Education

Stakeholders Charge Varsities, Others On Institutional Memories

Published

6 years ago

February 22, 2021

Dean, School of Transport and Logistics at the Lagos State University (LASU),Ojo, Prof. Samuel Odewumi, has urged tertiary institutions to retain their good institutional memories.
He said such would enhance progressive and cumulative development of higher institutions in the country.
Odewumi, a Professor of Transport and Environment, said this at a virtual book presentation to celebrate Prof. Peter Okebukola ‘s 70th birthday on Saturday in Lagos.
The title of the book is: “Prof. Peter Okebukola at 70: Media Dialogue on Pivotal Issues in Higher Education Development in Nigeria”.
The Tide gathered that Okebukola who clocked 70 on February.17 is a distinguished Professor of Science and Computer Education.
He was also a former Executive Secretary,National Universities Commission(NUC) and the Director of the World Bank-funded Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education at LASU.
The book contains 795 pages and were put together by some editors and contributors in higher education such as: Prof.Sola Akinrinade, Provost ,Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria and Prof. Samuel Odewumi,the Dean, School of Transport and Logistics, Lagos State University.
Other contributors include, Prof. Anthony Kola-Olusanya,Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Research, Innovation and Partnerships (ARIP), Osun State University; Sir John Daniel, the former Assistant Director-General of UNESCO and Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun, the immediate past Vice Chancellor,LASU.
Odewunmi said that retaining institutional memory is very important rather than the usual disjointed and sporadic approach to the management of public sector agencies.
”The phenomenon of succeeding chief executives abandoning projects and initiatives of their predecessors is unfortunately and also it is an alarming feature of many higher educational institutions in the country.
”Addressing this issue through the lenses of the Okebukola initiatives at the NUC is, especially, critical given the dire straits in which we are as a country.
“ This is also with regards to resources that should not be frittered away through constant restarting of programmes at the inception of every new administration,” Odewumi said.
He added that Okebukola had at least 61 university system-wide initiatives and 33 NUC-internal initiatives during his five-year tenure as the Executive Secretary of the NUC between 2001 and 2006.
“These are major landmark initiatives not perfunctory; they are impactful actions in the day to day leadership of the institution.
“This is, no doubt, revolutionary by any standard. It is a reflection of the prodigious capacity to think and execute. Okebukola is simply phenomenal.
”Okebukola did not win his laurels in propagation of knowledge and pillar of e-learning for nothing, he really earned it,” Odewumi said.
Also, Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, the Chief Executive, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB), said that tertiary education in Nigeria had over the years been a centre of cacophony with reference to policy formulation and implementation.
Oloyede said that such cacophonies border on the scope, landscape, mandates and regulatory agencies of tertiary education in Nigeria.
“They also include the unnecessary furore on the UTME cut-off marks and qualifications for admissions into tertiary institutions as well as the dynamics of rewards for achievements and others.
“It is emphasised that the whole tertiary education subsector requires a holistic overhaul in terms of nomenclature, organisation and functionality.
”I recommend a structural reorganisation of the current Ministry of Education as well as some agencies within its supervision as a way of revamping higher education in Nigeria,” he said.
The celebrator, Prof. Peter Okebukola, in his remarks said that all the essays in the book were put together for yesterday, today and the future of higher education in Nigeria.
Okebukola said that the book contained major key points needed to tackle challenges facing higher education.
He said, “There is a global burden of quality assurance in the different sectors not only in education and Nigeria education system does not present a worst cast scenario.
”I urge governments and stakeholders in the educational sector to reduce or wrestle down corruption in the system so that more money will be injected into the universities,” he said.
It was also gathered that a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, wrote the foreword to the book and Prof.Idowu Olayinka, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor,University of Ibadan, reviewed the book

Education

PIDOMSON UNVEILS RADICAL EDUCATIONAL BLUEPRINT DIALOGUE

Published

9 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State, Dr. Sir Gabriel Baritulem Pidomson, PhD, has presented his comprehensive educational blueprint as part of his 10-Point Agenda for the state.

Dr. Pidomson unveiled the blueprint on Friday during the Rivers We Want 2027 Governorship Dialogue, organized by the Center for Peace and Security Studies, Port Harcourt, and convened under the Rivers Peace Initiative (RPI).

The dialogue, designed as a citizen-focused platform for constructive engagement ahead of the 2027 election, brought together stakeholders, civil society actors and the media to interrogate the vision of governorship hopefuls.

Presenting his agenda titled “Building The Rivers We Deserve,” the former Secretary to the Rivers State Government said education remains the foundation of his prosperity agenda for all Rivers people.

According to him, his administration will overhaul public schools to provide a conducive learning environment, strengthen technical and vocational education, and invest massively in teacher training and retraining to prepare Rivers students to compete globally.

Dr. Pidomson noted that his education reform will be tied to job creation, entrepreneurship, digital technology, agriculture and manufacturing, so that young people become employers of labour rather than job seekers.

He commended the organizers of the Rivers We Want Dialogue for creating a fair and inclusive platform where candidates can present their ideas directly to the people, rather than through ethnic sentiments or imposition.

The ADC candidate reiterated that his campaign will be built on ideas, discipline and people-centred solutions, stressing that no local government or community will be treated as an afterthought in his government.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

Abia Student Breaks Down in Tears, Wishes Late Father Witnessed International Debate Victory

Published

9 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

An emotional moment unfolded as one of the students who represented Nigeria at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar, broke down in tears of joy following her speech, wishing her late father were alive to witness her remarkable achievement.

The student’s emotional reaction touched the hearts of those present as she reflected on the milestone and the father who could not be there to celebrate the moment with her.

Her mother and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, were also part of the emotional celebration, sharing in the joy of her achievement and Nigeria’s success at the international competition.

The student’s accomplishment has drawn attention to the growing importance of quality education, academic excellence and opportunities for young Nigerians to showcase their talents on the global stage.

The development has also renewed conversations about the state of education in Abia State under Governor Otti’s administration.

For many residents and supporters of the government, the achievement represents a positive sign of progress in the state’s education sector, which has faced challenges in previous years.

There is a growing sense of optimism among supporters who believe that renewed attention to education can help restore public confidence in the state’s schools and create opportunities for students to compete favourably with their peers around the world.

The student’s success in Doha is a reminder of the potential of Nigerian children when given the opportunity to learn, develop their skills and participate in international academic competitions.

Beyond the victory, her heartfelt wish to have her late father witness the moment added a deeply personal dimension to an achievement that brought pride to her family, Abia State and Nigeria.

Education

PAMO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY -Nullifies Arrest warrant on VC

Published

10 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The Scholarship controversies between PAMO University of Medical Sciences and the Rivers State House of Assembly took a twist last weekend as the Hon Justice Frank Onyiri has nullified the Order of Arrest of the State Assembly to arrest the Vice Chancellor of PAMO, Prof. Smith Jaja.

The court further granted perpetual injunction restraining the Assembly, the Police or any security agencies from in any way interfering with the rights of the applicant.

Delivering his ruling on Friday 30th October 2026 Justice Onyiri at the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

The judge nullified the Order made against the applicant by the Rivers State House of Assembly, holding that the setting up of a committee to investigate the employer of the applicant purportedly under section 128 of the Constitution after the Appropriation Act 2026 had been passed and signed was a sham.

He held that the Assembly has no power to indict or adjudicate on the guilt of any person but only to investigate and receive evidence for, and only, for the purpose of section 128 of the constitution.

Starting that the declaration to arrest the Vice Chancellor, Prof Smith Jaja of PAMO by the RSHA for failure to appear before it’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 25th of September is nullified.

Giving his judgement in an enforcement of fundamental rights application brought before him by Professor Smith Jaja against fundamental rights by the Rivers State House of Assembly, the court upheld the entitlement of the applicant to have his fundamental rights under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Africa Charter on Human and People’s Rights protected.

The Judge also upheld an order of damages against the Rivers State House of HV Assembly in the sum of Two Million Naira to be paid to the applicant.

On his part, attorney of PAMO Medical University Dr. CAJ Chinwo and MS Agu who stood in for EC Ukala SAN comm

ended the judgement which lasted for about ninety minutes.