Education
Rivers Polytechnic Students Get New Code
In a bid to enhance the gen
eral welfare of students of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, a new set of codes have been announced by the authorities of the institution.
Making the revelations last Saturday at the Convocation Arena during interactive session with students of the Polytechnic, the Rector, Sir Obianko Nwolu-Elechi announced ban on the use of electric iron(s) electric kettle(s), electric water boiler(s) and refrigerator(s) in the halls of residence
The Rector said the move is a proactive measure to forestall fire our-break in the halls of residence.
The Rector said that arrangement have been concluded to provide laundry areas complete with electric irons, water boilers, etc, within the various hostels.
The meeting with the students provided the Rector’ the opportunity to explain to them what he has been doing concerning their welfare during the last 20 months as Rector of the institution.
He enumerated his achievements to include the renovation of hostels, ban on the sale of sachet water, and the provision of water treatment plant to guarantee drinking water, inauguration of Hostel Management committees to manage the hostels and the appointment of hall wardens.
The Rector listed other areas of achievement to include the renovation of Library and installation of Air Conditioners.
He said that with the assistance from the Federal Government, especially through the Minister of State for Education, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, the Polytechnic got a Special Intervention Fund of N500 million from TETFund which is now used in the ongoing construction of a 3-Storey Classroom Block; construction of a new Library Complex; the provision Coaster Bus and a 100KVA Generator for the Library, etc.
While stressing the importance of students in any institution, the polytechnic chief executive contended that without them there wouldn’t be lecturers and other staff and said that it was the reason behind the quality of attention given to their welfare. He went on to list other areas of achievement to include: The provision of accommodation to a corper doctor to attend to the health needs of students at night and the provision of a standby ambulance in case of emergency.
Sir Nwolu-Elechi disclosed that the authorities of the Polytechnic have placed a request on the state government to provide a 1500 bed space hostel so that many of the female students would be accommodated within the campus thereby ensure their safety and security.
He explained that while the polytechnic has drawn some goodwill from TETFund, NDDC and the state government, enabling it to perform this far, the polytechnic using her internally generated fund, also added one Coaster Bus for the students.
Rector called on the students to rise up and join the mangaement in the ongoing crackdown on indiscipline by volunteering information tnat would assist in eradicating “Sorting”.
Responding to a question by a student, the Rector assured that he will personally guarantee protection for any student who brings a case of “sorting” against any lecturer assuring that nothing will happen to such student.
He disclosed that over N5 Million has been approved for the procurement of new books to enhance research. In a vote of thanks, the Director of Student Affairs of the Polytechnic, Hon. Emmanuel Omah, thanked the Rector for all that he had done and the plans he took to promote the welfare of students of the polytechnic, pledging that his students will continue to keep the peace which has earned the institution the enviable status of one of the most peaceful Polytechnics in Nigeria.
A high point of the interactive session was the presentation of a life size portrait of the Rector by the Ag. President of the Students Union Government, Miss Lynda Kendabie.
Making the presentation she said it was the students’ little way of showing the Rector that students were fully in support of his policies.
The Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Alabo David Briggs and his Post Primary Schools Board, counterpart, Dr. Sam Emejuru recently embarked on a joint visit to Model Girls Secondary School, Mbodo Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Arera of Rivers State.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after interacting with the students, Alabo Briggs said both of them were in the school to know how the students are faring, how happy they are, and to also know their areas of need and then take pragmatic decisions that would enhance the wellbeing of the students.
Describing the school as the only boarding school in Rivers State made up of Senior and Junior Secondary, the UBE boss said the visit has actually afforded them the opportunity to know what is lacking in the school, and promised that every machinery would be adequately put in place to ensure that the school is made more attractive and students well taken care of.
He further maintained that the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and staff of the school must rise to the occasion so as to bring back the lost glory of the school and ensure that the students are treated and well handled like their own children.
Corroborating the UBE boss, Dr. Sam Emejuru of the Post Primary School promised that everything possible would be done to reposition the school, and appealed to all concerned to be patient.
During the visit, the two Board chairmen and their members met with the school authorities wherein issues bordering on the school were discreetly ironed out and some good changes made.
Alabo Briggs also gave cash to some of the students that performed well in the essay competition that took place in Port Harcourt.
The students were also given cartons of sanitary pads to mark the International Day of the Girl Child which was celebrated all over the world recently.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) support programme on report writing for Chief Supervisors and Evaluators of the Local Government Areas took place recently at the UBE Board Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Addressing the participants, the Board member in charge of Supervision/Monitoring, Chief Nwuke Anucha, described the programme as very interesting and educative as it is aimed at broadening the knowledge of the Chief Supervisors and Evaluators on report writing.
While thanking UBEC for the initiative, Chief Anucha also commended the resource persons who came from UBEC Abuja for doing a good job and appealed to the participants to see the support programme on report writing as an opportunity to do better.
Also speaking, the Board member, Project/Technical, Dr. Walson Ominini described the programme as a good one that all the participants must take seriously for the good of Rivers State.
Ominini used the medium to announce the personnel audit for staff of the Local Government Education Authorities in the three Senatorial zones coming up next week at the Board Headquarters adding that any staff of the LGEA who does not take part in the Audit should regard himself or herself as not being a staff of UBE.
In her vote of thanks, the Director, Quality Assurance, Mrs. Nnenna Osumenya thanked UBEC for the programme, and described it as a welcomed development.
She particularly thanked the Executive Chairman of the Board, Alabo David Briggs and the Board members for giving the programme the needed attention.
By: Akujobi Amadi
In cognizance of the value of reading in educational, career and knowledge pursuits, TotalEnergies Joint Venture(JV) Asset has committed itself to instilling the habit in students of secondary schools to enable them succeed in their academic pursuits and become good leaders of tommorow.
This, it is achieving through its Annual Book Reading and Open Day programme.
This year’s event, organised for Senior Secondary Schools in Rivers State,with the theme, ‘The World Is A Maze; Navigate It — Read’ and held at the Event Centre, TotalEnergies Office, PortHarcourt, explored the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’ by Ghanaian author, Alex Agyei Agyiri.
Participating schools chosen across Port Harcourt included Government Technical College, PortHarcourt; Bishop Crowther Memorial Secondary School, Rumuobiakani; Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School; Community Secondary School, Rumuomasi, and Hilltop Prime International College.
Others were Community Secondary School, Amadi-Ama; Government Senior Secondary School, Elekahia; Community Secondary School, Nkpogu; Dietams International Schools; and Community Secondary School, Abuloma.
In his address, the Deputy Managing Director, Joint Venture Asset, TotalEnergies EP, Nigeria Limited, Olivier Cassassoles, said reading habit remains a major essential needed for life’s development in information, direction and character building, and stressed the need for the students, many of whom he said would grow to become leaders to cultivate and sustain the culture.
Cassassoles, who was represented by the Executive Director, JV Asset, PortHarcourt, Obi Imemba, quoted former American President, Barack Obama’s words, “reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible” and stated that “this clearly aligns with the theme of the day and implies that in order to successfully navigate the complexities of life, one needs to read”.
Cassassoles said “as students, many of you will grow to be leaders and leaders need a lot of information to stay relevant. The books you read will shape your future and through them you will find wisdom to make a difference”.
According to him, the book reading event is one that the company holds dear to heart as it promotes the culture of reading among students in Nigeria.
While encouraging the students to make conscientious effort to research good books with themes and characters that align with what they intend to do in future, Cassassoles expressed the hope that the students would commit themselves to a life of reading, adding that “I expect that you will be leaving here with a clearer idea of the career path you want to pursue “.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ovy Chinedum Chukwuma, described this year’s theme as ‘most appropriate’ at a time when students have abandoned the text book for not only the phone – Whatsapp, Twitter etcetera but other vices.
Represented by the Technical Adviser to the Commissioner, Dr Joy Nwamaka Joseph, Chukwuma noted that reading is an effective tool for engaging students in critical thinking, saying “a student that reads focuses attention on the task at hand, immersing them in information and improving his/her concentration and memory”, insisting that students must read in order to navigate this maze-like world successfully.
The Commissioner commended TotalEnergies for “always seeking to improve the educational standards of our pupils, students, under/post graduates in our institutions and for inspiring them to develop the habit of reading as a life style”.
Earlier, the Country Communications Manager, TotalEnergies, Charles Ebereonwu, revealed that the annual reading event is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) targeted at making the best of future leaders.
In his closing remarks, the Special Adviser, People and Talent Management, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Samuel Nkwo, lauded the students for going beyond reading the book to taking lessons there from.
“What has happened here today has given us encouragement that this is a good thing to do and that we should continue to do it” Nkwo said.
Highlights of the event included reading and discussion of the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’, questions and answers session and presentation of gift items including school bags, solar lamps, books among others to the students.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu