Education
Alumni Reject Plan To Convert AAU To Multi-Campuses
The Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Alumni Association, Edo, has expressed its displeasure over the plan by the State Government to convert the institution to multi-campus.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gov. Godwin Obaseki had at a town hall meeting in February announced the plan to move its two faculties, Engineering and Agriculture, to Oredo and Owan West Local Government Areas, respectively.
But the association in a statement signed by its President, Mr Dave Emakunu, and the General Secretary, Mr Johnson Akpolome, appealed to the governor, who doubles as the Visitor to the university, to shelve the idea.
The alumni also demanded the dissolution of the Special Intervention team and immediate constitution of a governing council to manage the institution.
According to the statement, a copy of which was made available to NAN in Benin, the constitution of a Special Intervention Team (SIT) for the Edo state owned university, in place of Governing Council is an aberration, that deserves immediate dissolution.
It asserted that splitting the university into multi-campuses would result to insurmountable challenges, which would arise from implementation of the plan.
This, the union said, would bring untold hardship on the students in terms of logistics.
It noted that the university, as a single campus, was grossly underfunded, with staff salaries owed running into several months.
“The failure to adequately fund the institution has led to industrial crisis and paralysis of academic activities,” the statement said.
It also lamented a situation where all the principal officers of the university were appointed in acting capacity.
“Most worrisome is that the signatures of the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Registrar on the certificates of graduates continuously change because the appointments of these officers are not tenured.
“This is capable of affecting the credibility of the certificates issued by the university.
“What the state government need to do at this crucial time is to ensure that the university is adequately funded to allow for staff salaries to be paid as at when due.
“As well as build adequate infrastructure to cater for the growing population of staff and students of the institution rather than proposing a multi-campus system which will further overwhelm the financial capability of the state,” the statement read in part.
The 11th Global President of the Rivers state University Alumni Association (RSUAA), Dr. Marry- Ann Perekebina has praised the Obarijima Waite’s led Postgraduate Students Association(PGA), describing his tenure as ” visionary, transparent and worthy of emulation.
Dr. Perekebina , who spoke with journalists at the sideline of the commissioning of projects embarked by Obarijima Waite’s administration in Port Harcourt, eulogises him for leading a purposeful administration – characterised with team work, love and result.
She maintained, that Obarijima Waite’s have led a purposeful administration that touches on cole values expected of any leader,adding that he has embarked on several projects that will have direct bearing in the lives of PGA students who will make use of the facilities.
“I think it’s worthy of emulation and recognition and he deserves all the accolades. He is a transformational leader who believes in carrying everyone along.” she said.
Also speaking at the sideline, a Postgraduate student of Law and Diplomacy, Edward Olaka, equally lauded the President of PGA, Obarijima Waite, for his visionary and outstanding leadership style, and describing him as “a Square peg in a Square hole”
According to him, the performance of the incumbent President and his team will throw a huge challenge to his successor’s, stressing that their administration will be used as a yardstick to measure whoever that would be coming after them, describing his performance as a commitment and testimony to hard-work built on the fear God.
” This is the handiwork of God, because it is said that when the righteous rules, the people rejoice.”
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is set to establish a Driving Training Centre at the University of Port Harcourt, to be domiciled at the Centre for Logistics and Transport Studies, NEMA House.
A team from the FRSC National Headquarters visited the University on Friday, September 12, 2025, to inspect proposed facilities in line with the Driving School Standardization Programme (DSSP) mandatory requirements.
Speaking at the end of the inspection, Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, represented by the Head of Driving School, Mr. Sunday Attah, expressed satisfaction with the standard of facilities available at the institution. He commended the University for its readiness to host the pilot scheme, noting that the Centre will be replicated in other parts of the country in due course.
Earlier, during a courtesy visit to the University Management, the Corps Marshal explained that UniPort was selected to host the pilot project because of its strategic importance to the nation.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Chukwudi Onyeaso, welcomed the initiative and assured that the University remains open to partnerships that will promote academic excellence and national development.
A scholar and the 119 Inaugural lecturer at the Rivers state University, Prof.Chukwu Sancho Nwobuisi has called on political leaders across the world and Nigeria in particular to be transparent, accountable and lead with the fear of God, bearing in mind that when we depart the earth, we shall take home nothing, except the spirit who shall return back to the maker to give account of how we lived our lives.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after delivering his inaugural lecture on Wednesday in port Harcourt with the topic: ” War and The Dynamics of Ehianomics Economy The Nigerian Experience Who Are The Losers”, called on political leaders and those at the position of trust to think outside the box if they truly want the Nigeria to be great again.
He explained that the topic of the lecture basically is about social ills and how to correct the false narrative affects the system, while maintaining that the system has worsen to the point that the future of our younger generation now in dire danger, due to unemployment ,poor infrastructure,poor healthcare and everyone looking for a means to see ends meet.
The Frontline scholar,regretted that agriculture that used to be the economy main stay of the country is now downgraded due to over dependent on oil revenue, hence the unfortunate social and political crisis found daily in our communities.
” The study looks at the effect, influence and what affects the economy of the nation and how our mindset can change from over dependent on oil”
Prof. Nwobuisi, who didn’t mince words about corruption, maintained that corruption remains a serious challenge that the government needs to mitigate by the institutions saddled with the responsibility to pull the nation out of the menace.
” The way forward is that the nation’s anti-graft agencies must be strengthen to look around us especially on the invasion by the so called Yahoo boys.” Prof. Chukwu said.
-
Maritime13 hours agoCustoms, MAN Consent On 4% FoB Exemptions, Manufacturing Support Measures
-
Rivers12 hours agoIAUE Emerges Winner Of National Campus Debate, 2025
-
News12 hours agoFUBARA: UNDERUTILISED SEAPORTS DENYING RIVERS ECONOMIC PROSPERITY ……..Hosts NPA Board, Mgt On Courtesy Visit
-
Opinion13 hours ago94 Years From A Turning Point
-
Education12 hours agoDon Advocates Equal Opportunity For Citizens
-
Politics12 hours agoAnambra Guber: ADC Candidate Urges INEC To Tackle Vote Buying
-
Business12 hours agoBlue Economy: Minister Seeks Lifeline In Blue Bond Amid Budget Squeeze
-
Maritime13 hours agoCustoms Wives Donate Mosquito Nets, Bedsheets To Hospitals In Ogun