Education
PH Poly Recommits To Academic Excellence
The management of Port Harcourt Polytechnic, Rumuola, says it is committed towards ensuring that the Institution lives up to its name as a polytechnic.
Rector of the institution, Dr Samuel Kalagbor, stated this during a recent thanksgiving service and rededication of the institution, which took place at the Conference Hall of the school.
According to him, the Institution has come of age, “and everything will be done to make it achieve its set objectives in the polytechnic sector”.
Dr Kalagbor, who is the first Rector of the school as a polytechnic explained that the essence of the thanksgiving and rededication was in appreciation of God’s hand in the affairs of the school”.
He stated that the school authorities had made a vow to rededicate the school, if its prayers of change of name was answered, hence, the occasion.
“This, event through out my tenure, will be an annual event. We will find time in our schedule to give thanks to God because without Him, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” the Rector concluded.
In his remarks on the history of the school, at the occasion, the Deputy Rector, Administration, Dr Alex Fubara, buttressed the Rector’s stance when he noted that given its present status, much will be expected of the school henceforth.
“Our joy today knows no bounds as we celebrate our modest achievements and chart a way forward for the challenges ahead, to give our students a sustained and quality academic programmes, in line with the standards of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
“Indeed, Dr Kalagbor is working, and we are committed to the success of the polytechnic. This year, a lot would be expected of us as preparations are in top gear for the accreditation of more National Diploma and Higher National Diploma (ND/HND) programmes”, he said.
He used the opportunity to enumerate the success story of the school from when it was established in 1984 as “Rivers State School of Basic Studies”, through 1991, when it metamorphosed to the “Rivers State Colllege of Arts and Science”, to June 2016, when it became “Port Harcourt Polytechnic”.
Stories by 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.