Education
Education Commissioner Emerges Best Performer
The Rivers State Com
missioner for Education has emerged the “Best Performing commissioner” in 2014.
This is sequel to an award bestowed on her by the Garden City Advancement Award (GCAA) in Port Harcourt, recently .
The award was in recognition of her exceptional achievements and out standing contributions towards the development of Rivers State.
Represented by her Personal Assistant, Barrister Victoria Anyanwu, at the ceremony held at the Presidential Hotel, the Commissioner attributed the success of the Ministry of Education to the huge investment made by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi in the education sector.
She noted that whatever achievement recorded in the education sector of the state is done with the knowledge that education is on the priority list of the Rivers State government.
Earlier, the Principal Partner, Garden City Advancement Award, Koyoyo Robinson, stated that the Garden City Award was aimed at recognizing notable patriots and distinguished organizations that have contributed in the past and present to the advancement of the state in such areas as academics, health care, social infrastructure, science and technology, humanities, aviation, transportation, oil and gas reform, power. He further stated that the Garden City Advancement Award is about keeping the Nigerian dream alive.
On his part, the keynote speaker, Benson Uwheru, who deliberated on the topic “Laying the Right Foundation for Enduring Peace and Development in the Niger Delta,” advised the government to fulfill their campaign promises and show utmost integrity and transparency in all that they do.
He also called on the citizens to hold their government accountable and responsible, “if we intend to lay the right foundations for enduring peace and development in Niger Delta”.
The theme of the 2014 Garden City Advancement Awards was “Celebrating Our People, Our Heritage”.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.