Education
Students Hail Wike On VC’s Sack
Some students of the Rivers State University (RSU) Nkpolu, Oroworukwo in Port Harcourt, have lauded the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for the sack of the former vice chancellor of the institution, Prof Blessing Didia and his deputy, Prof Magnus Oruwari, over the recent cult killings in the university that claimed the lives of two students.
The state governor had last Saturday announced the sack of the vice chancellor and his deputy, Prof Magnus Oruwari from office and appointed the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof Opuenebo Owie as Acting Vice Chancellor for the university while investigation committee has been constituted to look into the ongoing employment in the institution.
The students described the governor’s action as timely and responsible, adding that the gesture would make the management of the institution to be awake and live up to their responsibilities in the management of the university.
The students who made this commendation while speaking to The Tide over the weekend in Port Harcourt, on condition of anonymity, averred that the porous security condition in the university calls for concerted efforts by all stake holders in order to address the challenges.
They alleged that the school management led by the sacked vice chancellor lacked the political will to tackle the menace adding that the recent killings would have been averted if proactive measures were taken by the university authorities.
They urged the state chief executive to go extra miles in ensuring that safety and security of lives and property is given the desired attention in the university so as to avoid a repeat of the ugly event in future.
It would be recalled that one Master Prince Tuaka, a final year student of the Faculty of Agriculture and a third year student of Engineering were killed in a cult clash at the state university last week which prompted the governor to query the ousted vice chancellor.
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.