Education
‘RSU Has Fulfilled Dreams Of Founding Fathers’
The Rivers State University (RSU) has brought to fruition one of the dreams of its founding fathers, the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Blessing Didia, has stated.
Speaking during the official commissioning of the institution’s Centre of Excellence in Marine and Offshore Engineering at the Amphitheatre, RSU, Port Harcourt, Didia said that the vision of the founding fathers to establish an entrepreneurial university has come to manifest reality, with the new focus of the management in pursuing programmes that emphasise innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity and skills development.
Didia said the investment by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, operator of the NNPC/Shell/Total, Agip Joint Venture in ensuring that Rivers State University was positioned as a one-stop-shop in developing industry-ready offshore technical personnel in West Africa and beyond was the best decision ever made by any corporate body in the state.
The vice chancellor explained that the idea of establishing a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Marine and Offshore Engineering was conceived following the donation of about 120 specialised Marine and Offshore Engineering books and modern Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory Equipment by SPDC in 2007.
He stated that the establishment of the CoE in Marine and Offshore Engineering by the oil and gas giant in Nigeria was in fulfilment of a long dream by Rivers people to have a pool of trained manpower that would tackle problems of the state’s peculiar ecology and difficult environment.
According to him, the university has as one of its objectives, “to produce scientific and technical manpower of various levels needed for essential development,” adding that the establishment of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Marine and Offshore Engineering at the university was well conceived in line with the dreams of the founding fathers.
“The university is the first in Nigeria to offer a degree in Marine Engineering, and to produce the first African Professor of Marine Engineering in the person of Professor Kelvin Datonye Bobmanuel,” Didia explained.
While assuring SPDC that the RSU’s management was fully committed to the proper ultilisation of the centre, Didia promised the provision of conducive environment for the realization of the vision of the project, and advised the Marine Engineering Department to demonstrate competence in the handling of the equipment and other facilities at the centre.
Also speaking, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Executive Secretary, Simbi Keseye Wabote, expressed satisfaction with the equipment provided at the CoE, adding that the centre would boost capacity in the industry, and reduce youth unemployment in the region.
Wabote restated the board’s focus on ensuring oil and gas contracts are given to companies and individuals within the area where hydrocarbons activities are highly concentrated, adding that it also encourages synergy between the industry and the academia for the development of the region’s economy.
He noted that there has been significant improvement in the university since he graduated 28 years ago, while charging the vice chancellor to invite all the alumni to a convention to brainstorm on ways of assisting the institution to grow.
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.