Education
See Farming As A Profession, Dean Tells Nigerians
Amidst calls for the di
versification of Nigeria’s economy, which has been dependent on crude oil, the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Professor Sunday Y. Giami, has stressed the need for Nigerians to see farming as a professon.
This, he said, should be different from the present stance in which Nigerians, including graduates of Agriculture, see it as more of a means of adding to their earnings in order to manage poverty.
Professor Giami, who stated this at one-day sensitization meeting with stakeholders on “Songhai Farm Experience” said, “ I have said that agriculture must be looked at as a profession and then ensure that we create wealth through agriculture, not to say we manage our poverty situation on agriculture.”
Towards ensuring that agriculture is given the attention it deserves, Professor Giami revealed that a component of the Faculty of Agriculture in RSUST ensured that students were made to have practical knowledge of farming before graduation.
The dean of the Faculty, explained that the component, Supervised Industrial Works Experience (SIWE), ensured that students served for one month in the farm before graduation.
“It is expected that students go through different units in the farm to acquire agricultural experience in livestock, crop farming, forestry and in fisheries,” he said.
Emphasising on this aspect further, the founder of Songhai Farms, Rev. Godfrey Nzamujo, in his presentation titled,” How Africa Can Feed Itself: Lessons from Songhai Farms, recommended 18 months of practical experience in all spheres of farming for students before their graduation.
According to him, this is one key way of inculcating in the students the economic value of agriculture, especially in this period of economic depression warranted more by Nigeria’s over reliance on crude oil.
According to him, it is very important to create a functional agricultural scheme, which must be incubated in the university system.
“If you bring a young man and give him a lecture on agriculture, it may mean little to him. But if you put him within a functional farm and make him go through the practical daily, it becomes part of him, both consciously and unconsiously, and develops interest in it,” he said.
In an exclusive interview with The Tide, the Head of Department, Crop/Soil, RSUST, Dr Obianoju Adaobi Orji, noted that a lot of students no longer see the study of Agriculture as a business they can survive with but they rather see it as a course that will not add value to their lives.
Students in Agriculture Department fail to see it as a profession, they can survive on. They don’t see it as a business they can make wealth within a little space.
She, however, urged students in the Department of Agriculture to develop interest in it, improve their skills and knowledge in a bid to better their lives in the society.
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.