Opinion
IAUE’s Dawn Of New Era
The arrival of a new vice chancellor to a university raises apprehension, curiosity and outright doubt. Undoubtedly, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku is aware of this as he occupies the exalted office of the helmsman of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni.
In his maiden address titled, “Behold the Dawn of A New Era” to staff of the university at the auditorium on Friday, December 3, 2021, Professor Onuchuku restated his readiness to serve with the best of his ability through inspirational and transformational leadership that would usher in a new dawn that would take the university to greater heights in the academia.
The Acting Vice Chancellor, who declared to the audience that he holds the position in trust for members of the university community, and the government and people of Rivers State, expressed gratitude to God for His abundant mercies and the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, for finding him worthy for the position.
He also paid glowing tribute to the university community for contributing to growing the institution to its present level of academic and infrastructural development, and specifically, acknowledged his predecessor, Professor Ozo-mekuri Ndimele, for the infrastructural development and impressive expansion of academic programmes.
Describing a university as a “work-in-progress”, he told the gathering to accept the fact that a new era and way of doing things has begun, emphasising that his style of administration would not be the same with that of his predecessors, and pleaded with all men and women of goodwill to work with him in the journey of taking the university to a new destination.
According to him, even older universities still adapt to changes in order to keep abreast with the changing times in a new learning ecosystem, and IAUE would not be different, if the dream of the founding fathers of the institution must be actualised.
The Professor of Econometrics and Mathematical Economics further acknowledged the commendable accomplishments the institution has recorded in manpower development, which he noted, are sometimes taken for granted. He explained that as a leading institution in the comity of specialised tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the expansion of its scope of academic activities in recent times has placed it in a unique position in national development in the years ahead.
And to cope with these new responsibilities, Professor Onuchuku disclosed that he would seek the approval of the governor of the state to construct some legacy projects that would add to the aesthetics of the university, as well as facilitate its operations. The proposed projects include: a senate building; convocation arena; sports complex; and Vice Chancellor’s lodge. Others include purpose-built staff quarters; more students’ hostels and classroom blocks, and construction and resurfacing of internal roads, while the St. John’s and Ndele campuses would be put into maximum use to serve the university better.
The university helmsman equally hinted of some urgent reforms in the postgraduate programmes of the university to align with National Universities Commission (NUC)’s minimum benchmark. These reforms will affect the admission process, course duration, examination, supervision, carrying capacity and thesis defence. In the same manner, the undergraduate counterpart would be harmonised in line with the practice in other Nigerian universities.
To this effect, all programmes leading to the award of degrees in education, such as BA. Ed, BSc. Ed and B. Ed would be domiciled in the Faculty of Education. Similarly, Agricultural Science would be upgraded to full-blown faculty, whereas its Technical Education component would be housed in the Faculty of Education. In the same vein, Onuchuku has directed that all school charges be reverted to the old school charges approved by the senate, while indigent students would be allowed to pay their charges in two installments if they are unable to pay once. In the same way, he directed that the fees portal earlier closed be reopened to enable all returning and extra year students pay their charges and continue with their programmes.
The postgraduate students will also benefit from this generosity. However, he cautioned that the concession should not be abused. To retain public faith in the capacity of higher education to lift the society out of its many challenges, the VC said the research and development unit would be strengthened to engage in high impact research that would be useful to the industry.
Likewise, the quality assurance and quality control unit would be restructured to deliver on its core mandate. Another area of concern to this administration is entrepreneurship education, which would be bolstered to prepare students to launch themselves out on their own as industry-ready graduates.
He attributed the decision to the new process of wealth creation through creativity and innovative thinking in what has become the new knowledge economy, which has replaced the era of using raw materials to create ‘wealth of nations’. To achieve this, students would be taught business management and customer management skills, team-spirit, financial, analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as critical thinking and planning.
On students’ welfare, the erudite economist declared that his administration would proactively provide prompt and quality municipal services that would create enabling environment for the students to excel in their academic endeavours.
For the staff, he mentioned that all legitimate issues concerning their welfare and other entitlements would be addressed within the enabling laws. However, the students’ disciplinary committee and the security department, he stressed, would be reorganised to confront all acts that are adjudged to be at variance with the terms of each student’s admission.
He also added that security of life and property of staff and students would be given adequate attention, and warned that all vices and acts of brazen impunity from staff and students would not be tolerated.
While lamenting the negative publicity about the university in the last few months, he reminded all morally bankrupt lecturers and administrators that the reputation of the university is predicated on the degrees awarded to the students, insisting that ethical matters most be taken seriously, and warned that criminal elements would be punished.
As a stickler to extant rules and regulations, Onuchuku assured that he would not circumvent the University Act, which he described as the yardstick upon which his actions would be anchored, as he advised against cutting corners and making cheap compromises. He appealed to the staff to join hands with him in an unbroken comradeship to tackle the challenges that are confronting the university, while pledging not to take such support for granted.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the institution, Comrade Endurance Joseph, his Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) counterpart, Comrade Chisa Egwu, and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) chairperson, Comrade Florence Fiberesima, have pledged to create the enabling environment for the VC, while also demanding for the welfare of their members.
In addition to teaching and research, Onuchuku is also a seasoned administrator and, therefore, not new to administration in and outside the university environment.
By: Tunde Uchegbuo
Uchegbuo wrote from Port Harcourt.
Quote:”While job seeking youths should continuously acquire skills and explore opportunities within their immediate environment as well as in the global space through the use of digital platforms, government, corporate/ multinational organizations or the organised private sector should generate skills and provide the enabling environment for skills acquisition, through adequate funding and resettlement packages that will provide sustainable economic life for beneficiaries”.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, recently urged youths in the Rivers State to take advantage of the vast opportunities available to become employers of labour and contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the State. Governor Fubara noted that global trends increasingly favour entrepreneurship and innovation, and said that youths in Rivers State must not be left behind in harnessing these opportunities. The Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benibo Anabraba, made this known while declaring open the 2026 Job Fair organised by the Rivers State Government in partnership with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in Port Harcourt. The Governor acknowledged the responsibility of government to create jobs for its teeming youth population but noted that it is unrealistic to absorb all job seekers into the civil service.
“As a government, we recognise our duty to provide employment opportunities for our teeming youths. However, we also understand that not all youths can be accommodated within the civil service. This underscores the need to encourage entrepreneurship across diverse sectors and to partner with other stakeholders, including the youths themselves, so they can transition from being job seekers to employers of labour,” he said. It is necessary to State that Governor Fubara has not only stated the obvious but was committed to drive youth entrepreneurship towards their self-reliance and the economic development of the State It is not news that developed economies of the world are skilled driven economies. The private sector also remains the highest employer of labour in private sector driven or capitalist economy though it is also the responsibility of government to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth population in Nigeria which has the highest youth unemployed population in the subSahara Africa.
The lack of job opportunities, caused partly by the Federal Government’s apathy to job creation, the lack of adequate supervision of job opportunities economic programmes, lack of employable skills by many youths in the country have conspired to heighten the attendant challenges of unemployment. The challenges which include, “Japa” syndrome (travelling abroad for greener pastures), that characterises the labour market and poses threat to the nation’s critical sector, especially the health and medical sector; astronomical increase in the crime rate and a loss of interest in education. While job seeking youths should continuously acquire skills and explore opportunities within their immediate environment as well as in the global space through the use of digital platforms, government, corporate/ multinational organizations or the organised private sector should generate skills and provide the enabling environment for skills acquisition, through adequate funding and resettlement packages that will provide sustainable economic life for beneficiaries.
While commending the Rivers State Government led by the People First Governor, Sir Siminilayi Fubara for initiating “various training and capacity-building programmes in areas such as ICT and artificial intelligence, oil and gas, maritime, and the blue economy, among others”, it is note-worthy that the labour market is dynamic and shaped by industry-specific demands, technological advancements, management practices and other emerging factors. So another sector the Federal, State and Local Governments should encourage youths to explore and harness the abounding potentials, in my considered view, is Agriculture. Agriculture remains a veritable solution to hunger, inflation, and food Insecurity that ravages the country. No doubt, the Nigeria’s arable landmass is grossly under-utilised and under-exploited.
In recent times, Nigerians have voiced their concerns about the persistent challenges of hunger, inflation, and the general increase in prices of goods and commodities. These issues not only affect the livelihoods of individuals and families but also pose significant threats to food security and economic stability in the country. The United Nations estimated that more than 25 million people in Nigeria could face food insecurity this year—a 47% increase from the 17 million people already at risk of going hungry, mainly due to ongoing insecurity, protracted conflicts, and rising food prices. An estimated two million children under five are likely to be pushed into acute malnutrition. (Reliefweb ,2023). In response, Nigeria declared a state of emergency on food insecurity, recognizing the urgent need to tackle food shortages, stabilize rising prices, and protect farmers facing violence from armed groups. However, without addressing the insecurity challenges, farmers will continue to struggle to feed their families and boost food production.
In addition, parts of northwest and northeast Nigeria have experienced changes in rainfall patterns making less water available for crop production. These climate change events have resulted in droughts and land degradations; presenting challenges for local communities and leading to significant impact on food security. In light of these daunting challenges, it is imperative to address the intricate interplay between insecurity and agricultural productivity. Nigeria can work toward ensuring food security, reducing poverty, and fostering sustainable economic growth in its vital agricultural sector. In this article, I suggest solutions that could enhance agricultural production and ensure that every state scales its agricultural production to a level where it can cater to 60% of the population.
This is feasible and achievable if government at all levels are intentional driving the development of the agricultural sector which was the major economic mainstay of the Country before the crude oil was struck in commercial quantity and consequently became the nation’s monolithic revenue source. Government should revive the moribund Graduate Farmers Scheme and the Rivers State School-to-Land agricultural programmes to operate concurrently with other skills acquisition and development programmes. There should be a consideration for investment in mechanized farming and arable land allocation. State and local governments should play a pivotal role in promoting mechanized farming and providing arable land for farming in communities. Additionally, allocating arable land enables small holder farmers to expand their operations and contribute to food security at the grassroots level.
Nigeria can unlock the potential of its agricultural sector to address the pressing needs of its population and achieve sustainable development. Policymakers and stakeholders must heed Akande’s recommendations and take decisive action to ensure a food-secure future for all Nigerians.
By: Igbiki Benibo
Quote:“.Across Abuja, Anambra, and Lagos, a common thread emerges: a disconnect between authority and empathy. Government actions may follow policy logic, but citizens respond from lived experience, fear, and frustration. When these realities collide without dialogue, the streets become the arena of engagement”
It was a turbulent week in the country, highlighting the widening gap between government intentions and public perception. From Abuja to Anambra and Lagos, citizens poured into the streets not just over specific grievances but in frustration with governance that often appears heavy-handed, confrontational, or insufficiently humane. While authorities may genuinely act in the public interest, their methods sometimes aggravate tensions rather than resolve them.
In Abuja, the strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) brought the capital to a near standstill. Their demands included five months’ unpaid wages, hazard and rural allowances, promotion arrears, welfare packages, pension and National Housing Fund remittances, and training and career progression concerns. These are core labour issues that directly affect workers’ dignity and livelihoods. Efforts to dialogue with the FCT Minister reportedly failed. Even after a court ordered the strike to end, workers persisted, underscoring the depth of discontent. Threats and sanctions only hardened positions.
The FCT crisis shows that industrial peace cannot be enforced through coercion. Dialogue is not weakness; it is recognition that governance is about people. Meeting labour leaders, listening attentively, clarifying grey areas, and agreeing on timelines could restore trust. Honesty and negotiation are far more effective than threats.
In Anambra, protests by Onitsha Main Market traders followed the government’s closure of the market over continued observance of a Monday sit-at-home, linked to separatist agitation. Governor Chukwuma Soludo described compliance as economic sabotage, insisting Anambra cannot operate as a “four-day-a-week economy.” While the governor’s concern is understandable, threats to revoke ownership, seize, or demolish the market risk escalating tensions. Many traders comply out of fear, not ideology. Markets are social ecosystems of families, apprentices, and informal networks; heavy-handed enforcement may worsen resistance. A better approach combines persuasion, dialogue with market leaders, credible security assurances, and gradual confidence-building. Coordinated political engagement with federal authorities could also reduce regional tensions.
In Lagos, protests erupted over demolition of homes in low-income waterfront communities such as Makoko, Owode Onirin, and Oworonshoki. The state defended these actions as necessary for safety, environmental protection, and urban renewal. While objectives are legitimate, demolitions drew criticism for lack of notice, compensation, and humane resettlement. Urban development without regard for human consequences risks appearing elitist and anti-poor. Where demolitions are unavoidable, transparent engagement, fair compensation, and realistic relocation must precede action to maintain public trust and social stability.
Across Abuja, Anambra, and Lagos, a common thread emerges: a disconnect between authority and empathy. Government actions may follow policy logic, but citizens respond from lived experience, fear, and frustration. When these realities collide without dialogue, the streets become the arena of engagement.
Democracy cannot thrive on decrees, threats, or bulldozers alone. Leaders must listen as much as they command, persuade as much as they enforce. Minister Wike should see labour leaders as partners, Governor Soludo must balance firmness with sensitivity, and Lagos authorities should align urban renewal with compassion and justice. Protests are signals of communication failure. Dialogue, caution, and a human face in governance are not optional—they are necessities. Police and security agencies must respect peaceful protest as a constitutional right.
By: Calista Ezeaku
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