Education

RSG Cautions Teachers Against Illegal Fees … Ekiti Threatens Irregular Calender Operators

Published

14 years ago

December 17, 2012

The Rivers State Government has
again warned teachers against collection of any fee from the pupils as payment
of fees is prohibited in all government owned schools in Rivers State.

The Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi
gave the warning during the 2012 Christmas Carol of the Ministry of Education
which took place at State Primary School 11 Orogbum in Port Harcourt last
weekend.

Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi commended teachers in Rivers
State for their commitment to duty and declared that they had proven that they
were the best in the country.

The Commissioner charged the pupils and students to
utilize the facilities provided by the state government and advised them to
take their studies seriously so as to complement government’s investment in
education.

According to the Commissioner, the Ministry has lined up
many programmes like quiz, debate and essay competitions so as to expose them
to greater heights, and charged stakeholders in the education sector to brace
up for the challenges that lie ahead in 2013 stressing that with their support,
the Ministry would break more ground.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State
Ministry of education, Dr. Richard Ofuru, thanked God for his mercies in 2012
while wishing for a better year in 2013.

Ofuru commended the Commissioner for Education for her
passion in driving the vision of Governor Chibuike Amaechi in Education noting
that the Ministry would not have achieved all they did without the commitment
of the Commissioner.

Also speaking, the head teacher of State Primary School
11 Orogbum Mrs Evelyn Wornu, on behalf of the teachers, thanked the Rivers
State Government for choosing the school for the programme.

Mrs Wornu said Governor Amaechi has given a new lease of
life to the education sector maintaining that teaching and learning have been
made easy because of the facilities provided by the government.

The first lesson at the Carol of nine
lessons was read by a primary one pupil, Brianyan Germany from the book of
Genesis 3:8-15, while the second lesson was read by the Commissioner for
Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi from the book of John 1:1-14. the third
lesson was taken from the book of Matthew 2:1-12 and was read by the Permanent
Secretary, Dr. Richard Ofuru.

In another development, the Ekiti State
Government has threatened to sanction any private school which contravenes the
stipulated guidelines for running the academic calendar in the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr
Eniola Ajayi, said this while inspecting
schools in Ado-Ekiti, recently.

She said the threat became imperative
following rumours that some private schools were planning to deviate from the
school calendar drawn by the state government.

Ajayi directed that private and public
schools operating in the state should vacate for Christmas and New Year
festivities on December 21 and resume on January 7, 2013.

She warned all schools to adhere
strictly to the calendar to enable private and public schools operate at the same
pace to engender radical development in the education sector.

Education

Uniport Appoints Prof. Princewill R. Chike as 10th Vice-Chancellor

Published

2 weeks ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt has approved the appointment of Professor Princewill R. Chike as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Prof. Chike, a former Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, will succeed Prof. Georgewill Owunari whose tenure ends on July 13, 2026.

A statement signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Sam Kpenu and made available to _The Tide_, said the appointment was made by the 17th Governing Council following the successful conclusion of the selection process.

“The process was conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and the University of Port Harcourt Act,” the statement read.

It added that the process involved the constitution of a Search Team and a Joint Council-Senate Selection Board. Both bodies carried out their responsibilities in accordance with extant laws and regulations governing the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian universities.

According to the statement, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, congratulated Professor Chike on his appointment.

Senator Ohuabunwa expressed confidence in Prof. Chike’s ability to provide visionary leadership for the continued growth and development of the University.

Professor Princewill R. Chike is expected to formally assume office as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt on July 13, 2026.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

Education commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct in Rivers ,, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

2 weeks ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation recently during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process. Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

RSU Law Professor Calls for Periodic Review of Nigeria’s Criminal Laws

Published

2 weeks ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

A Professor of Criminal Justice and Law at the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, Prof. Clifford Anaele Nwanyanwu, has advocated for periodic review of the nation’s criminal justice administration laws to reflect current societal needs and challenges.

Prof. Nwanyanwu noted that many of the criminal justice laws in use today date back to the pre-colonial era. He questioned their efficiency in addressing modern criminal justice administration, adding that the complex nature of adjudication often allows crime to thrive.

He made the call while delivering the university’s 132nd Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday at the Senate Conference Auditorium titled: “Society as Criminal Enterprise: Unravelling a Complex Justice System.”

The erudite legal scholar clarified that the lecture was not meant to condemn the country’s justice system. Instead, he said it was intended to highlight areas that require urgent attention.

He expressed concern that criminal justice practice in Nigeria is more dysfunctional than functional, and stressed that he wants to see a system that works effectively for all citizens.

“The essence of criminal justice administration is due process, and anything contrary is not it. Plea bargains help to fast-track trial processes and reduce delays,” he stated.

However, Prof. Nwanyanwu expressed worry that the sums recovered through plea bargain arrangements are often meagre compared to the wealth looted, noting that this contradicts the purpose of the arrangement.

To strengthen the system, he recommended merit-based recruitment of judicial officers with proven character and integrity. He also called for adequate funding, infrastructure development, removal of political interference, and ethical reorientation within the judiciary.

The law professor further recommended that the state should pay compensation to citizens when security officers are found culpable for arbitrary killings, in line with the principle of vicarious liability.

In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, commended the lecturer. He described the lecture as timely and relevant to addressing the nagging challenges of crime in society.

Prof. Zeb-Obipi expressed concern over the justice system’s inability to curb the rising rate of criminal activities in the state. He added that through inaugural lectures, the university continues to provide solution-based approaches to societal challenges.

Our correspondent reports that the thought-provoking lecture was attended by stakeholders in the judicial system, judges, magistrates, scholars, and members of the university community.

By: Akujobi Amadi