Education
Principal Flays Armed Robbery Attack In School
The Senior Principal, Community Secondary School, Ebukuma in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr Amini George Moses, has condemned an armed robbery attack in the school where one of the school teachers was brutalised.
Mr. Moses made this condemnation while reacting to the incident over the weekend at the school premises.
He alleged that the teacher, Mr Prince Stephen Okwan was beaten to pulp, adding that his property and other valuables were taken away by the robbers who invaded his apartment in the school premises.
According to him, the unknown gunmen stormed the school premises at about 2am with cache of dangerous weapons, adding that he had reported the incident to authorities in the community.
He also disclosed that he would lodge formal complaint to the Chairman of Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, Chief David Briggs on the need to beef up security in the school with a view to curtailing, the incessant robbery attack in the area.
When contacted, the victim, Mr Prince Stephen Okwan, while narrating his ordeal, said, “my door was forcefully opened by the armed robbers, they beat me up with their guns. Since my posting to CSS, Ebukuma, I have not offended anybody in the school and the community. I wonder what my offences are to have attracted this level of beating without mercy.”
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The Scholarship controversies between PAMO University of Medical Sciences and the Rivers State House of Assembly took a twist last weekend as the Hon Justice Frank Onyiri has nullified the Order of Arrest of the State Assembly to arrest the Vice Chancellor of PAMO, Prof. Smith Jaja.
The court further granted perpetual injunction restraining the Assembly, the Police or any security agencies from in any way interfering with the rights of the applicant.
Delivering his ruling on Friday 30th October 2026 Justice Onyiri at the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
The judge nullified the Order made against the applicant by the Rivers State House of Assembly, holding that the setting up of a committee to investigate the employer of the applicant purportedly under section 128 of the Constitution after the Appropriation Act 2026 had been passed and signed was a sham.
He held that the Assembly has no power to indict or adjudicate on the guilt of any person but only to investigate and receive evidence for, and only, for the purpose of section 128 of the constitution.
Starting that the declaration to arrest the Vice Chancellor, Prof Smith Jaja of PAMO by the RSHA for failure to appear before it’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 25th of September is nullified.
Giving his judgement in an enforcement of fundamental rights application brought before him by Professor Smith Jaja against fundamental rights by the Rivers State House of Assembly, the court upheld the entitlement of the applicant to have his fundamental rights under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Africa Charter on Human and People’s Rights protected.
The Judge also upheld an order of damages against the Rivers State House of HV Assembly in the sum of Two Million Naira to be paid to the applicant.
On his part, attorney of PAMO Medical University Dr. CAJ Chinwo and MS Agu who stood in for EC Ukala SAN comm
ended the judgement which lasted for about ninety minutes.
Education
IAUE MOVES TO END GHOST WORKERS SYNDROME AS 400 NEW NON-TEACHING STAFF UNDERGO MANDATORY ETHICS TRAINING
The management of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has organized a one-day intensive capacity-building workshop for 400 newly employed non-teaching staff to ensure efficiency, ethical compliance and attainment of the university’s strategic goals.
The mandatory workshop, with the theme “Work Process and Ethics,” was held at the University Auditorium over the weekend to formally induct the staff into university administration, culture and service charter.
Declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, who was represented by the Registrar, Dr. Chinonye Abraham Ajie, said the training was designed to equip the staff with requisite knowledge, values and attitudes for effective performance and integration.
Onuchuku noted that non-teaching staff constitute the administrative engine room of the university, and their efficiency, attitude and adherence to rules directly impact service delivery, students’ experience and the institution’s public image.
He warned the participants to take the training seriously, stressing that certificates would be issued only to attendees, while absentees would be treated as ghost workers.
Also speaking, the Director of Training and Capacity Building, Prof. Lysias Dodd Gilbert, said excellence in university education rests not only on teaching staff but on a strong and efficient administrative support system provided by non-teaching staff.
The lead consultant from Oviri School of Politics, Ethics and Development, Abuja, Dr. Okachukwu Dibia, who spoke on Ethics, urged the staff to embrace confidentiality, punctuality, teamwork and respect for constituted authority, and to reject tendencies to cut corners or place personal interest above institutional interest.
On Work Process, Dr. Sam Kalagbor charged the staff to clarify their roles, career progression and appraisal processes, noting that proper integration would eliminate confusion about duties, improve ICT and administrative competence, and build confidence for career growth.
In his presentation on Legal Aspects of Work Ethics, Barr. Richard Wokocha of the Rivers State University warned that employment in IAUE is governed by law, not sentiment, and listed insubordination, fighting, leakage of official documents, forgery, embezzlement and sexual harassment as grave misconducts punishable by dismissal, blacklisting and prosecution under the Public Service Rules, Official Secrets Act, ICPC and EFCC Acts.
The event, which featured certificate presentation and question-and-answer session, was attended by the Director of Administration (ICT), Dr. Kitoye Okonny, and Director of Establishment, Dr. Chioma Emejuru, who supported the Registrar in encouraging the new staff.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Ministry of Education has strongly condemned reports of alleged forced virginity testing of female students of Government Comprehensive High School (Senior Secondary), Taabaa, in Khana Local Government Area.
The Ministry said the alleged act was reportedly carried out by persons claiming to act on behalf of a traditional institution in the community under the guise of offering scholarships and exercise books to the students.
According to the report received by the Ministry, the persons had on Thursday, September 17, 2026, visited the school and selected sixteen female students for the exercise, a development that triggered objections and a peaceful protest by students of the school.
In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Her Excellency Dr. Mina Tele Ikuru, for the Honourable Commissioner for Education, the Ministry described the allegations as extremely serious, disturbing and a violation of the dignity, privacy and fundamental rights of schoolchildren.
The Ministry stated unequivocally that no individual, traditional institution, community body or private organisation has the authority to subject students to virginity testing or any other form of abuse, no matter the justification.
It stressed that educational assistance, including scholarships and donation of exercise books, must be provided transparently and without conditions that compromise the safety, dignity or rights of beneficiaries.
The Ministry disclosed that it has commenced full investigation into the incident to establish the facts and will take all appropriate actions, including referral to relevant authorities, against any person or body found to have been involved.
It cautioned all persons, traditional institutions and community bodies to refrain from any activity involving selection, examination or testing of female students for virginity, whether directly or indirectly, under any guise.
The Ministry further directed all schools in Rivers State to uphold the highest standards of child protection and assured students of Government Comprehensive High School, Taabaa, their parents and the wider school community that their concerns are being taken seriously, adding that the safety and dignity of every student must be protected at all times.
[23/10, 21:51] Meta AI: *OUTRAGE IN RIVERS: GOVT VOWS FULL WRATH AS 16 SCHOOLGIRLS FORCED INTO VIRGINITY TEST IN KHANA*
*PORT HARCOURT* — The Rivers State Ministry of Education has condemned in strong terms the alleged forced virginity testing of 16 female students of Government Comprehensive High School, Taabaa, in Khana Local Government Area.
The Ministry said the degrading act was allegedly perpetrated by persons claiming to act on behalf of a traditional institution in the community, who stormed the school under the guise of offering scholarships and exercise books.
According to the official report received by the Ministry, the incident occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026, when the suspects selected 16 female students for the invasive test, sparking outrage and a peaceful protest by students.
In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mina Tele Ikuru, for the Honourable Commissioner for Education, the Ministry described the allegation as extremely serious, disturbing and a direct assault on the dignity, privacy and fundamental human rights of innocent schoolchildren.
It declared categorically that no individual, traditional ruler, community body or private organisation has any authority whatsoever to subject students to virginity testing or any form of dehumanizing practice.
The Ministry insisted that educational support such as scholarships and learning materials must be rendered transparently and unconditionally, without any attempt to compromise the safety, dignity or rights of beneficiaries.
It announced that a full-scale investigation has been launched to establish the facts surrounding the incident, warning that anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law, including referral to relevant security and human rights authorities.
The Ministry also issued a stern warning to all traditional institutions, community leaders and individuals to desist forthwith from any act involving selection, examination or testing of female students for virginity under any guise.
It further directed all principals and school heads across Rivers State to enforce the highest standards of child protection and assured students of Government Comprehensive High School, Taabaa, their parents and guardians that their safety and dignity remain non-negotiable.
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