Education
Those Who Oppose PH Poly Lack Reason -Ag Provost
The Acting Provost of the
Rivers State College of Arts and Science (RIVCAS), Dr Sam Kalagbor, has stated that those who are opposed to upgrading the institution to a polytechnic base their opposition on mere sentiment.
Dr Kalagbor, who spoke to The Tide in an exclusive interview shortly after the opening of a three- day corporate fasting and prayer session for the institution, said such people may not have been informed of benefits accruable from the upgrading.
According to him, Rivers State is already lagging behind, even as it has been over due to have more than one polytechnic.
“For those who are expressing sentiments relative to the Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic Bori, such sentiments are baseless.
“This is in the sense that if you look at the Directory of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), 2014, you will realize that there are states that have more than two polytechnics, owned and funded by the state government.
“For instance, Ogun State has five state government- owned and funded polytechnics, Oyo State has three, Zamfara has two, Akwa Ibom has two and Delta State has three in each of the senatorial districts,” he said.
The Acting Provost stated that while upgrading RIVCAS to a polytechnic is in accordance with the state’s Governor’s promise to improve education among other sectors of the state, it is in line with creating job opportunities in the state.
“In Rivers State there is need for an increased manpower development. So, it will also help in acecelerating the quality and quantity of manpower in the state for an overall growth and development of the state. It will subsequently increase employment opportunities for Rivers indigenes and boost the local economy,” he explained.
He therefore, used the opportunity to commend the state Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for not only having the foresight, but also taking the initiative to do the needful in the present circumstance, noting that the entire state stands to benefit from it.
Also speaking, chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics of RIVCAS, Comrade Victor Ossai, also expressed joy over what he called “overdue” decision by the Governor.
“We want to thank the state governor. We know that God is using him to give the college a befitting identity because before now, we have been suffering from identity crisis,” he said.
It will be recalled that RIVCAS has been operating as a Polytechnic for years, and the quest for it to be upgraded to a Polytechnics had been on.
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.