Education
Don Lists Importance Of Poetry On Human Survival
A Professor of Poetry at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUOE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Prof Kotein Trinya, says poetry as one of the genres of literature, if utilised will serve as an agent for healing, recovery and reformation of mankind, especially the ailing people in the society
He opined that poetry is part of human life which provides glimpses of beauty that can put the challenges of life in perspective through songs,poems, words and writing
The erudite professor made these assertions while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 19th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university with the topic,”Therapeutic Perspectives of Affective Art”, held at the university auditorium in Port Harcourt, Thursday.
Trinya who is the supervising dean of the Faculty of Humanities and director of the university’s Institute for Distance Learning averred that Poetry abound in our environment both in written and spoken forms, and characterised by patterned expressions in condensed language of metaphors, rhythm and refrains .
According to him, Poetry which is an aspect of arts engages in social correction and affects both the creator and the receiver in a special way,adding that poem can be a kind of therapy and palliative to the reader and the writer.
“Therapy is conceived here in curative ,preventive respects ,addressing mental and behavioural wellness as well as physiological wellness that is ultimately achievable from the state of mental balance especially as it is the universal opinion of health authorities that even the organic ailments ,to a prominent proportion ,have their origin in mental disorientations because of the connection between mind and body,” he stated.
Trinya disclosed that a single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress and advised people to be mindful of the choice of words spoken, adding that such words are powerful, influential and capable of affecting peoples lives positively or negatively.
Also speaking ,the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Ozo Mercury Ndimele represented by the Dean, Faculty of Vocational Studies and head of Ndele Campus, Prof Stephen Ofor lauded the lecturer for the lecture and described him as an intellectual scholar.
He said the lecturer had in the course of the lecture, linked Poetry with the daily activities of human beings ,adding that “we can use Poetry to solve life’s challenging problems”.
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.