Education
Commissioned projects excites CAEA poly Rector
The Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr. Moses Neebee, has commended the Rivers State Government for the commissioning of three major projects at the institution, describing the development as historic for the school.
Dr. Neebee made the commendation on Wednesday during his welcome address to Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara at the commissioning ceremony held in Rumuola, Port Harcourt. The projects commissioned are the Governing Council Building, the Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Centre, and the School of Engineering block.
He said the new facilities represent some of the biggest additions to the polytechnic in nearly 20 years. According to him, the commissioning marks the first time in almost two decades that the Rivers State Government is delivering projects in the institution.
“The commissioning is historic because it is not for one, not for two, but for three essential projects,” Dr. Neebee stated. “The benefits are enormous as they not only give a facelift to the physical environment but also increase our ability to meet infrastructure requirements for more academic programs.”
The Rector explained that while the Governing Council Building was initiated under the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike, it was completed and furnished by the Fubara administration. He noted the building houses a council chamber, academic ballroom, and conference hall, which will provide comfort for meetings and events.
Dr. Neebee gave a brief history of the institution, saying it was established in 1977 as the Rivers State School of Basic Studies. It was later renamed Rivers State College of Arts and Science in 1991, Port Harcourt Polytechnic in 2016, and finally Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in 2019 following an amendment to the polytechnic law.
He disclosed that the polytechnic received accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education in 2006 with three National Diploma programs. However, he lamented that growth has been slow, with the school currently running 21 ND and 6 HND programs, totaling 27. He identified poor student enrollment since 2023 as a major challenge, attributing it to the absence of student accommodation, limited number of programs, and inadequate lecture space.
In his remarks, Governor Fubara urged students, staff, and the host community to safeguard the new facilities against theft and vandalism. He also appealed to residents of Obio-Akpor LGA to sustain peace in the state, stressing that political stability is critical for continued development. Dr. Neebee, in response, thanked the governor and appealed for further support to address the institution’s outstanding needs.
By: Kiadum Edookor
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The National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), Port Harcourt, has graduated 61 students from its six-month Cybersecurity training programme. The institute also inducted 48 new students for the new academic session during a brief ceremony held at its Port Harcourt centre .
Speaking on occasion,Centre Manager of NIIT Port Harcourt, Mr. Precious Ogulu Tom, said the institute is always excited to induct students into cybersecurity because it is one of its flagship courses with strong international recognition. He noted that the centre’s performance has earned it high ratings from different reputable bodies,adding that in the past academic year, more than 20 students passed international certification exams.
According to him, beyond the NIIT certificate, which is globally recognized, students also proceed to complete advance courses courses without difficulty. He credited the faculty for maintaining standards and said NIIT remains the leading ICT training institute in Port Harcourt and Rivers State.
Tom said NIIT has a presence in all major cities in Nigeria and its headquarters in India, with training covering all areas of ICT. He added that every year the institute produces at least one first-class graduate in Software Engineering from partner universities such as Middlesex University and the University of Sunderland. He described the institute’s approach as practical and hands-on.
On fees, he addressed comments about cost online, saying quality training requires investment. “Does anything good come easy? Nothing good comes easy,” he stated. He explained that students receive industry-standard books and globally recognized certificates, and invited parents and prospective students to register with NIIT for value-driven training.
Also speaking, Principal Instructor for Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking, Mr. Nyekwere TamunoTonye, said the cohort began in February with high expectations and completed the programme in six months. He said one notable achievement was that the class remained largely intact despite challenges, including system breakdowns and family issues. “At the end of this six months, we never lost anybody. That is the greatest. So, we give God the glory,” he said.
Nyekwere said students were exposed to multiple domains in cybersecurity and received strong practical training. He told the graduands that their real learning starts now and urged them not to relent. “This is no longer the time you go back to play,” he added.
He emphasized that the institute equipped them not only with technical and practical skills but also with character and a mindset for continuous learning. He noted that no institution, including Harvard or Yale, can teach everything, but good schools set the path, which NIIT has done.
He charged them to deploy their skills positively. “I don’t want to see any of you being arrested by the EFCC tomorrow. I don’t want to see any of you being arrested by the police. I don’t want to see any of you being arrested,” he said.
Senior IT Counselor and Head of Sales and Marketing, Mrs. Igbigbari Vincent-Eretoru, congratulated the graduands for completing the programme and defending their presentations according to NIIT academic standards. She said certificates are awarded in character and learning, and urged them to be good ambassadors of NIIT Port Harcourt by applying what they learned.
Responding on behalf of the graduates, Class Section Head Tamunotonyesia Epelle said many came in with questions and uncertainty about specializations but left with clarity, confidence, and technical competence gained through practical assignments, teamwork, and the instructor’s push to avoid mediocrity.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Professor Chike Princewill, has positioned the institution as a major force in public health training, research and innovation in Nigeria.
Professor Princewill stated this in a goodwill message at the 6th Society for Public Health Professionals of Nigeria and 37th Professional Association of Public Health Nurses of Nigeria Joint Conference in Abuja.
He said UNIPORT’s rising profile in public health was driven by sustained investments in professional training, research and innovation, particularly through its School of Public Health and the World Bank-funded Africa Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR).
According to him, the university has over the years built substantial capacity to make meaningful contributions to public health development in Nigeria and beyond through quality manpower development, research and innovation.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the rapidly changing nature of global health challenges required universities and other institutions of higher learning to continuously strengthen their research capabilities, embrace innovation and produce highly skilled professionals.
He commended the organisers of the joint conference for bringing together public health professionals and nurses from across Nigeria to examine critical issues of innovation, equity and global health security.
Princewill expressed confidence that the conference would generate practical ideas and solutions capable of strengthening Nigeria’s public health system and improving health outcomes, particularly in addressing emerging health threats.
He reaffirmed UNIPORT’s commitment to advancing public health education and research and supporting national and global efforts to confront emerging health challenges. The conference, which began on Monday, August 24, and ended over the weekend was held at the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Abuja, under the theme, “Public Health in a Changing World: Innovation, Equity and Global Health Security.”
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas (FPOG), Bonny, has taken steps to bridge the skills gap among its staff and students through a TETFund-sponsored training programme focused on employability and industry readiness.
The training, organised by the Polytechnic’s Career Services Centre, headed by Dr Precious Nwachukwu, was designed to equip participants with relevant skills for academic, professional and career success in a rapidly changing work environment.
The workshop focused on employability skills development, change management, innovation, digital transformation, oil and gas industry readiness and workplace excellence, among other areas considered vital to succeeding in today’s competitive economy.
Speaking at the event recently, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Victor Okolobah, represented by the Deputy Rector (Academics), Dr Akos Noel Ibrahim reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to producing a world-class workforce capable of competing favourably in the global labour market.
Okolobah said the Polytechnic had recorded significant progress under his administration in the areas of creative capacity, innovation, infrastructure and technological advancement, stressing that continuous training remained essential to sustaining the gains.
He said the programme was intended to expose participants to contemporary skills and tools that would enable them to adapt to emerging trends and meet the demands of a globally competitive institution and workplace.
The workshop, which attracted staff and students, is expected to sharpen participants’ professional capabilities, reshape their approach to career development and prepare them for the changing demands of the workplace, particularly in the evolving oil and gas sector.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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