Rivers
VC Commits To Positioning IAUE As Top Institution
Acting Vice Cahncellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, says he is committed to positioning the institution among the best in Nigeria and Africa.
Making this disclosure at a media briefing as part of events to herald the university’s 39th and 40th convocation this weekend, he said achieving such feat would be the best way to appreciate the confidence reposed in him by the State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
“The best way I can repay His Excellency’s benevolence and confidence in me is to work very hard to position IAUE among the very best tertary institutions in Nigeria and Africa”, he said.
Towards fulfillment of this stance, the Professor of Economics narrated some outstanding achievements recorded since his assumption of office on November 18, 2021.
The first among the numerous achievements was to ensure a convenient and suitable studying environment for students, beginning with a review of undergraduate and graduate programs of the university to “bring them in tandem with what obtains in other Nigerian universities and in line with global best practice”.
Next was the establishment of “a full-fledged Faculty of Agriculture”, which brought the total number of Faculties in the university to seven.
“Nobody can underestimate the importance of a Faculty of Agriculture in a State where much of our food supply comes from outside.
“As a university, we have a duty to help change this unacceptable narrative within the shortest possible time. We are putting everything necessary in place for the emergent Faculty of Agriculture to admit its pioneer students”, he stated.
The IAUE boss also instituted a review of non-statutory charges and school fees paid by all categories of students, and initiating payment of school fees in two instalments to “reflect the realities of the prevailing economic situation”, and ensured that 21 programmes of the institution get five years full accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Other achievements include: provision of classroom furniture, reactivation broken-down electricity generating sets and restoration of damaged power lines at the Ndele campus, while also commencing monthly fumigation of classrooms, offices, and residential areas in the three campuses.
To secure the university’s land from further encroachment, he rebuilt damaged fences at Rumuolumeni and Ndele campuses, expanded the estate department and provided more facilities for work, and renovated students’ hostels at the main campus.
Offices were furnished with necessary equipment to make the workplace comfortable for more efficient service, three standard kitchens were built where students could prepare their meals to discourage cooking in the hostels and eating sub-standard food prepared by vendors, and investing more in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to boost the exploration of opportunities in the growing digital economy by staff and students.
This, he said, will “make the high-impact research papers of lecturers in the university globally accessible”, and also “bridge the digital divide between the university and the rest of the world, by enhancing the institution’s visibility, ranking, and competitiveness in this age of knowledge globalisation”.
A total of 3,796 graduates would be admitted into postgraduate degrees, while 3,751 would b be awarded degrees at the undergraduate level.
The award of First Degrees and prizes will hold today, while admission of candidates into various categories of Higher Degrees will hold tomorrow, both at the University’s Auditorium.
By: Sogbeba Dokubo
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.