Connect with us

Education

RSG Makes Huge Investment In Education Dev-Ebeku

Published

4 years ago

on

Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku, has stated that the state government is making huge investments in the education sector.
In a statement made available to The Tide by the Special Adviser to the Commissioner for Education, Faustina Nwanekwu, in Port Harcourt last Wednesday, the Education Commissioner revealed that over a billion naira has been expended for the  registration of about 60 thousand candidates in public schools for the examination.
Professor Ebeku reiterated government’s commitment in funding external examinations in public schools across the state.
He said, “The state government is making a lot of investments in the field of education. Last year, I checked the aggregate of expenditure for the external examinations sponsorship and I said that it was over one billion; some of you thought I was kidding and were living in denial”.
“Today, I have come to show you that only for WAEC 2022 sponsorship, the government has spent about one billion Naira. You can go to WAEC to verify this information. So you can see that the state is spending billions of naira to fund and sponsor candidates in public schools in the State for the examinations”.
He also reiterated the warning against examination malpractices in the forthcoming examinations, noting that any staff caught might risk dismissal.
In his words, “the state government, the Ministry of Education, have zero tolerance for examination malpractice. We have reiterated our warning to the school principals that if we catch them for examination malpractices and WAEC sanctions them, we will sanction the principal by dismissal”.
Speaking further, have Ebeku cautioned‘ principals against enlisting external candidates for the examinations, noting that any principal involved in registering external candidates for government- funded WASSCE, NECO, NABTEB, BECE will be made to refund monies collected to the state government.
He said, “Also, there are some malpractices on the part of some of the principals in sponsoring those they should not sponsor and we have called them to recant”.
The briefing was well-attended by school Principals across the 23 local government areas of the State. Also in attendance were Directors of the Ministry and Dr. Wisdom Ade, Acting Chairman, Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Education

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

Published

2 weeks ago

on

June 8, 2026

By

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
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue Reading

Education

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

Published

2 weeks ago

on

June 8, 2026

By

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
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue Reading

Education

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

Published

2 weeks ago

on

June 8, 2026

By

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
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue Reading

Trending