Education

VC Assures Establishment Of Forensic Linguistics

Published

10 years ago

November 3, 2014

Vice Chancellor (VC)
of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Professor Joseph Ajienka, has assured that the institution will establish a Department of Forensic Linguistics.
He gave the assurance last Thursday, at the 112th inaugural lecture given by Professor Ozomekuri Ndimele at the Ebitimi Banigo Hall, UNIPORT.
Professor Ajienka’s assurance was in response to a request by Professor Ndimele in his lecture for the establishment of the department, which he said is currently of global interest.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Nigerian Core Grammars in Global Communication: Any Glimmer of Hope in this Looming Armageddon?”, Professor Ndimele noted the importance of Forensic Linguistics by current global standard.
According to him, Forensic Linguistics, also referred to as “Legal Linguistics” or “Language and the Law,” is “an interdisciplinary study which involves the application of linguistics knowledge, methods, and insights to the forensic context of law, crime investigation, trial, and judicial procedure.
“Our knowledge of human language has revealed that each human being has his/her peculiar/unique linguistic finger print similar to the popular finger print.
“In other words, each human being uses language differently, and that these differences between people involve a collection of markers which stamps a speaker or writer as a unique creature”, Ndimele explained.
He continued that forensic linguistics had proven to be very useful during investigation of various crimes in the society.
Such crimes, he said, include kidnapping, ransome and hoax calls or texts, suicide notes, plagiarism, anonymous mails, hate mails, cyber bulling, weakness statement fabrication and suspicious deaths.
Others are murder, terrorism, defamation, slander, fraud and forgery, robbery and assault.
Ndimele, a Professor of Comparative Grammar and Communications, in the Department of Linguistic and Communication Studies, UNIPORT, explained the benefits accruable to the university and the society at large from the establishment of a Forensic Linguistics Department.
Noting two key areas in which Forensic Linguistics is applied in judicial procedure: authorship determination and voice identification, he stated that establishing a department of Forensic Linguistics will make the institution the first in Africa.
According to Professor Ndimele, Authorship Determination involves “checking an individual’s word length average, average number of syllables per word, article frequency, type-token ratio, use of punctuation marks, particularly, in terms of overall density, and evaluation of hapas legomena (unique words in a text), etc.
On the other hand, voice identification/forensic phonetics, he said, “can reveal information about a speaker’s social and regional background. It can determine similarities between the speakers of two or more separate recordings.”

Stories by Sogbeba Dokubo

Cross Section of graduands during the 3rd Bloombread High School graduation, recently. Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken

Education

Ebonyi NUT Declares Indefinite Strike In Seven LGAs

Published

2 weeks ago

February 10, 2025

The Tide

The Ebonyi State Chapterter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has declared an indefinite strike in seven local government areas in the State.
The strike action, according to the union, is due to non payment of three months salaries to some teachers in the affected local government area.
A statement issued on Thursday by the union’s secretary, Bassey Asuquo, listed the affected local government areas as Ebonyi, Edda, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ivo, Ishielu and Ohaukwu.
The statement reads, “Sequel to our earlier notice on mobilization for industrial strike action, we have thoroughly reviewed the compliance of local government chairmen regarding the clearance of our members’ salaries.
“As of the close of work today, February 5, 2025, we acknowledge that certain local government areas have cleared the salaries of our members.
“However, we regret to inform you that several local government chairmen have failed to clear the backlog of our members’ outstanding salaries.
“In response to this non-compliance, we hereby declare indefinite strike action in the following Local Government Areas: Edda, Ebonyi, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ishielu, Ivo and Ohaukwu.
“All our state and branch officers in the affected local government areas are instructed to adhere strictly to this directive and ensure the immediate enforcement of the strike action from 12:00am on Thursday 6th February, 2025.
“This includes organizing and maintaining solidarity picket lines and monitoring the Compliance of the strike action across the affected localities”, the statement said.
The Union noted that failure of the local government chairmen to meet their obligations to its members is unacceptable and vowed not relent until its demands are met.
“We call on all members to remain steadfast and continue their support for the strike action.”

Education

LG Boss Inaugurates 11-Man Scholarship Board

Published

2 weeks ago

February 10, 2025

The Tide

The Chairman of Omuma Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Promise Reginald has inaugurated an 11- man scholarship education board headed by Dr Bigman Nwala.
Hon Reginald, while inaugurating the board at a brief ceremony held at the chairman’s chamber at Eberi on Wednesday, charged them to be fair and apolitical in the discharge of their duties.
He stated that his administration is committed to ensuring that the local government area improves the education standard of the people.
He urged them to ensure that every student of the local government origin is given equal opportunity, both the children of the poor and the rich, adding that the desire of his administration is to see that the people of Omuma are not educationally backwards.
According to him, the scholarship scheme is open to all students of Omuma origin who have gained admission into any institutions of higher learning, stressing that the essence is to ensure that his administration leaves a legacy and also encourages the youths who will take after them to be educated.
The chairman told the board that from now till December this year, the council will be sending three Omuma students to United Kingdom on over seas scholarship, and announced that the scholarship scheme will take off immediately with 10 beneficiaries.
He congratulated them on their appointments and urged them to be transparent and fair in all their dealings, stressing that they were chosen based on their track records and as well as their efforts to advance education in the area.
Earlier in his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the board,Dr Bigman Nwala thanked the chairman for the confidence reposed in them, and assured him that they will work towards realising the objectives of the board.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

New Book, Art Of Succession Unveiled In PH

Published

2 weeks ago

February 10, 2025

The Tide

A philanthropist, Elder For-tune Obi has launched a new book, The Art of Succession to the reading public.
The book, co-authored by Mr Okah Ewah Edede, a renowned writer was launched as part of the weeklong activities to mark the silver jubilee birthday celebration of Engr Fortune Obi.
The occasion which was held in Port Harcourt on Friday attracted people from all walks of life including the academia, politicians, oil and gas industry players as well as labour union organisations
Speaking at the occasion,the celebrant, Dr Obi who was elated with the presence of the cream of the society, averred that the gathering was to celebrate the culmination of tireless dedication, unyielding passion , and visionary efforts, which have given birth to his remarkable literary work.
According to him, The Art Of Succession is more than a book, a masterful guide, meticulously crafted roadmap and an indispensable resource for navigating the slippery shorelines of succession planning, stressing that the book offers invaluable wisdom and actionable strategies to illuminate whether you are a trailblazing entrepreneur, a business leader or someone intent on crafting a legacy that endures.
He promised to use the proceeds from the book launch to give back to the society and empower four less-privileged schools in Etche Local Government Area of the State, saying, “let me use this opportunity to inform you that whatever fund that is generated from this book launch will be going back to the society by providing educational support to four less- previledged schools in Etche LGA and probably any adjourning ethnicity in Rivers State. In the following days, you shall duly be informed when this target is accomplished.”
The chief launcher, the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, represented by his Special Adviser on General Purpose,Dr Kingsley Chioma commended the author for his deliberate efforts to put together the book that reveals his life experiences with the intent to stir and encourage people, stressing that much lessons are embeded in the book.
He opined that life hurdles and challenges vary, adding that the book interfaces every aspect of human endeavors , be it politics, religion, business and other human endeavors.
The book reviewer, Prof Ken Nweke said the book is a thorough mannual that explores the complex procedure of guaranteeing continuity and promoting expansion within organisations, noting that the theoretical and practical components of succession planning are covered in the book with exceptional depth and clarity , making it a timely contributions.
“With his extensive knowledge and expertise,Engr Fortune Obi,provides readers with insightful information about the essential elements of succession planning”, he said.

By: Akujobi Amadi