16 RSU Lecturers Bag Excellence Awards

Some past students of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, have rewarded 16 of their lecturers, living and dead, who have impacted positively on the state and the country with awards of excellence for their services to academic scholarship and leadership.
The awards were presented to the illustrious scholars by De ’95 Class alumni of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the pioneer science and technology institution in Nigeria during a special honours event at Echelon Heights Hotel, in Port Harcourt, last Saturday.
They said the show of appreciation was necessary to thank lecturers generally for moulding students to become leaders of tomorrow, saying that their sacrifices would never go unrewarded by the society and government.
In a programme tagged, ‘Reunion and Lecturers Appreciation 2022’, the Caretaker Chairman of the class, Engr. Victor Bright, said that the awards constitute part of the class’s plan to extend a hand of fellowship to their alma mater.
He said the gesture was geared towards encouraging the awardees, while motivating them to do their best to advance the fortunes of the state university.
Bright said they were pleased with what the lecturers have achieved by training top-level engineering students, who have contributed significantly to the development of the state and the country.
Describing it as one of the rare gestures the society ever cherishes but lacks the will and ability to do, he said the exercise dispels an age-long misconception and tradition of graduating from school and walking away without giving back.
He enjoined his colleagues to imbibe the spirit of care for each other as the reunion provides room for extension of friendship beyond the school days.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Organising Committee of the programme, Engr Charles Bilapei, said the initiative was a way of giving back to the institution that made them who and what they are today.
He said the body has bigger project for the institution but feels it was important to start by appreciating the teachers.
“After 20 years, we have realised that lecturers are indeed worthy of appreciation because they build very good foundation for us, and today, they have taken us to places”.
He advised other graduates to always see something good in the role of their lecturers irrespective of how they felt about them while at school.
Among those honoured were; Prof. Christopher Ahiakwo, Prof. D. C. Idoniboyeobu, Engr. F. M. Odeyemi, Engr. R. C. Oti, Engr. C. M. Anaele, Engr. Maxwell Nwoku, Engr. Joseph Opigo, Engr. J. T. Afa, and Engr. A. B. Piam.
Others include, Emmanuel Peekate, Engr. Ekeipre Dienagha, Engr. Frank Mbah, Morgan Nanim, Dr. Ike Anireh, Engr. Odieari Oruye (post-humours) and Engr. Monima Briggs (post-humours).
Responding, one of the awardees, Prof. Christopher Ahiakwo, expressed joy for the honour done them, describing it as a huge encouragement to those in the teaching profession.
Also speaking, Engr. J. T. Afa, said “it is wonderful to see students remember and honour their teachers in this manner”.
Highlight of the event was a paper presentation by Engr. Felix Ngobigha on the “Overview of Mobile Communication, Past, Present and Future”.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi