Education
Don Tasks FG, Engineers On Research
A University teacher, Prof. Mike Onyekonwu has called on the Federal Government and Nigerian engineers to invest more on research in order to take the lead in world oil and gas reserves.
Onyekonwu who is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Port Harcourt made the all in a paper titled: “Adding Value Through Research: A Case of the Oil and Gas Industry.” was presented at the technical section of a monthly meeting of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Port Harcourt branch recently said Africa and Nigeria were major players in the world’s oil and gas industry, but yet there are no research centres.
According to him, “oil and gas is one of the most commonly used and important commodities in the world,” adding that “Africa and Nigeria can add value to the oil and gas industry through research by collaborating between the oil and gas industry, academia and government to the benefit of all the parties involved.”
He noted that there were several research areas of interest to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria if the billions of dollars and naira were spent in research and development for energy.
The university lecturer also maintained that there were several achievements of research in the oil and gas industry in Africa and Nigeria, and frowned that research in this areas had been neglected; stressing that the way forward is a collaborative effort by the industry, government and the academia to key in for the benefit of all.
Onyekonwu further stated that, “value can be added in quantity or in quality research find-facts, fuel knowledge and solves problems as value can be added to the oil and gas industry through research.”
The oil and gas industry has three sectors, it provides more than 50 percent of the world’s energy and is very important,” he opined.
The Professor in Department of Petroleum Engineering in University of Port Harcourt also explained that the three key areas of oil and gas industry include upstream sector which has to do with exploration and production, and midstream is for transportation, refining and processing while downstream sector has to do with distribution and retail sales, and harped that time has come for research into the sector more.
Collins Barasimeye
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.