Education
UNIPORT Disagrees With Lecturership Status Ascribed To Prof Nimi Briggs
The authorities of the university of Port Harcourt, choba in Rivers State have differs with a state ascribed to prof Nimi Briggs by a national daily newspaper as a serving lecturer in the institution.
However , in a swift reaction, the university said prof Nimi Briggs is an emeritus professor with the institution who retired meritoriously several years ago.
A press statement signed by the university Public Relations Officer, Dr. Sam Kpenu averred that prof Briggs was not a serving professor at the university of Port Harcourt and urged the general public to take note .
“The attention of the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt has been drawn to certain misrepresentation in the news report in the Vanguard Newspaper by one Ashiri Babs with the caption: “ASUU STRIKE: FG REJECTS REPORT OF BRIGGS COMMITTEE”
In the report, the newspaper made a serious editorial error by referring Professor Nimi Briggs as a Serving Prof. at the University of Port Harcourt.
The Management wishes to state in clear terms as follows: That the chairman of the renegotiation panel, Prof Nimi D. Briggs is not a Serving Prof at the University of Port Harcourt, rather, Prof Nimi D. Briggs was an Emeritus Professor at the University of Port Harcourt, who retired meritoriously several years ago.
Prof Nimi D. Briggs does not earn a salary at the University of Port Harcourt. For the avoidance of doubt, Professor Nimi D. Briggs is a man of impeccable character who faithfully served the University of Port Harcourt as its 5th Vice Chancellor and retired meritoriously without blemish.”
“This rejoinder is necessary to correct the misleading information put out by the newspaper without taking into cognisance the journalistic ethics of investigative reporting.
‘‘The management wishes to reiterate that it welcomes inquiries as the institution runs an open-door policy and called on the media to always verify their stories before publication,” the statement added.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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.