City Crime
IAUE Graduates 4,379, Four Bag First Class
A total number of 4,379 students graduated at the 43rd Convocation ceremony of the Ignatius Ajuru University (IAUE) on Saturday.
Of this number, 2,887 fell under Undergraduate category, out of which four bagged First Class Honours, 403 had Second Class Upper, 2,030 came off with Second Class Lower, while 450 had Third Class.
At the Post Graduate category, 374 persons had Post Graduate Diploma (PGD), 812 had Masters, and 306 had Ph.D.
The IAUE Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, disclosed this on Saturday at the 43rd Convocation ceremony of the institution.
Prof. Onuchuku said that the theme of the convocation, “The University Culture In Practice: The IAUE Experience”, was deliberately picked to tell the story of what the institution stands for.
According to him, the theme “was deliberately chosen to emphasize the need for us to go beyond just academic accomplishment and embrace those cherished traditional and intellectual values for which great universities are known and celebrated.
“IAUE has come of age, and it’s a sign to prove to our stakeholders and development partners that this institution is moving in a positive direction as a proof of our maturity in all facets of academic and administrative activities.”
He highlighted various achievements recorded by the university under his leadership, including full accreditation of 48 out of 65 programmes at the undergraduate level by the NUC.
He also said over 17 new programmes in the school have been resource verified and approved by the NUC.
The Vice Chancellor urged the Rivers State Administrator to look into executing some key projects already approved by the suspended Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
He listed those projects to include construction and furnishing of two-storey building with 15 classrooms and 18 professorial offices; construction and furnishing of two units of two storey buildings with nine classrooms each; and construction and furnishing of two units of two storey building with four rooms of 336 capacity hostels each.
The visitor to the university and Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), in his address asserted that education remains a cardinal pillar of his administration.
Ibas, who was represented by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, expressed delight over the strides recorded so far by the leadership of the university.
“I am pleased to note the considerable strides made under the leadership of the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, particularly in programme accreditation, infrastructure renewal, and institutional discipline.
“I commend the university in securing full accreditation for 48 academic programmes, successfully verifying new programmes, and implementing the Nigeria University Commission’s (NUC’s) Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards,” he said.
He stated further that these feats “represent not just compliance, but vision. The infrastructure gains, including perimeter fencing, students housing, academic buildings, clean water projects, and resource centre signal a university that is preparing for tomorrow, and not merely coping for today”.
Ibas also commended all other efforts the school authority was making to upgrade the institution, such as partnership with institutions, to develop the school.
“Let me also recognise the impact of partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), TETFUND, and private donors.
“The donation of Salvation Ministry Hostel, the Chief Emmanuel Aguma building, and the ongoing Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies are commendable and underscore the need for sustainable collaboration between government, private sector, and the academic community”, he said.
The Administrator assured that atttention will be given to all the demands made by the Acting Vice Chancellor.
He advised the graduands to hold on to the values instilled in them by the university.
“As you step beyond these walls into a wider world of possibilities and challenges, I urge you to hold fast to the values instilled in you by the university: integrity, resilience, and unquestionable taste for knowledge”, he stated.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who was the only recipient of the prestigious and honorary “Dr. of Letters” degree, expressed his appreciation for the recognition, and restated the Federal Government’s commitment to the educational growth of the nation.
Senator Akume, who was represented at the occasion by Prof. Bolaji Babatunde, said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has taken notable steps to set the country’s education on the right path of development.
“The government has taken giant strides to enhance our educational sector, to attain its pride of place. We’re pursuing science and technology, mathematics and medical sciences, reducing the number of out-of-school children, enhancing technical and vocational education and training, advancing girl-child education, harnessing data and digitalisation, and strengthening quality assurance mechanisms in the country’s education.
“The students’ loan scheme has taken off successfully and over 300 students from about 109 universities are already benefitting from the scheme,” he said.
By: Sogbeba Dokubo
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has asked the National Assembly to immediately withdraw the proposed Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, describing it as a backdoor attempt to regulate social media and expand government control over online expression.
SERAP warned that it would institute legal action if the bill is passed in its current or substantially similar form.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North), seeks to compel social media platforms, data controllers and data processors operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country.
It also empowers the Nigeria Data Protection Commission to shut down or prohibit the operations of any entity that fails to comply within 30 days.
In a letter dated July 18, 2026, and addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, SERAP said the proposed amendment posed a threat to constitutionally guaranteed rights.
The letter, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and issued on Sunday, read in part, “Requirements compelling technology companies to establish local offices would increase government leverage over platforms, facilitate political pressure, make censorship demands easier and expose local employees to retaliation.
“The Bill would create sweeping powers capable of shutting down or excluding social media platforms from the Nigerian market and expose millions of Nigerians to serious violations of their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights.”
SERAP argued that the bill revives previous attempts to regulate social media that attracted widespread public opposition.
“The current Bill revives substantially similar proposals previously introduced by Senator Nwoko, raising renewed concerns that localisation requirements are being used as a vehicle for expanding governmental control over digital platforms and online expression,” it said.
The organisation warned that it would challenge the legislation in court if enacted.
“Should the Bill be enacted into law in its current or substantially similar form, SERAP shall promptly take all appropriate legal actions to challenge its legality in the public interest and to ensure that Nigerians’ fundamental rights are fully protected,” the letter stated.
According to SERAP, the proposed legislation would give the Nigeria Data Protection Commission excessive powers to block digital platforms without adequate procedural safeguards.
“The Bill constitutes a backdoor attempt to regulate social media and increase governmental control over online expression through corporate localisation requirements rather than through transparent and constitutionally permissible regulation,” it said.
The group argued that the bill lacks provisions for prior judicial authorisation, meaningful opportunities for compliance beyond the proposed 30-day period, and safeguards to protect the rights of millions of Nigerians who rely on digital platforms.
SERAP also cited the judgment of the ECOWAS Court of Justice on Nigeria’s suspension of Twitter, arguing that the proposed amendment could produce similar consequences by indirectly excluding social media platforms from operating in the country.
“The Bill also risks recreating the very dangers previously condemned by the ECOWAS Court of Justice. In SERAP and Others v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Court held that the suspension of Twitter violated the rights to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom protected under the African Charter.
“Although the present Bill differs from the Twitter suspension in form, it creates the possibility of achieving the same result indirectly by empowering regulators to prohibit digital platforms from operating in Nigeria.
“The National Assembly should not enact legislation capable of producing, through indirect regulatory means, the very restrictions on fundamental rights that regional human rights law prohibits,” the organisation said.
It maintained that while governments have a legitimate interest in regulating digital platforms, such measures must comply with constitutional guarantees and international human rights standards.
The organisation further warned that mandatory localisation requirements would increase compliance costs for technology companies, startups, educational institutions and artificial intelligence developers.
“The proposed amendment conflicts directly with the objectives of the Nigeria Startup Act 2022 and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy.
“Mandatory localisation requirements substantially increase compliance costs, particularly for startups, open-source projects, educational institutions, research organisations, AI developers and smaller technology companies, while reducing Nigeria’s attractiveness as a destination for innovation and investment.
“No major democratic jurisdiction requires every social media platform to establish a physical office as a blanket precondition for providing services.”
SERAP added, “The National Assembly should immediately reject and withdraw the Bill, as it is manifestly incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution and Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
England and Chelsea legend John Terry has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, admitting that the Super Eagles will be sorely missed as the tournament started yesterday Tidesports source reports.
Eric Chelle’s side finished second in Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers behind South Africa, who secured one of the automatic qualification spots for the tournament.
The Super Eagles kept their hopes alive by defeating Gabon in the playoff semi-finals but saw their dreams shattered after losing to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the decisive playoff final.
The defeat condemned Nigeria to a second successive absence from the World Cup, having also failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The Nigeria Football Federation later challenged DR Congo’s qualification, alleging the use of ineligible players during the campaign. However, the appeal was dismissed, ending any hopes of a late reprieve.
Nigeria will be a big miss. This is a World Cup for participants who haven’t had the opportunity to play in the tournament. I would have loved to see a top team like Nigeria there because they’ve got some great individuals. They’re a great nation. So, yeah, they fall under that category for me.
“I think they are a big miss because Nigeria probably would have gone further in the competition, but unfortunately, one side’s loss is another’s gain.
“I know Mikel Obi is very upset that they’re not there. It means he can’t do more commentating on the World Cup. That’s why he was upset.”
The 2026 World Cup officially begins with co-hosts Mexico.
The historic clash, set to take place at the iconic Estadio Azteca, rekindles memories of the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which ended 1-1. South Africa took the lead through Siphiwe Tshabalala’s stunning strike before Rafael Márquez salvaged a draw for Mexico with a 79th-minute equaliser.