Education
Commissioner Tasks Female Educated Professionals On Dev
The Rivers State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ukel Oyagiri has Charged members of the Tertiary Institution Women Association (TIWA), in the state to positively affect the lives of women in the society so as to contribute their quota to the development of the state through their various professions.
The commissioner also urged them to see themselves as catalysts for societal change as educated professionals by educating and sensitising their fellow women who are not educated and privileged in the society.
Mrs Oyagiri made the call while receiving in audience, members of TIWA who paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.
She urged them to use their positions to reawaken the consciousness of other women in order to become a strong voice in the society so as to leave a lasting legacy in the society that would be passed on to the next generation.
“You have a great role to play in the society especially at the grass roots. “You must work together as women, you must play down on issues that divide women and work on things that unite women. When women come together and work as a force, great impact is always achieved”, she stated.
She assured the group that the state ministry of women affairs would work in synergy with the association to achieve the objectives and goals for which it was established.
Earlier in her speech, the state chairperson of TIWA, Mrs Joy Mekuri-Ndimele, who is the wife of the Vice Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, said they were in the commissioner’s office to acquaint her with the objectives of the association, adding that the group was inaugurated in 2006.
She said that membership of the association was drawn from the wives of heads of higher institutions in the state and added that the association was borne to cue into programmes that would help to uplift the plights of women in the state owned higher institutions and the society at large.
“As wives of heads of higher institutions in the state, we have agreed to come together to join forces with the state ministry of women affairs to contribute their quota towards the development of the women folk in the state”, she stated.
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.