Rivers
IAUE Promotes 51 Staff To Professors, Associate Professors
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) has promoted 17 academic staff to the rank of Professor, and another 34 to Associate Professors (Readers).
Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, disclosed this during an Emergency Senate Meeting, held on Wednesday at the Postgraduate Hall.
While congratulating those affected on behalf of the 12th Governing Council, the Acting Vice Chancellor reminded them that higher position means higher responsibilities.
He urged them to continue to stand out by doing their jobs very well and providing the needed leadership in their various fields of discipline.
Professor Onuchuku, who also congratulated non-teaching staff promoted, informed that they would get the monetary value attached to the promotion and expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, for prioritising education and for the financial benefits.
He advised staff to eschew hatred and bitterness and to give their subordinates what is due them irrespective of tribe and religion.
He implored Members not to “bear grudges, but be good to others at all times, even in the face of prosecution, and allow divine justice to reign supreme”.
With this promotion, the University now has 97 Professors.
Those promoted to the rank of Professors in the Faculty of Agriculture are: Joseph E. I. Ansa (Professor of Agronomy).
The Faculty of Education has Okai N. Okai (Professor of Administration of Higher Education); Tamunodienye Mba (Professor of Curriculum Teacher/Education); Marilyn Ochoma (Professor of Curriculum and Instruction); Nwankwoala H. N. L. (Professor of Educational Management); Ibiene T. LongJohn (Professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation); Dagogo A. F. Daminabo (Professor of Sociology of Education); and Josephine E. Elekwa (Professor of Sociology of Education).
Faculty of Humanities has Anthony Adele Orlu (Professor of Environmental Literature); Israel N. Johnson (Professor of Church History); Ante James Eteka (Professor of African Literature in French); Bernadette C. Ugochukwu (Professor of Music Pedagogy—2021); and Charles G.T. Omuaru (Professor of Sculpture).
In Faculty of Management Sciences there are: Jude Nwoka (Professor of Human Resource Management); Nwakaego Chukwuigwe (Professor of Organisational Behaviour); Israel Umesi (Professor of Accountancy, Tax Management).
Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education has Azunwena Reginah N. (Professor of Home Economics Education).
Those appointed Associate Professors (Readers) are, Faculty of Agriculture: Wilcox G. Ibim (Agricultural Economics and Extension); and Eunice N. Ajie (Agricultural Economics, Agric Marketing).
In the Faculty of Education, there are: Love Nwamadi (Guidance and Counselling); Emmanuel Okwu (Library and Information Science); Iyagba Philemon W. (Educational Psychology); Amadi-Ali Beatrice O. (Early Childhood and Primary Education); and Jerome I. Wosu (History and Policy of Education).
For the Faculty of Humanities, there are: Grace Lawrence-Hart (Religious and Cultural studies); and Emeka Ikechi (African Literature -202)
Faculty of Management Sciences has Dumo Opara (Human Resources Management and Organisational Behaviour); Lawrence Amadi (Strstegic Marketing and Entrepreneurship); Ikechi Prince Obinna (Consumer Behaviour and Sustainable Marketing); Godswill Chinedu Chukwu (Consumer Behaviour and Strategic Marketing); Joy A. Mekuri-Ndimele (Human Resources Management and Office and Information Management); and Victor Chima Anucha (Marketing, Green Marketing).
The Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences has China Worukwu (Science Education); Comfort Emma Elechi (Community Health Education and Promotion); Glory Godspower- Echie (Science Education); Nwala Longinus (Science Education); Ibim Dagogo Franklin (Geophysics); Nchelem R. George (Mathematics Education); and Constance I. Amannah (Computer Science).
Faculty of Social Sciences has Ukpere Dennis Tobins (Rural Development and Resources Management); David Baride Ngeh (Sociology of Development); Poroma Celestine Lekia (Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management); Nwiekpugi B. Poronakie (Regional Development Planning); Okwakpam I. Omenuihu (Environmental Management); Wabah Goodnews (Medical Sociology); Odike Ebenezer Levi (Sociology of Development); Leelee N. Deekor (Development Economics); and Iwarimie B. Uranta (Political Theory and Methodology).
For the Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, there are: Joseph O. Amaechi (Industrial Technical Education); Paulinus Emennu (Industrial Technical Education); and Salome Emeya (Agricultural Education).
At the non-teaching staff category, those promoted as Directors are: Rose K. Okah; Priscilla M. Oriji; Obi N. Wichendu; Didia Christopher; Wilson E. Ibokama; Chisa Egu; and Emejuru Chioma.
Also promoted in the Bursary Department are: Ikuru Osekeigak Bertram (Director); Graham-Kingsley Gift(Deputy Bursar); and Nicholas O. Nkwoji (Deputy Bursar).
In the Audit Unit, there is Elechi Innocent Alete (Deputy Director, Audit), while those appointed as Deputy Registrars are: Queen A. Ikhumni; Kate Ukwoma O; Dorathy N. Abinusawa; Barnabas Obi Emordi; Uchenna P. Nwankwo; Wawhua Christiana B.; Eucharia Chigbu O.; Nyebuchi Owabie; Tom-West Igbaniboba J.; Felicia Court; and Daughter O. Wugate; Legborsi Kara John.
For the position of Chief Confidential Secretary 1, there are: Elizabeth O. Wike; and Gooba E. B. Ikiriko.
Health Services Department has only Dr. Destiny Osuchukwu as Deputy Director, Health Services, same thing with Laboratory Technology which also have only Felix Tennyson Chioma as Chief Technologist 1
Also, the Security Department has only Mr. Nwidua Nwibari as Chief Security Officer 1.
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.