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‘ASUU’ll End Strike If’…

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As the strike enters its eight-day, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it will announce any change in its present resolve only after its National Executive Council (NEC) has duly considered any progress made so far.

The Chairman of ASUU, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Chapter, Dr. Felix Igwe, made this declaration in a Short Message service (SMS) sent to The Tide in Port Harcourt, Sunday.

According to him, “As a member of ASUU NEC, I’m not aware of any meeting called by the union.

However, some parents have expressed worries over Federal government and ASUU meeting that ended in deadlock.

Speaking to The Tide  a businessman, Mr. Durum Sunday Nnanna, said it is better for Federal government and ASUU to reach a compromise as soon as possible to enable the students go back to school.

Mr Nnanna cautioned that strike actions should not always arise before Federal government and ASUU can reach agreement to avoid violence and economic backwardness in the country.

Also speaking to our correspondent, a Secondary School teacher, Mrs Hannah Obiekwe, said a nation without human capital development could not flourish in a modern competitive economy.

She, however, advised government to treat members of ASUU with respect and dignity arguing that without them, our children and the nation would have no future.

“If the ASUU is asking for extension of retirement age of lecturers to 70 years, then government should look into that.

“Experience has shown that the more you teach, the more experience you gain and the society taps from this laudable experience of teachers”, she expressed.

A final year student of the Rivers State University of Science and technology, Ikenna George, said ASUU strike is usual and the students feel the impact more.

His words: “Although ASUU is right but strike is bad because it drags us back. We won’t finish when we should”.

He appealed to government to come to the aids of the students by fulfilling the promises reached with ASUU.

A fresh student of Engineering, Cletus Nwaka said although ASUU strike is in students’ favour, but expressed regrets that the strike resumed on that 5th December when lectures would have started in RSUST.

Against speculations that some universities were engaged in academic activities within this zone, a source at the St John’s Campus of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (UOE) debunked that.

A visit to both RSUST and UOE showed that classrooms were empty last Friday while the fresh students were involved in their 2011/2012 admission process via ICT centres on campus at RSUST.

A  student of Ebonyi State University who spoke to The Tide in Port Harcourt has appealed to the Federal Government and ASUU to take urgent measures towards resolution of the crisis.

Miss Queen Eziulo expressed regrets that the frequent strikes which often disrupt academic calendar had negative impact on the standard of education.

However, our correspondent recalls that the Federal government had appealed to ASUU to call off the strike.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, while briefing newsmen at the end of a meeting between federal government and ASUU which ended in deadlock noted: “I will still  insist and plead again that ASUU has to call off the strike.

“We have already agreed that we will continue to negotiate in terms of ensuring that all the issues at stake will have to be addressed”.

Prof. Rufa’i urged students to be patient and understand the situation in the country.

The Minister assured that the Federal Government was making effort to transform the country and was not pleased with the shortfalls in the Universities.

It would also be recalled that ASUU embarked on an indefinite strike on the 5th of December over the non-implementation of some aspects of its 2009 agreement with the Federal government.

 

Eunice Choko-Kayode

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IAUE Trains HODs, Deans Ahead of NUC Resource Verification

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August 17, 2026

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The Academic Planning Unit of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, IAUE, has organized a Pre-Resource Assessment Workshop for Heads of Department and Deans as part of preparations for the forthcoming NUC Resource Verification exercise.
The workshop held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Postgraduate Hall of the University. It drew professors, deans and HODs from across faculties.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Okechukwu Onuchukwu, the University Librarian, Prof. Emmanuel Okwu, welcomed principal officers and other participants. He described the session as critical to ensuring the University’s readiness for the NUC assessment.
Prof. Okwu stressed that the exercise was not routine but a strategic step toward meeting national standards. He urged participants to take the presentations seriously and implement recommendations in their departments.
The Director of the Academic Planning Unit, in his welcome address, said the workshop was designed to assess the level of preparedness of departments ahead of the verification. He noted that the University had already invested significantly in facilities and staffing and was now awaiting the NUC team.
Three resource persons took participants through key aspects of the verification process. The Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Joseph Kinanee, spoke on “NUC Resource Verification and Their Requirements.”
Prof. Levi Doe Kalagbor, Director of Quality Assurance, addressed “The Role of Staff in Successful Resource Verification Exercise.” Prof. Isaac Ogundu, Dean of the Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, presented on “NUC Scoring Format/Guide and Its Implication for Approval Status.”
The presentations were followed by an interactive question-and-answer session. Participants sought clarifications on documentation, facilities and staffing ratios, and received detailed responses from the facilitators.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Okwu thanked everyone for their active participation and engagement. He expressed optimism that IAUE would record a successful outcome in the upcoming NUC resource verification. The programme ended with a closing prayer and refreshments.
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UNIPORT VC Hails Postgraduate School Over Planned International Conference

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6 days ago

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August 17, 2026

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The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Chike Princewill, has commended the School of Graduate Studies for initiating an international conference, describing it as a timely move to boost research output, academic excellence and the University’s global visibility.
Prof. Princewill gave the commendation on Friday while receiving members of the conference planning committee set up by the School. The delegation was led by the Associate Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Doris Adameh.
He applauded the committee for conceiving the project and urged members to pursue it with diligence and strategic planning. According to him, such academic gatherings are critical to positioning UNIPORT as a hub for cutting-edge research in the region and beyond.
The Vice-Chancellor specifically charged the committee to engage the University’s alumni as strategic partners in the execution of the conference. He noted that their networks, experience and resources would add significant value to the event.
Prof. Princewill further directed the team to reach out to former postgraduate students of the University to solicit their support and cooperation. He said their involvement would help ensure wider participation and a more successful hosting.
He stressed that alumni remain vital stakeholders in the University’s growth agenda. “Their contributions can significantly enhance the success of the event and strengthen our academic and research profile,” he stated.
Earlier in her remarks, Prof. Adameh said the committee was constituted by the School of Graduate Studies to plan and deliver an international conference that meets global standards. She noted that the process was already underway.
Prof. Adameh explained that the conference is designed to bring together scholars, researchers and professionals from across the world. The goal, she added, is to advance knowledge exchange and foster academic collaboration that will benefit both the University and the wider scholarly community.
By: Amadi Akujobi
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Education Commissioner hails RSU’S  growth research as key to rivers development

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6 days ago

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August 17, 2026

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended Rivers State University, RSU, for its resilience, academic growth and research contributions, describing the institution as critical to the state’s socio-economic development.
Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during an official visit to the University in Nkpolu-Oroworukwo. He held talks with principal officers, provosts, campus heads, deans and directors at the Dr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike Senate Building.
The Commissioner said the visit was to engage the University’s leadership on consolidating gains and strengthening capacity for quality teaching, cutting-edge research, innovation and community service. He noted that RSU occupies a strategic position in the state’s development agenda.
Reaffirming government’s commitment, Dr. Nwagor said education remains the bedrock of human capital development and economic transformation. He stressed that investments in infrastructure, staff development and digital learning must be matched with strong institutional systems, transparency and measurable outcomes.
He urged the University to prioritize key performance indicators such as accreditation performance, research output, internally generated revenue, student outcomes and graduate employability. According to him, these metrics should drive continuous improvement across faculties.
Dr. Nwagor also charged RSU to accelerate its digital transformation, establish research and innovation hubs to solve real societal problems, and maintain existing infrastructure. He advised management to explore sustainable funding through grants, endowments, alumni engagement and strategic industry partnerships.
The Commissioner emphasized that government and the University must play complementary roles. While government meets its statutory funding obligations, he said, the institution must strengthen internal efficiency and pursue legitimate private-sector collaborations.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, appreciated the State Government for its sustained support. He highlighted last year’s budgetary intervention for accreditation, approval of funds for the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies Film Festival slated for November 2026, and the implementation of the new minimum wage for RSU staff.
Prof. Zeb-Obipi, however, drew attention to pressing challenges. He cited shortages of teaching and non-teaching staff ahead of accreditation exercises, inadequate classrooms, libraries, equipment and office spaces, and acute accommodation deficits for staff and students.
The Vice-Chancellor appealed for support to recruit more personnel, retain retired academics on contract, and engage sabbatical and adjunct lecturers. He also requested funding for NUC and professional accreditation scheduled for October, stressing that successful outcomes are vital to RSU’s competitiveness. He reaffirmed management’s commitment to work with government to position RSU as a leading centre of knowledge, research and innovation.
By Amadi Akujobi
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