Education
IAUE: New VC Wants Wike To Lift Employment Embargo
The Ignatius Ajuru University of Education has remained unprogressive and ineffective in the past due to the under-funding of the upgraded institution by the previous governments in the state.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele who stated this in an interview recently, commended the present administration to have shown focus and the political will to move the university forward for the benefit of the state and the people.
Prof. Ndimele urged the government to lift embargo on employment for the university to enable it fill all the existing vacancies and also normalises the employment of casuals that have helped the university to get to its present height, explaining that this was the only way to fast-track the development and progress in the university.
According to him,’’ the university lacks professional staff and non-academic staff. We have written to the Governor to allow us employ some lecturers because we lack staff. University employment is not like civil service’’.
“In the university, we have our own way of doing things, manpower budgeting is needed in the system to get the staff ration, but unfortunately, it has not been implemented and all these are required by the National University Commission(NUC)and without this, the university cannot move forward’’, he said.
The Vice Chancellor revealed that the school’s Senate would soon assign more faculties to Ndele, stating that the two departments were not enough for the campus vast land mass while Saint John Campus would be redesigned to run all manners of programmes from 8.00am to 10 .00pm as a cross nation’s Business School institute for corporate executive trainings and retraining of all professionals for Postgraduates, Masters and PHD.
He however promised to work and put things in its right perspective, adding that he is committed to the welfare of staff and students.
According to him,‘’ I had to forsake my official personal privileges and benefits by refusing to accept a Prado jeep and six other vehicles which could have cost about #80,000,000.00 enjoyed by past Vice Chancellors’’.
“I do not need all these now because I have a lot to work and achieve for the university and also ensure that students and workers get the best welfare they deserve,’’ he said
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.