Education
ASUU Demands Appointment Of Substantive VC For UNIPORT
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Port Harcourt branch, have called on the Federal Government to urgently initiate the processes that will lead to the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the university even as they berate the Federal Government for not having reconstituted the Governing Council of the institution since the dissolution of the last council members in May 2020.
ASUU said such action was an outright wilful breach of the Universities Miscellaneous Act of 2003 by the Federal Government.
The Chairman of ASUU in the university, Dr Austen Sado stated this during a press briefing by the union held at its secretariat in Port Harcourt recently .
Sado alleged that the Federal Government was politicising the issue of the reconstitution of the Governing Council ,adding that the non-constitution of a Governing Council was negatively affecting the institution as it has cost the welfare of staff including promotion to be put in abeyance as well as stalled the appointment of the Vice Chancellor and other principal officers of the institution.
According to him , the power to appoint a Vice Chancellor in any federal university was vested in the Governing Council of such institution as espoused in the Universities Miscellaneous Provision Act of 2003 Section 3(1.2.3.4)
“There shall be a Vice Chancellor of a university who shall be appointed by the Governing Council in accordance with the provision of this section”
“It is unthinkable that a government whose mantra is fight against corruption could advertently or inadvertently be complicit in violating the rule of law, he said.
Sado warned that if the trend continues,the union would withdraw its cooperation with the leadership of the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution after 13th January, 2020 when the tenure of Prof Stephen Okodudu, the present occupant will elapse and called on members of the public to synergise to ensure that government is not allowed to cause disharmony in the university.
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.