Education

VC Wants Compulsory Retirement Of Lecturers

Published

12 years ago

October 27, 2014

Vice Chancellor of the
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Professor Rosemund Dienye Green-Osahogulu, has called on the Rivers State Government to compulsorily retire lecturers who are sixty years and above.
She made the call last Friday during the 30th – 32nd Convocation Ceremony of the university, which took place at the University Auditorium.
“We plead passionately with the State government to reconsider the devastating implications for the State University system of immediate retirement of all serving officers who are sixty years old or over sixty, their academic standing, service experience and state of retirement – readiness notwithstanding”, she said.
Professor Green-Osahogulu, who made the request in her speech at the occasion, noted that implementation of the government’s decision to retire such lecturers in the state-owned tertiary institutions would mean that the universities would lose a considerable number of their good hands.
“If this state government policy actually gets implemented, the grave consequences of the state university system will be so debilitating that the state’s universities will literally crumble”, she said.
This is because “the residual institution in each case can no longer duly retain its place as an accredited university in the Nigerian University System, as governed by Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC), let alone in the global world of recognised universities”, she stated.
The Professor of Science Education of further explained that if the policy is implemented, given the existing realities, “it will be baseless to hope on the possibility of professional recruitment since most professors worth their salt today, will neither enter, nor remain in a system which will retire them at sixty rather than seventy”.
She, therefore, urged the Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, as the world-renowned Governor of the World Book Capital State Rivers State, to consider what she called “crucial appeal”.
While thanking the Governor for the last employment exercise which saw the university employ 350 graduates, Professor Osahogulu used the occasion to request for the employment of ‘at least 400’ staff comprising junior staff workers, cleaners gardeners, security, drivers, messengers, etc.
She also urged the Governor to do everything possible to ensure the completion of Iwofe Road, currently under repair.
While assuring on the State government’s determination to enhance the improvement of education in all the state-government owned tertiary institutions, the Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi noted that the key challenges facing the state government in the accomplishment of projects is the deprivation of the state by the Federal Government of funds due the state (from N25 billion to N12 billion/0.
This, he said, is due to the fact that the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan has legalized “stealing” in the public service.

Stories by Sogbeba Dokubo

Vice Chansellor of RSUST, Port Harcourt, Prof. Barineme Fakae (left) and the institution’s Librarian, Dame (Dr.) Blessing Ahiauzu during group inaugural lecture organised by the institution at Amphi -Threatre recently. Photo: Obinna Prince Dele

Education

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

Published

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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