Rivers
Rivers Varsity Trains Lecturers On Performance
As part of measures to reposition and equip lecturers for better service delivery, the Rivers State University, has organised a workshop for academic staff of the university with a charge for them to be alive to their responsibilities.
Thus, based on the premium the university attaches to such a programme, it therefore, made it mandatory for all academic staff, insisting that promotion of staff would be predicated on the presentation of certificates of attendance by the staffers.
The workshop, which was held at the university campus in Port Harcourt on Monday was anchored by the Directorate of Quality Assurance and the Directorate of Academic Planning.
In a keynote address at the occasion, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Nlerum Okogbule said the workshop was special as it was designed to enable all academic staff appreciate the importance and relevance of what they do as academics, adding that it was aimed at equipping them with the capacity and capability to be able to carry out their teaching jobs in a dynamic and rapidly changing society.
According to him, “since there has been a tremendous transformation of the social, economic and political structures of the society, manifested in changes in several fields of human endevour, it becomes imperative for university lecturers to reappraise their roles and re-strategise on how best to carry out their duties in the 21st century.”
He further noted that the workshop was underpinned by a realisation of the importance of training and and re-training of the workforce to achieve the goals of an organisation like the university.
To ensure that all staff of the university receive appropriate training, Okogbule hinted that a similar workshop for non-academic staff would hold in March, contending that this programme is structured in such a way as to cater for the peculiar expectations and requirements of the academic staff to enhance their performance.
The Vice Chancellor further indicated that the speakers at the event were carefully chosen to guide the lecturers through the peculiar expectations to ensure that they perform their academic duties effectively and efficiently, and listed the critical areas of focus to include how to achieve excellence in teaching and research; the requirements of promotion; procedures for the conduct of examinations; relationship with staff and students; and the channels of communications in the university.
Said Okogbule, “It is sometimes assumed that somebody who is appointed as a lecturer, Head of Department or Dean of a Faculty knows all that is required for that position. This is a largely false assumption as the example of the last two months has shown. I, therefore, urge you all to take this workshop very seriously so that you can maximally benefit from it and our university will be the better for it”.
He thanked the Director of Quality Assurance of the university, Prof Eric Amadi and his Academic Planning counterpart, Prof Precious Ede as well as their team for putting the programme together.
The Director of Quality Assurance, Prof Eric Amadi, in his opening speech said the whole essence of the workshop is for the lecturers to mentor students and bring back the university culture and not for money seekers, insisting that lecturers by their calling are expected to proffer solutions and not necessarily to bully students.
He stressed the need for proper communication channels between lecturers and students.
Among officers of the university who graced the occasion included the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof Valentine Omubo-Pepple; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof Nnamdi Okoroma; Registrar of the university, Dr Sydney Enyindah; Deans of Faculties and a host of others. Former Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Simeon Achinewho equally attended the event.
By: Emeka Igbe
The leader of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Simplified Movement, Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo, has unveiled a N10 million grant aimed at empowering women in Ward 1 of Obio/Akpor LGA.
Making the announcement during the recently concluded Obio/Akpor Ward 1 town hall meeting, Ihunwo revealed that the grant will be distributed in amounts of N100,000 to 20 women per community, including non-indigenes.
He stated that the gesture is a token of appreciation for the women’s unwavering support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ihunwo emphasised the Governor’s commitment to ensuring that Ward 1, Obio/Akpor LGA, and Rivers State as a whole benefit from good governance.
Special Adviser on Power to the Governor, Hon. Solomon Abel Eke, highlighted the transparency and fairness that define the current leadership of the Obio/Akpor Simplified Movement, assuring that it operates without nepotism or impunity.
During the event, former leader of the Obio/Akpor Legislative Assembly, Hon. Achor Nna, criticised former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, who is also from Ward 1, for actions deemed uncharacteristic of true sons of Obio/Akpor LGA.
Also in attendance at the town hall meeting were Hon. Darlington Orji, Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Governor of Rivers State, along with other prominent figures as well as other sons and daughters of Obio/Akpor.
They congratulated the new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, and collectively reaffirmed their support for the Fubara-led administration, underscoring a shared commitment to the progress and development of Rivers State.
Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
The Rivers State Executive Council, on Wednesday, approved N225 billion for the construction of the Trans-Kalabari Road project.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Joseph Johnson, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting.
The meeting was presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the state Government House in Port Harcourt.
He said the project would be funded with savings from the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.
“We shall not borrow to fund the project. We are bent on generating money to fund our projects”, he said.
Johnson stated that the contractor had been mobilised with 30 per cent of the contract, worth to commence implementation.
The commissioner further said the project would be completed within a period of 32 months.
“This is the main Trans-Kalabari Road, the one that happened in the past was building of bridges.
“We are now doing a Trans-Kalabari Road that will run from NSS Pathfinder, immediately after Mgbuodohia community and extend to about 2km to the Aker Base Road in Rumuolumeni”, he said.
He also said the road would pass through the swamps behind the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, moving southwards towards the first bridge crossing.
“It will continue through a series of bridges, connecting many communities up to Tombia Town.
“The road will traverse very difficult terrains of swamp across rivers and creeks upon which series of bridges, decking and piling works will be done”, he said.
The Commissioner further said the state recently recorded some giant strides in the sporting sector.
Also briefing, the Acting Director-General, Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Ine Briggs, explained that the bureau diligently managed the proceedings leading to the award of the Trans-Kalabari road contract.
Briggs said the submissions of the state Ministry of Works were reviewed and all the supporting documents examined by the Ministry.
“Having fulfilled all the necessary procurement procedures and guidelines as prescribed by the Rivers State Public Procurement Law 2008 as amended, the Bureau is satisfied that all the elements leading to this award is sufficient to issue a certificate of no objection.
“Therefore, in consideration of all the relevant documents submitted by the Ministry of Works pursuant to the construction of Trans-Kalabari Road and bridges, the Bureau has issued the certificate of no objection, and that the contract be awarded to Lubrick Construction Company Limited”, Briggs said.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Joseph Johnson, has said the ongoing dualisation of the Elele/Umudioga/ Egbeda/Ikiri/Omoku Road was awarded at N80 billion.
Johnson disclosed this in Port Harcourt yesterday while speaking to newsmen on the achievements of the Governor Siminalaye Fubara-led administration after one year in office.
He said the road, which cuts across three Local Government Areas, would facilitate easy movement of people and goods, saying “it will boost cross-community commerce.
“The farming communities along this area will find it easy to move their produce to markets in neighbouring towns.
“This project is a deliberate effort to make movement easy for our people, it’s no politics but service delivery”.
The Commissioner said the State Government had already paid 50 per cent of the contract value amounting to N40 billion.
“We are not paying lip service to governance, we mean business. We want Rivers people to see something new.
“We have devised ways of generating money to fund our projects, we are not indulging in any borrowing festival”, he said.
Analysts say the state capital will be decongested if the government successfully implements the line up of road projects in the state.
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