Education
RSUST, RSSDA Collaborate On Agric Dev
The Rivers State Uni
versity of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt is set to collaborate with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), on agricultural development.
Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University, Professor Blessing Chimezie Didia, expressed the institution’s readiness towards the proposed collaboration with RSSDA in agriculture, recently when he paid a courtesy visit on the new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Agency, Mr Lawrence Pepple.
While stating the contributions of RSUST in agricultural development in the state, Professor Didia reminded the agency of an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU), which gave RSSDA the right to see the university’s Teaching and Research Farm at Onne, noting that the land was yet to be fully harnessed for the purpose it was released.
Professor Didia called on the leadership of RSSDA to urgently implement the terms of the MoU to put the land into maximum usage, assuring that the university was willing to support with the required expertise in agricultural research.
In his response, Mr Pepple thanked the VC for the visit, describing it as “home coming”.
The CEO noted that when he took over as head of the Agency in December 2015, he studied the assets and liabilities of RSSDA and found out that the MoU signed with the University for the development of the Teaching and Research Farm was supposed to be of mutual benefit to the two parties.
He assured the VC that the agency will not relent in fulfilling her own part of the MoU, and also used the forum to reiterate the Agency’s commitment towards the development of agriculture, especially in rural areas.
Mr Pepple further stressed that RSSDA is currently encouraging people to look beyond oil and refocus on their new slogan, which according to him is “There is no oil”, we must till the land.
The Agency under my leadership will continue to bring sustainable development closer to the people through agriculture. RSSDA needs the collaboration of institutions of higher learning, like RSUST to achieve her vision, he said.
High point of the courtesy visit was the setting up of a joint technical committee to work out modalities for the renewed collaboration.
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.