Education
UniPort VC Lauds PCRC, NDLEA, Others on Drugs Campaign
The Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, has commended the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Rivers State Command, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and others for the one-day illicit drugs campaign organised in the institution, describing the program as important to create awareness on the dangers of illicit drugs abuse and not for content creation.
Professor Georgewill stated this on Thursday during a drug abuse awareness campaign held in the university, stressing that the university remains a citadel of enlightenment where students are models for both moral and academic excellence.
“Our future cannot be built on abuse of substances. Today, we form a formidable coalition against drug abuse. The War Against Drug Abuse is not seasonal but a continuous campaign. We want to build a Nigeria where youth are not dependent on illicit drugs,” Georgewill said.
The Rivers State Commands of Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Police, on Thursday, 30th October, 2025, took the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) to the University of Port Harcourt in furtherance of the campaign for a drug-free society.
In an interview with journalists at the sidelines of the event, Voke Emore, Chairman of PCRC in Rivers State, said, “The PCRC has done this for two years running now, and this is the third year. We did it in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State University, and our idea is to drive home the message of the War Against Drug Abuse, where our young people, and even some old persons, who abuse drugs, falling victims to drug abuse, should abstain. We have a lot of deaths, and it needs to stop.
“One of the causes of insecurity and the devices the enemy uses against young people is that they carry weapons and commit crimes under the influence of drugs. We want to say no to drug abuse. We have to put our hands on deck to keep speaking against drug abuse.”
Also speaking, Assistant State Commander, Drug Demand Reduction Unit, in NDLEA, Rivers Command, Grace Adeniyi, said, “Drug abuse is a problem that is ravaging everyone, and there are stages where they should be able to say no to drug abuse and yes to life.
“While they watch who they associate with, mingle with, they should not be pressured into taking hard drugs.
“Our university campus is a place where nobody monitors your activities. You come on your own and stay on your own. Whatever anybody tells you is your ability to say no, I will not be involved in it. So many of the students coming in are young minds; they are just 16 and above, and the elders will bully them into accepting the use of hard drugs.
“The programme is very important. Drug abuse is everywhere. If it’s not in your family, it’s in your neighbourhood. A drug-dependent person is a risk to himself and everybody around him.
“Prevention is better than cure. Don’t go into it. You will be able to avoid so much of the crisis because every other vice is committed under the influence of drug abuse.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, represented by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Choba Police Division, Ahmed Doma, listed increased risk of chronic diseases and permanent damage to brain function, etc., as dangers of drug abuse.
CP Adepoju urged students and everyone to stay away from drug abuse, while reiterating the commitment of the Rivers Police Command to ensuring a drug abuse-free state.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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The Senate of the University of Port Harcourt Rivers state has approved a special two-year amnesty for students admitted between the 2010/2011 and 2018/2019 academic sessions who were unable to complete their programmes within the stipulated period.
This was contained in a statement by the university public relations officer,Dr Sammy Kpenu and made available to the tide over the weekend in port Harcourt.
The statement stated that eligible students are expected to submit formal applications addressed to the Vice Chancellor through their respective Heads of Department for review and necessary consideration.
The statement further stated that the approval provides a renewed opportunity for affected students to return, regularize their academic status, and successfully complete their studies.
According to the statement the amnesty also offers a fresh opportunity to students who had issues related to overstaying or other challenges that forced them to discontinue their programmes, to return and complete their academic pursuits.
The statement however said that the deadline for submission of applications end on 31st May, 2026 and therefore urge the affected students to take full advantage of the window the amnesty provided to realise their academic dreams.
The River State Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor has called on media practitioners in Rivers State to deploy their various communication platforms toward promoting government programmes and policies aimed at achieving sustainable development in the education sector. Dr. Nwagor made the appeal when members of the Etche Ethnic Practicing Journalists (EEPJ) paid him a courtesy visit in Office in Port Harcourt. The Commissioner emphasized the strategic role of the media in shaping public perception, promoting government initiatives, and supporting policies capable of improving the quality of education and human capital development in the state. According to him, constructive media engagement remains essential in creating public awareness on educational reforms, students’ welfare, infrastructural improvements, and other interventions being implemented by the state government. Speaking on the recent appro
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education will hold its 44th Convocation Ceremony on May 8 and 9, 2026, the University Senate has announced.
Executive Governor of Rivers State and Visitor to the University, Siminalayi Fubara, approved the dates.
The award of First Degrees and presentation of prizes will hold on Friday, May 8, while Postgraduate Degrees will be conferred on Saturday, May 9.
Chairman of Senate, Okechuku Onuchuku, announced the schedule during an emergency Senate meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the University’s Postgraduate Hall, Rumuolumeni.
Onuchuku also said the University Council had ratified the promotion of 35 academic staff to the rank of Professor and 41 others to the rank of Reader.
*The newly promoted professors are:*
*Administration and Management Sciences*: Ikechi Prince Obinna, Consumer Behaviour and Sustainability Marketing; Chukwu Godswill Chinedu, Consumer Behaviour and Sustainability Marketing; Joy A. Mekuri-Ndimele, Consumer Behaviour and Sustainability Marketing; Dumo Nkesi Opara, Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour; Lawrence Amadi, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Marketing.
*Agriculture*: Eunice Ngozi Ajie, Agricultural Economics; Godswill Ibom Wilcox, Production Economics.
*Education*: Emmanuel Okwu, Library and Information Science; Love Nwamadi, Counselling Psychology; Ali Beatrice Onyebuchi Amadi, Early Childhood and Primary Education; Jerome Ibejika Wosu, History and Policy of Education.
*Humanities*: Grace Hart Lawrence, African Religion and Cultural Heritage.
*Natural and Applied Sciences*: Worokwu China Roland, Science Education (Chemistry); Constance Izuchukwu Amanah, Algorithms and Software Engineering; Comfort Emma-Elechi, Community Health Education and Promotion; Wokocha Gideon Azubuike, Science Education; Glory Godspower-Echie, Science Education; Nwala Longinus, Science Education (ITS); Daso P. Ojimba, Mathematics Education; Nchelem Rosemary George, Mathematics Education; Dagogo Franklin Ibim, Applied Geophysics.
*Social Sciences*: Leelee Nwiibari Deekor, Development Economics; Nzidee Williams, Development Economics; Iwarimie B. Uranta, Political Theory and Methodology; Dennis Reuben T. Ukpere, Rural Development and Resource Management; Poroma Lekia Celestine, Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management; Ngeh David Baride, Sociology of Development; Ebenezer Levi Odike, Sociology of Development and Social Work; Goodnews Wabah, Medical Sociology; Nwikpugi Bright Poronakie, Regional Development Planning; Ikechi Omenihu Okwakpam, Environmental Management.
*Vocational and Technical Education*: Paulinus Emennu, Industrial Technical Education (Mathematical Option); Joseph Onwuakalaegbule.
*Print style notes:*
1. *Lead first*: Who, what, when upfront — dates in para 1
2. *Dateline*: PORT HARCOURT in caps
3. *Numbers*: Figures above nine written as numerals, per AP style
4. *Attribution*: “said” used, titles before names on first reference
5. *Tight lists*: Semicolons separate full entries to save space
6. *No fluff*: Cut “executive”, “dedicated to”, “featured” — verbs carry weight
By: Akujobi Amadi
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