Education
Students Laud Abiodun For Nominating VC As Education Commissioner
The National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS), has poured encomiums on Governor Dapo Abiodun for nominating Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, the Vice Chancellor of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, as Commissioner for Education in the state.
The National President of NAOSS, Mr Gbemileke Ogunrombi, made the commendation in a statement issued in Abeokuta, last Saturday.
Our correspondent recalls that the governor on Friday, through a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, forwarded Arigbabu’s name to the House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as education commissioner.
Ogunrombi explained that the student community in the state had urged the governor to appoint a professor as the substantive commissioner for education, threatening that failure to do this would attract a shutdown of the state in a mass protest.
He said that the appointment of Arigbabu would not only improve the standard of education in the state but also position the state as the best state in the provision of qualitative education in Nigeria.
He described the governor as a listening leader whose lofty vision to reposition the education sector was not only genuine but also sincere.
“Governor Abiodun has again proved to be committed to his promise to return the lost glory of education in the state with the nomination of Arigbabu.
“The nomination of Arigbabu, an erudite professor and an educationist of repute, has again shown that Gov. Abiodun meant well for the people of the state.
“The governor has continued to demonstrate that education is the main priority of his administration through his timely response to issues concerning the student community,” he said.
Ogunrombi charged the commissioner-nominee not to disappoint the people, urging him to restore sanity to the education sector by formulating and implementing policies that would bring back the lost glory of education in the state.
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.