Education

Skill Education: Expert Advocates Rivers Trust Fund

Published

4 years ago

December 20, 2021

Vocational and Technical Education (Skill Education) has been described as expensive and requires a joint funding to achieving and churning out skilled graduates to reduce the flux of graduates in the labour market.
The synergy between the private sector and the government to raise fund into the Rivers State education trust fund with the private sector, the government, parents and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) partnering to contribute to fund the skill education would further make the state education institution innovative-driven.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the 5th Annual Conference of the Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, the Head, Ndele Campus of the university and professor of Industrial and Technical Education, Prof Isaac Ogunde said Rivers State needed functional vocational and technical institution to upscale its educational status and economy in the face of the present economic down turn.
Ogundu described the theme of the conference “Innovation in Vocational and Technical Education for Optimal Productivity and Sustainability in the Covid-19 Era in Nigeria” as apt adding that establishment of vocational and technical institutions even in Rivers State would aid the training of innovative manpower at the various sectors of the state economy to meeting up with international sustainable innovative systems.
Ogundu who is also the chairman Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the conference said “at this conference, what we hope to achieve is how to build innovations that are institutional driven such that we recommend institutions like vocational colleges to be established in almost all the local government areas of Rivers State. I will recommend that Rivers State should have a college of education that will train the required manpower that will drive this innovation at those facilities.
“Equally of note here is that there should be a synergy between the private sector and the government to raise fund like the Rivers State Education Trust Fund where the private sector, the government, the parent and non-governmental organizations would come together to contribute to fund this education because skill related education is expensive. And when that is done, the firms in turn will bring in their problems to the school for solutions and students too will be independent after school,” he stated.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Dean, Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, IAUE, Prof Sixtus Anyanwu, noted that the Covid-19 pandemic changed many aspects of daily life, transformed the economy and disrupted virtually every business including the productivity of the vocational and technical education.
According to him, education is a veritable tool for sustainable development and innovations therefore, has become inevitable for optimal productivity and sustainability of the human race.

Anyanwu said “generally speaking, education is a veritable tool for sustainable development. However, a major challenge facing humanity these days is the employment of the fruits of education in the development of pathways that guarantees sustainable life so that the reasonable needs and wants of people from all walks of life could be satisfied”.

He continued “technological change drives long term economic growth, productivity and improvement in living standards. Knowledge is dynamic and progressive from one age or stage to another. And so, skills acquired in the paste may be obsolete or irrelevant in the provision of solutions to contemporary challenges. Therefore, research and development must fill the gap in order to continuously provide innovations crafted in such a way as to provide the requisite elixir to the challenges of humanity”.

Anyanwu said the theme of the conference was aimed at garnering confluence of ideas on the subject matter saying “such confluence of innovative ideas in vocational and technical education will not only optimize but guarantee sustainable productivity in Nigeria both during and after the Covid-19 era”.

Highlight of the conference include award of academic excellence to Ph.D students of the faculty.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu

Education

RIVCHPP Set To Take Health Insurance Scheme To Tertiary Institutions In Rivers State

Published

4 hours ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), the state health insurance agency, is set to take the health insurance scheme to schools, especially tertiary institutions, in the state.

This disclosure was made by the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Rolegherighan Agala, when she led a team from RIVCHPP on an advocacy visit to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education on Friday, 16th January 2026.

Dr. Agala, who solicited authorisation from the Ministry for RIVCHPP to write to the institutions under Ministry’s mandate so as to begin enrolment of students in the various schools , said that for the health insurance agency to expand universal health coverage of the state, then students need to be enrolled into the programme.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary announced that the agency has also started talks with the State branch of Nigeria Association of Proprietors of Private Secondary Schools (NAPPSS) to ensure that no one in the state is left out from having the opportunity of accessing quality healthcare services without passing through financial hardship.

Dr. Agala also commended the innovative policies that the Permanent Secretary have brought to bear towards improving the educational exploits in the state, saying that the changes align to the interest and mandate of Governor Siminialayi Fubara stance on education.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary appreciated the Permanent Secretary for giving the team audience, pledging her team’s dedication and commitment to clients’ satisfaction, calling on schools to embrace the S-SHIP package dedicated for the well-being of students in Rivers State.

In her remarks and response, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr.(Mrs. ) Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, who warmly welcomed the RIVCHPP team, promised to share with and disseminate all information about RIVCHPP to all public schools in the state so that the schools will be willing to give RIVCHPP opportunity to sensitise them on what RIVCHPP is all about and the benefits of signing up with RIVCHPP.

Dr. Uzoma-Nwogu advised RIVCHPP to be proactive and consistent in the mandate of providing affordable and quality health care to Rivers residents.

The visit witnessed a presentation of RIVCHPP’s sensitisation/campaign materials to the Permanent Secretary by RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary

Education

University Don wants AI to be made compulsory course

Published

4 hours ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

A university don, Prof. Sunday Olatunji, has argued that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be made a compulsory course for all students in higher institutions across Nigeria, irrespective of their field of study

He also called on Nigeria and Africa to build an intelligent, inclusive and technologically sovereign future to elevate human potential through artificial intelligence.

To achieve these goals, the Professor of Artificial Intelligence urged the nation and continent to: institutionalize capacity building for AI excellence; develop functional policy and ethical frameworks for responsible AI; build artificial intelligence literacy and workforce development; make AI a general course in all higher institutions; promote no-code

AI and machine learning pathways for beginners; develop public-private-academic partnerships; and build inclusive and culturally grounded AI.Prof. Olatunji, who is ranked by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as the Best AI Researcher in Nigeria (2025), made these statements on Tuesday, while delivering the 53rd Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, held at the University Multipurpose Hall.

The lecture was titled, Symbiosis of Mind and Machine: Harnessing AI for National Development.He stressed that artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction but a reality that permeates every stratum of human life. “Just as Computer Appreciation became a national requirement decades ago, the time has come for AI Appreciation as a compulsory General Studies (GST) course.

This course should introduce all students, regardless of discipline, to aspects of AI including: AI fundamentals, machine learning concepts, applications of AI in their respective fields, ethical implications of AI, and its role in national development, among others,” he said.

The lecturer called on governments to establish AI innovation hubs in all tertiary institutions and research centres; promote cross-disciplinary collaboration integrating computing; provide national research grants focused on AI solutions for local challenges; and recruit and train faculty specialised in AI, machine learning, data science, robotics, and computational intelligence.

Prof. Olatunji allayed fears that AI could replace humans or end humanity, positing that, “Many fear that the rise of artificial intelligence signals the decline of human relevance – that the machine might replace the mind. But history teaches otherwise. Every technological revolution – from the printing press to electricity, from the internet to AI – has not diminished humanity but rather redefined it.

Today, AI diagnoses diseases, predicts the weather, translates languages, and protects nations.

Prof. Olatunji has garnered from far and wide and commended his role in setting up the Faculty of Computing and for doing a yeoman’s job as its founding Dean.

The Vice Chancellor also noted that Prof. Olatunji is a well-respected and accomplished academic and researcher who has carved an enviable niche for himself in the digital world of computing and artificial intelligence.

Education

FG, ASUU Set Date to Sign Agreement

Published

1 week ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government is set to formally sign an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities following weeks of negotiations.

The development may be linked to the 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff proposed by the FG last month and accepted by the union.

A circular issued by the Ministry of Education invited Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of federal universities to witness the signing ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Conference Hall, Abuja.

The circular, dated January 5, 2026, and referenced FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82, was signed by the Director of University Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, on behalf of the Minister of Education.

It was titled ‘Invitation to the Ceremony for the Signing of Agreement Between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.’

The circular was sighted by our correspondent on Saturday and confirmed by the Ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

“This signing represents a critical milestone in promoting industrial harmony and improving teaching and learning in our universities.

“It also reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of education in line with the Renewed

Attendance at the ceremony was declared mandatory for all invited university administrators, highlighting the importance attached to the agreement and its implementation.

Last month, the industrial crisis that had burdened Nigeria’s university system for 16 years following the 2009 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement saw the union accept the Federal Government’s proposed 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff.

It was reported that the deal, effective from January 1, 2026, would be reviewed after three years

Why FG Shouldn’t Be Blamed for Non-Implementation of Council Autonomy

Under the new terms, professors will earn a pension equivalent to their final annual salary upon retirement at age 70. The agreement also provides for the establishment of a National Research Council to fund research with at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

Other provisions include improved funding for libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development, greater university autonomy, and the election of academic leaders, with only professors eligible to serve as deans and provosts. The pact also guarantees that no staff member involved in past industrial actions will be victimised.