Education

Corruption Leads To Political, Socio-Economic Decay-Don

Published

4 years ago

October 17, 2022

Corruption has been identified as cancerous virus that leads to political, cultural and socio-economic decay in Nigeria.
Professor of Educational Evaluation at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Prof. Mamudu Nasiru Obadah stated this at the third valedictory lecture session of the institution with the topic: “Academic Corruption, Abuses of Attained Accolades and Positions for Underdevelopment of Nigeria”.
“Corruption is something that hit us so hard and has so many disadvantages such that our children are not getting the right education, our economy has dropped to the lowest.
“As we speak part of the degradation, they have just discovered about 58 terminals where our oil money is been slowly with an export terminal that is about 30km long established about 10 years ago if you know the humungous amount of money that Nigeria has lost as such, we cannot meet the production quota again given by OPEC and the country is broke due to the thieves that are everywhere.
“There is this saying that any abnormality happening in any country that lasts more than one month, the government’s hand is there, I am not saying so, but that is what they are saying outside here.
“I am suggesting that we, as academicians we should carry our head high, it is true that we don’t have money like the people in the House of Assembly, but we should attach so much importance to that calling that says a good name is better than silver and gold. We should classify ourselves as those following the dictates of the creator,” Obadah added.
Presenting his valedictory book to the Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, Professor Obadah who dwelt on academic corruptions at its various levels, the causes, abuses of academic achievements and it’s dangerous implications for national development, condemned the endless face-off between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that is affecting students and parents negatively.
He identified piracy, examination malpractice, teachers or lecturers’ quest for money or sex from the opposite gender to pass grades , NDDC contract failures, pension’s funds and subsidy scandals as root causes for the country’s underdevelopment and poverty capital of the world, where snake can swallow money and someone can collapse to eavde financial fraud explanations against him.
The university don revealed that the corruption explosion in the country is caused by the long term negligence, greed and promotion of corruption in all sectors without severe measures to snuff out the canker-worms bedevilling the country blessed with milk and honey.
Declaring the valedictory lecture open, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Rumuolumeni, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, explained that the third valedictory and six inaugural lecturer of the Institution has served meritoriously for 42 years, still active despite his age of retirement.
He advised students and lecturers to always obey the academic principles as any defaulter will face the wrath of the law.
The university don appreciated the academic prowess of Professor Obadah and wished him well in his new life’s endeavours as a senior citizen of the country.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

Education

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

Published

3 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

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

Education

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

Published

3 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

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

Education

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

Published

3 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

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