News

120 To Bag First Class At RSU Convocation

Published

1 year ago

December 13, 2024

The Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworukwo Port Harcourt, has announced that a total of 8,920 students from the various faculties and departments of the university will be graduating during the 36th convocation of the institution.
The university also announced that out of the figure, 120 students would bag first class honours.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Nlerum Sunday Okogbule, disclosed this during a press conference held in the institution in Port Harcourt, recently.
Okogbule,while giving the breakdown, said 6,708 students bagged First Degree; 2,122 students earned higher degrees, 4,017 bagged Class Honours, Lower Division; 757 received Third Class Division, while 58 earned Pass Division.
In the Higher Degree category, 743 bagged Post-Graduate Diplomas; 1,195 received Masters Degrees, while 442 earned Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
He said that that this year’s Convocation ceremony is special because it will be recording two significant events in the historical trajectory of the university.
“First, it will be the last convocation where I will be participating as Vice-Chancellor of the University. This is because my five years tenure as Vice-Chancellor of the University will terminate on 4th March, 2025. Second, it will witness the graduation of the first set of Nursing graduates from the University.
“The Nursing graduates were recently inducted as professional nurses by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. This is a landmark achievement not only for the University, but also for the Rivers State Government which is massively supporting the Medical College, and the University,” he said.
He added that a convocation lecture would be delivered by the former Vice-Chancellor of Usman Danfodiyo University, Prof. Lawal Suleiman Bilbis on Thursday.
The lecture will be titled “Emerging technologies in reshaping the future of education and the learning environment.”
He added, “Finally, we will also have an exhibition of some of the research findings, designs inventions and innovations by staff of the University.”
According to him, “the purpose of this exercise is to draw the attention of the public to some of our relevant research findings to see how corporate entities and individuals can support us in the task of improving the wellbeing of humankind and to spice the programme.
“There will also be cultural display where our award-winning Theatre Arts group will entertain guests with their intricate dance steps.”
On academic achievements and developments, the vice Chancellor said, “I am happy to inform you that the University has within the last one year continued to creditably acquit itself in the task of producing the required high-level manpower to meet the aspirations of the people of Rivers State, and respond to the peculiar environmental challenges of the Niger Delta region, and Nigeria as a whole.
“Let me also use this opportunity to inform you that the University has witnessed a number of landmark academic achievements in the last one year.
“Topmost among these is the fact that in the last National Universities Commission (NUC) Accreditation exercise for 2023, all the 19 programmes presented by our University for accreditation received Full Accreditation Status from the Commission. No programme was given Interim Accreditation, and none was denied accreditation. This means a 100% performance.
“It may be recalled that in the 2022 Accreditation exercise, we presented twenty-four (24) programmes, and all the 24 programmes received Full Accreditation status. We, therefore, scored 100% in both accreditation exercises consecutively. This is a clear indication that our University is doing very well academically. We are also confident of scoring the same 100% in the three programmes presented for accreditation in the just concluded 2024 exercise.”
The University which started in 1980 with seven (7) Faculties, namely: Faculty of Agriculture, Engineering, Science, Technical and Science Education, Environmental Sciences, Management Sciences and Law now has 15 Faculties.
The new Faculties include, Humanities, Social Sciences, Communication and Media Studies, Entrepreneurial Studies, Basic Medical Sciences, Basic Clinical Sciences and Faculty of Clinical Sciences under the prestigious College of Medical Sciences.
Prof Okogbule said further that the university recently commenced the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences while approval has also been given to commence Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
He added that the current student population has also increased to over 40,000.

By: Akujobi Amadi

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.