Education
Commissioner Charges Staff On Commitment To Duty
Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom, has charged Heads of Departments in the Ministry of Education to be up and doing in their various assignments of responsibilities with all sense of diligence.
He gave the charge in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media/Publicity, Robinson Hamilton and made available to The Tide recently in Port Harcourt, while meeting with Heads of Departments (HoDs) of the Ministry at the conference hall of the ministry.
Mmom, stated that his duty is to ensure that the blueprint of the state government is properly implemented to the letter to reflect the New Rivers Vision of the Governor of Rivers State in the education sector.
He assured that under his watch as the Commissioner for Education, teachers will undergo a reorientation programme and a workshop training to improve their capacity to function better in order to impact positively on the lives of Rivers students.
He advised heads of various departments of the ministry to heed to the directive of the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, to prepare reports as the administration winds up in months to come.
The Commissioner thanked the heads of departments of the ministry for the warm reception accorded him. He promised to work harmoniously with members of staff of the ministry.
In his response, the Director of Administration, Mr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart welcomed the commissioner to the ministry and pledged the cooperation of members of staff.
He added that, they are aware of the sterling qualities of the new commissioner and expressed readiness to work together to move the ministry forward.
Mr. Ezekiel-Hart also conducted an inspection tour leading the Commissioner to various departments in the ministry to familiarise with members of staff.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.