danger, due to unemployment ,poor infrastructure,poor healthcare and everyone looking for a means to see ends meet.
The Frontline scholar,regretted that agriculture that used to be the economy main stay of the country is now downgraded due to over dependent on oil revenue, hence the unfortunate social and political crisis found daily in our communities.
” The study looks at the effect, influence and what affects the economy of the nation and how our mindset can change from over dependent on oil”
Prof. Nwobuisi, who didn’t mince words about corruption, maintained that corruption remains a serious challenge that the government needs to mitigate by the institutions saddled with the responsibility to pull the nation out of the menace.
” The way forward is that the nation’s anti-graft agencies must be strengthen to look around us especially on the invasion by the so called Yahoo boys.” Prof. Chukwu said.
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