Education

Group Hails RSUBEB Boss ‘Giant Strides In Education Dev

Published

4 years ago

March 7, 2022

The good works of the Executive Chairman of Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB), Ven Fyneface Ndubuishi Akah in repositioning and giving education a boost in the state, have caught the attention of a socio-political organsation in Rivers State, the Coalition of Supporters of Democracy and Good Governance, as it singles him out for commendation and applause, going by his uncommon determination and zeal to advance the frontiers of teaching and learning, particularly at the basic education level in the state.
The convener of the group, Comrade Gershom Bob Manuel Achor told The Tide in an interview in Port Harcourt that the RSUBEB Executive Chairman has been diligently, efficiently and effectively driving the agency under his watch to uncommon heights by embarking on policies and programmes geared towards repositioning the basic education sector in the state, describing the appointment of Akah to head the body by Governor Nyesom Wike as the best thing that has happened to RSUBEB.
Achor said Akah has by dint of hard work and visionary leadership been able to give hope and better future to over 11,000 out-of-school children in the state, through the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) initiative by ensuring that such children are re-enrolled into schools.
According to him, this is a major breakthrough in the drive by the state government to improve the level of education in the state.
He also noted with delight that the RSUBEB chairman has ensured that basic infrastructure like classroom buildings, among others, are scattered in all nooks and crannies of the state with the sole aim of enhancing learning and quality education in the state.
He further indicated that the effective structures put in place by Akah to drive the BESDA initiative, by identifying and singling out centres that are non-performing particularly in the area of achieving the core objective of the programme are worthy of emulation, a situation, he said has made BESDA highly successful in the state.
Achor said the meticulous and prudent management of resources and instructional materials allocated to the state by the RSUBEB boss has ultimately made Rivers State the only state in the South-South that is the major beneficiary of BESDA.
On the strength of this and many more, the coalition convener appealed to Rivers people, particularly the staff of the education agency to continue to support and rally round Akah to enable him record more enduring milestones in the education sector.
“We will continue to thank Governor Nyesom Wike for Ven Akah’s appointment while we pray that God should prepare him for more national assignments,” he intoned, adding that by his programmes and policies, Akah has returned peace and industrial harmony in RSUBEB, and applauded the high productivity often displayed by staff of the agency, particularly those in the classrooms.
According to him, this is made possible by the RSUBEB chairman who always ensures that learning facilities and other incentives are provided to schools.
Achor, who is also the President of the Joint Assembly of Rivers State Youths expressed joy that Akah has been outstanding in the prudent management of scarce resources at his disposal as well as the management of the entire workforce of the education agency with uncommon passion, diligence and dexterity
He particularly commended the RSUBEB boss for identifying communities in the state, which prior to this time, had no schools, contending that by his sheer intervention, schools were actually built in those communities, thereby brininging education to the core grassroots.

Education

Uniport Appoints Prof. Princewill R. Chike as 10th Vice-Chancellor

Published

1 week ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt has approved the appointment of Professor Princewill R. Chike as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Prof. Chike, a former Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, will succeed Prof. Georgewill Owunari whose tenure ends on July 13, 2026.

A statement signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Sam Kpenu and made available to _The Tide_, said the appointment was made by the 17th Governing Council following the successful conclusion of the selection process.

“The process was conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and the University of Port Harcourt Act,” the statement read.

It added that the process involved the constitution of a Search Team and a Joint Council-Senate Selection Board. Both bodies carried out their responsibilities in accordance with extant laws and regulations governing the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian universities.

According to the statement, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, congratulated Professor Chike on his appointment.

Senator Ohuabunwa expressed confidence in Prof. Chike’s ability to provide visionary leadership for the continued growth and development of the University.

Professor Princewill R. Chike is expected to formally assume office as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt on July 13, 2026.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

Education commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct in Rivers ,, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

1 week ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation recently during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process. Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

RSU Law Professor Calls for Periodic Review of Nigeria’s Criminal Laws

Published

1 week ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

A Professor of Criminal Justice and Law at the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, Prof. Clifford Anaele Nwanyanwu, has advocated for periodic review of the nation’s criminal justice administration laws to reflect current societal needs and challenges.

Prof. Nwanyanwu noted that many of the criminal justice laws in use today date back to the pre-colonial era. He questioned their efficiency in addressing modern criminal justice administration, adding that the complex nature of adjudication often allows crime to thrive.

He made the call while delivering the university’s 132nd Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday at the Senate Conference Auditorium titled: “Society as Criminal Enterprise: Unravelling a Complex Justice System.”

The erudite legal scholar clarified that the lecture was not meant to condemn the country’s justice system. Instead, he said it was intended to highlight areas that require urgent attention.

He expressed concern that criminal justice practice in Nigeria is more dysfunctional than functional, and stressed that he wants to see a system that works effectively for all citizens.

“The essence of criminal justice administration is due process, and anything contrary is not it. Plea bargains help to fast-track trial processes and reduce delays,” he stated.

However, Prof. Nwanyanwu expressed worry that the sums recovered through plea bargain arrangements are often meagre compared to the wealth looted, noting that this contradicts the purpose of the arrangement.

To strengthen the system, he recommended merit-based recruitment of judicial officers with proven character and integrity. He also called for adequate funding, infrastructure development, removal of political interference, and ethical reorientation within the judiciary.

The law professor further recommended that the state should pay compensation to citizens when security officers are found culpable for arbitrary killings, in line with the principle of vicarious liability.

In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, commended the lecturer. He described the lecture as timely and relevant to addressing the nagging challenges of crime in society.

Prof. Zeb-Obipi expressed concern over the justice system’s inability to curb the rising rate of criminal activities in the state. He added that through inaugural lectures, the university continues to provide solution-based approaches to societal challenges.

Our correspondent reports that the thought-provoking lecture was attended by stakeholders in the judicial system, judges, magistrates, scholars, and members of the university community.

By: Akujobi Amadi