Education
Varsity Don Calls For Better Use Of Petroleum Revenue
A university teacher,
Dr Timothy Okon, has called on the Federal Government to come up with a deliberate plan to properly harness and prioritise revenue accruable from oil.
According to him, this is necessary in order “to better the lot of Nigerians groaning under economic recession”.
Dr Okon, who made the call recently at the 6th “Emmanuel Egbogah Legacy Lecture Series” in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), said a good knowledge of price movement in the oil and gas sector is important.
He stated that understanding price movement in the unpredictable oil and gas sector is the right strategy for any forward-looking government.
There were many tools that should have enabled policy makers to manage the economy in a volatile situation such as we currently find ourselves.
“Our failure to create the necessary buffers early enough to forestall the current predicament has resulted in the situation we find ourselves”.
“When prices were high, we ought to have saved for the rainy day, but we regrettably failed to do so.
“That was what led to belated creation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) from which other oil producing countries such as Norway, Kuwait and Qatar have reaped huge profits”, he said.
To address the situation, Dr Okon stated that there is the need for “government to evolve basic plan for properly harnessing and prioritising oil revenue”.
Okon, who was the keynote speaker at the occasion, warned government against what he called such “economic populism” as subsidies in petroleum products, noting that it is not only unsustainable, but also damages the long term development of the country.
He also called for both revenue and economic diversification in order to check the present economic challenges and to discourage states from depending entirely on revenue accruable from the Federal Government.
In his remarks, chairman of the occasion and Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, described Dr Egbogah as one who believed in core competencies.
The Governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Professor Joe Asike, stated that with the prospect of Anambra State joining the league of oil producing states, the government will ensure that tertiary institutions in the state come to UNIPORT to acquire necessary trainings.
On his part, Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ndowa Lale, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Admin), Professor Anthony Ibe, extolled the philanthropy of Dr Egbogah and his love for quality education, which, he said, gave birth to the “Emerald Energy Institute”, venue of the occasion.
He noted that the institute “is doing a commendable job in helping to shape the future policy direction of the Nigerian hydrocarbon industry.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.