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Rivers Varsity Trains Lecturers On Performance

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As part of measures to reposition and equip lecturers for better service delivery, the Rivers State University, has organised a workshop for academic staff of the university with a charge for them to be alive to their responsibilities.
Thus, based on the premium the university attaches to such a programme, it therefore, made it mandatory for all academic staff, insisting that promotion of staff would be predicated on the presentation of certificates of attendance by the staffers.
The workshop, which was held at the university campus in Port Harcourt on Monday was anchored by the Directorate of Quality Assurance and the Directorate of Academic Planning.
In a keynote address at the occasion, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Nlerum Okogbule said the workshop was special as it was designed to enable all academic staff appreciate the importance and relevance of what they do as academics, adding that it was aimed at equipping them with the capacity and capability to be able to carry out their teaching jobs in a dynamic and rapidly changing society.
According to him, “since there has been a tremendous transformation of the social, economic and political structures of the society, manifested in changes in several fields of human endevour, it becomes imperative for university lecturers to reappraise their roles and re-strategise on how best to carry out their duties in the 21st century.”
He further noted that the workshop was underpinned by a realisation of the importance of training and and re-training of the workforce to achieve the goals of an organisation like the university.
To ensure that all staff of the university receive appropriate training, Okogbule hinted that a similar workshop for non-academic staff would hold in March, contending that this programme is structured in such a way as to cater for the peculiar expectations and requirements of the academic staff to enhance their performance.
The Vice Chancellor further indicated that the speakers at the event were carefully chosen to guide the lecturers through the peculiar expectations to ensure that they perform their academic duties effectively and efficiently, and listed the critical areas of focus to include how to achieve excellence in teaching and research; the requirements of promotion; procedures for the conduct of examinations; relationship with staff and students; and the channels of communications in the university.
Said Okogbule, “It is sometimes assumed that somebody who is appointed as a lecturer, Head of Department or Dean of a Faculty knows all that is required for that position. This is a largely false assumption as the example of the last two months has shown. I, therefore, urge you all to take this workshop very seriously so that you can maximally benefit from it and our university will be the better for it”.
He thanked the Director of Quality Assurance of the university, Prof Eric Amadi and his Academic Planning counterpart, Prof Precious Ede as well as their team for putting the programme together.
The Director of Quality Assurance, Prof Eric Amadi, in his opening speech said the whole essence of the workshop is for the lecturers to mentor students and bring back the university culture and not for money seekers, insisting that lecturers by their calling are expected to proffer solutions and not necessarily to bully students.
He stressed the need for proper communication channels between lecturers and students.
Among officers of the university who graced the occasion included the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof Valentine Omubo-Pepple; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof Nnamdi Okoroma; Registrar of the university, Dr Sydney Enyindah; Deans of Faculties and a host of others. Former Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Simeon Achinewho equally attended the event.

By: Emeka Igbe

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Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

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Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.
Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.
Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.
The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.
He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.
Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.
This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the  induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.
 Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.
Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.
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VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

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The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.
Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and  passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.
“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.
Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of  promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.
He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.
He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.
“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and  effective library.
She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.
Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.
High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.
Akujobi Amadi
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Rivers

Rivers Judiciary Denies Issuing Court Order Stopping SOLAD from Swearing in RSCSC Members

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The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).

 

In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.

 

The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.

 

Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.

 

The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.

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