Education

Skill Education: Expert Advocates Rivers Trust Fund

Published

5 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

IAUE Trains HODs, Deans Ahead of NUC Resource Verification

Published

2 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The Academic Planning Unit of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, IAUE, has organized a Pre-Resource Assessment Workshop for Heads of Department and Deans as part of preparations for the forthcoming NUC Resource Verification exercise.

The workshop held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Postgraduate Hall of the University. It drew professors, deans and HODs from across faculties.

Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Okechukwu Onuchukwu, the University Librarian, Prof. Emmanuel Okwu, welcomed principal officers and other participants. He described the session as critical to ensuring the University’s readiness for the NUC assessment.

Prof. Okwu stressed that the exercise was not routine but a strategic step toward meeting national standards. He urged participants to take the presentations seriously and implement recommendations in their departments.

The Director of the Academic Planning Unit, in his welcome address, said the workshop was designed to assess the level of preparedness of departments ahead of the verification. He noted that the University had already invested significantly in facilities and staffing and was now awaiting the NUC team.

Three resource persons took participants through key aspects of the verification process. The Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Joseph Kinanee, spoke on “NUC Resource Verification and Their Requirements.”

Prof. Levi Doe Kalagbor, Director of Quality Assurance, addressed “The Role of Staff in Successful Resource Verification Exercise.” Prof. Isaac Ogundu, Dean of the Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, presented on “NUC Scoring Format/Guide and Its Implication for Approval Status.”

The presentations were followed by an interactive question-and-answer session. Participants sought clarifications on documentation, facilities and staffing ratios, and received detailed responses from the facilitators.

In his closing remarks, Prof. Okwu thanked everyone for their active participation and engagement. He expressed optimism that IAUE would record a successful outcome in the upcoming NUC resource verification. The programme ended with a closing prayer and refreshments.

Education

UNIPORT VC Hails Postgraduate School Over Planned International Conference

Published

2 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Chike Princewill, has commended the School of Graduate Studies for initiating an international conference, describing it as a timely move to boost research output, academic excellence and the University’s global visibility.

Prof. Princewill gave the commendation on Friday while receiving members of the conference planning committee set up by the School. The delegation was led by the Associate Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Doris Adameh.

He applauded the committee for conceiving the project and urged members to pursue it with diligence and strategic planning. According to him, such academic gatherings are critical to positioning UNIPORT as a hub for cutting-edge research in the region and beyond.

The Vice-Chancellor specifically charged the committee to engage the University’s alumni as strategic partners in the execution of the conference. He noted that their networks, experience and resources would add significant value to the event.

Prof. Princewill further directed the team to reach out to former postgraduate students of the University to solicit their support and cooperation. He said their involvement would help ensure wider participation and a more successful hosting.

He stressed that alumni remain vital stakeholders in the University’s growth agenda. “Their contributions can significantly enhance the success of the event and strengthen our academic and research profile,” he stated.

Earlier in her remarks, Prof. Adameh said the committee was constituted by the School of Graduate Studies to plan and deliver an international conference that meets global standards. She noted that the process was already underway.

Prof. Adameh explained that the conference is designed to bring together scholars, researchers and professionals from across the world. The goal, she added, is to advance knowledge exchange and foster academic collaboration that will benefit both the University and the wider scholarly community.

By: Amadi Akujobi

Education

Education Commissioner hails RSU’S growth research as key to rivers development

Published

2 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended Rivers State University, RSU, for its resilience, academic growth and research contributions, describing the institution as critical to the state’s socio-economic development.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during an official visit to the University in Nkpolu-Oroworukwo. He held talks with principal officers, provosts, campus heads, deans and directors at the Dr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike Senate Building.

The Commissioner said the visit was to engage the University’s leadership on consolidating gains and strengthening capacity for quality teaching, cutting-edge research, innovation and community service. He noted that RSU occupies a strategic position in the state’s development agenda.

Reaffirming government’s commitment, Dr. Nwagor said education remains the bedrock of human capital development and economic transformation. He stressed that investments in infrastructure, staff development and digital learning must be matched with strong institutional systems, transparency and measurable outcomes.

He urged the University to prioritize key performance indicators such as accreditation performance, research output, internally generated revenue, student outcomes and graduate employability. According to him, these metrics should drive continuous improvement across faculties.

Dr. Nwagor also charged RSU to accelerate its digital transformation, establish research and innovation hubs to solve real societal problems, and maintain existing infrastructure. He advised management to explore sustainable funding through grants, endowments, alumni engagement and strategic industry partnerships.

The Commissioner emphasized that government and the University must play complementary roles. While government meets its statutory funding obligations, he said, the institution must strengthen internal efficiency and pursue legitimate private-sector collaborations.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, appreciated the State Government for its sustained support. He highlighted last year’s budgetary intervention for accreditation, approval of funds for the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies Film Festival slated for November 2026, and the implementation of the new minimum wage for RSU staff.

Prof. Zeb-Obipi, however, drew attention to pressing challenges. He cited shortages of teaching and non-teaching staff ahead of accreditation exercises, inadequate classrooms, libraries, equipment and office spaces, and acute accommodation deficits for staff and students.

The Vice-Chancellor appealed for support to recruit more personnel, retain retired academics on contract, and engage sabbatical and adjunct lecturers. He also requested funding for NUC and professional accreditation scheduled for October, stressing that successful outcomes are vital to RSU’s competitiveness. He reaffirmed management’s commitment to work with government to position RSU as a leading centre of knowledge, research and innovation.

By Amadi Akujobi