Rivers
IAUE Gets Additional 17 Professors
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State, now has a total of 114 Professors following the promotion of 17 new ones to the position, recently.
The promotion of the 17 new Professors followed the recent consideration and subsequent ratification of their promotion by the University Governing Council on Monday June 24, 2024 as recommended by the Appointments and Promotions Committee (A and PC) Academic Part 11.
The Chairman of Senate, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, disclosed this during the statutory Senate Meeting held last Wednesday at the Postgraduate Hall.
Those promoted to the professorial cadre are: Udechukwu Jonathan Ogon of the Department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling. Professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation, in the Faculty of Education.
Faculty of Humanities has: Glory Worukwo of the Department of English and Communication Art, who is Professor of Syntax and Phonology; Amala Peace Ibala of the Department of English and Communication Art, Professor of African Literature; and Grave Nelson of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Professor of Graphic Design and Art History.
The Faculty of Management Sciences has Anucha Victor Chima of the Department of Marketing, Professor of Marketing (Green Marketing).
In the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, there are: Wokoma Okorinama Abarinkia of the Department of Biology, Professor of Environmental Management; Ojekudo Nathaniel Akpofure of the Department of Computer/Mathematics, Professor of Applied Mathematics; Pepple Tamunosisi Furo of the Department of Chemistry, Professor of Science Education (Chemistry); Ogbonda Clement of the Department of Physics, Professor of Solid State; and Eke Peter Ogochukwu of the Department of Physics, Professor of Applied Geophysics.
In Faculty of Social Sciences are: Sylvanus Amadi of the Department of Economics, Professor of Monetary Economics; Nye Oruwari of the Department of Economics, Professor of Public Finance; Naluba Nwiekpugi Goddy of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Professor of Regional Development Planning; Goddey Wilson of the Department of Political Science, Professor of Public Administration; Idoniboye-Obu Sakiemi Abbey of the Department of Political Science, Professor of Comparative Politics; and Michael Chukwunwike Uzorka of the Department of Sociology, Professor of Sociology of Development.
Concluding the 17 is Ann Ifeoma Asouzu of the Department of Home Economics, Hospitality and Tourism, Professor of Home Economics Education (Food and Nutrition), in the Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education (Voctech).
There were also 22 upgrades to the position of Associate Professor (Reader).
Of the 22, the Faculty of Education leads with a total of six persons: Benebo Solomon Willielmina of the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education, Reader in Early Childhood Education; Oji Emmanuel of the Department of Adult Education and Community Development, Reader in Community Development; Ephraim Kpeno Amon of the Department of Adult Education and Community Development, Reader in Environmental Adult Education.; Obindah Fortune of the Department of Educational Psychology Guidance and Counselling, Reader in Educational Psychology; Asuk Unyejit William of the Department of Educational Psychology Guidance and Counselling, Reader in Educational Measurement and Evaluation; and Emenike Amadi O. of the Department of Educational Management, Reader in Educational Management.
This is followed by the Faculty of Social Sciences, which had five upgrades: Ojima Davis of the Department of Economics, Reader in Public Finance; Asuru Chikanele of the Department of Economics, Reader in Development Economics; Nzidee Williams of the Department of Economics, Reader in Monetary Economics; Ajoku Bright Chika of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Reader in Regional Development Planning; and Deedam Dorka Godbless of the Department of Sociology, Reader in Sociology of Development.
The Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences took yhe next turn with four upgrades: Wagbara Onwudiwe Samuel of the Department of Chemistry, Reader in Science Education (Chemistry), Festus Chioma of the Department of Chemistry, Reader in Inorganic Chemistry Coordination/Organo Metallic; Orisa Charity of the Department of Human Kinetics, Health and Safety Education, Reader in Public Health Education,; and Owo Wisdom James of the Department of Integrated Science, Reader in Science Education (Chemistry).
Faculty of Management Sciences came next with three upgrades: Okpolosa Onyebuchi Mathew of the Department of Accounting, Reader in Financial Accounting, Nwekeala Benard of the Department of Marketing, Reader in Entrepreneurial Marketing, and Njoku Charity Chinasa of the Department of Office and Information Management, Reader in Human Resource Management.
Faculty of Humanities and that of Vocational and Technical Education (Votech) took the rear with two upgrades each: Nwombu Ugochukwu Kingsley of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Reader in Arts Education; and Michael Blessed Thomas of the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, Reader in Intergroup Relations and Socio-Political History Humanities), while Technical Education has Chiorlu Divine Onyema of the Department of Technical Education, Reader in Industrial Technical Education (Electrical/Electronics); and Robinson Reagan Nnabio of the Department of Technical Education, Reader in Industrial Technical Education (Electrical/Electronics).
While congratulating those elevated, the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, urged all to be their brother’s keeper.
He assured that he will continue to do good and be nice to all irrespective of their hatred, and prayed for those trying to tarnish his image with cheap blackmail, emphasizing that he is not moved or bothered as “a clear conscience fears no accusations”.
Professor Onuchuku informed that the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, has approved the recruitment of staff for the institution, 1,100 for teaching staff of Professorial cadre to Graduate Assistants, and 400 For non-teaching staff from Clerical to Administrative Officers.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for the kind gesture and remarked that the Governing Council is working assiduously towards the exercise, adding that advertisement will soon be put up for Council to receive applications from would-be candidates
The Chairman of Senate enjoined staff to continue to carry out their duties diligently and reiterated that students who do not meet up the seventy percent class attendance will not be allowed to write examination.
The Senate approved results from the Faculties of Education, Humanities, Management Sciences, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Social Sciences.
Others include results from Community Service, Siwes and Centre for Continuing Education (CCE).
By: Sogbeba Dokubo
The Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, says the state judiciary has a total of 23,870 cases pending in various courts in the State.
This figure includes all cases pending in Magistrate, High, and Customary Courts, as well as Customary Court of Appeal in the State.
Justice Amadi stated this while presiding over a special court session held to mark the comencement of the 2024/2025 new legal year held at the auditorium of the High Court in Port Harcourt, Thursday.
The State Chief Judge, while giving the breakdown of performances by the Judiciary in the last year ended, revealed that the stastics of the cases brought before the courts from October 30, 2023 to 30th September 2024 is 31,886, while cases filed stood at 14,791 and cases disposed in the period under review is 22,725.
He further disclosed that the State Judiciary and the customary courts generated a total of #525,322,478,83 as revenue in the last judiciary year under review.
He described the special court session as an annual ritual of the judiciary marked to herald the beginning of a new legal year, stressing that it affords the judiciary and all stakeholders the needed opportunity to take stock of the activities of the judiciary in the past one year in order to improve, with a view to strengthening the justice administration.
The number one state judiciary officer stated that the judiciary had undertaken a lot of capital infrastructure in the year ended to ensure the comfortablility of the workers and judicial officers, and announced that additional high courts would be constructed at Okehi and Degema to ease the challenges of numerous cases coming from such jurisdictions.
Justice Amadi further disclosed that the state judiciary has a total of 51 judges, 57 magistrates, 30 Chairmen of customary courts, and 60 presiding members, adding that the state judiciary has 12 judicial Divisions, 37 magisterial Districts, and 30 customary courts.
“We lost seven judiciary staff, Port Harcourt NBA lost 16, Okehi branch 1, Bori branch 2, and Ahoada branch 2 . Creation of a judicial Division is based on cases filed from such area and we recommend for approval of such and not for politically based”, he stated.
The State Chief Judge used the opportunity to thank the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for the support given to the judiciary in the state, noting that the success recorded by the judiciary in the state was attributed to the huge support from the State Governor.
He also appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and the media for their various cooperation and support and urged them to sustain such in this legal year .
In their various speeches at the event, the State Attorney General and Commissoner of Justice, Dagogo Isreal-Ibroma, SAN; the Leader of the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Rivers State, OCJ Okocha, SAN; and the Chairman of NBA, Port Harcourt Branch, Mrs. Eke Cordelia, commended the achievements recorded by the state judiciary and urged that more measures be put in place to enhance speedy dispensation of justice.
The special court session was preceded by a church service.
By: Akujobi Amadi
A religious body in Rivers State, the House of Jesus Christ Ministries, has appealed to the warring politicians in the State to stop the orgy of violence over leadership supremacy and embrace genuine dialogue.
This is contained in a recent statement by the Parish Church Council (PCC) meeting of the church.
The statement, which was signed by the General Overseer, Apostle Joseph Emmanuel; Secretary, Evangelist ThankGod Akpanowoh; Parish Women Leader, Mrs. Promise Aniebet William; and Parish Evangelist, Elder Aniefiok Benneth, noted that the spate of violence witnessed across the state has taken unimaginable dimensions with the recent killings, wanton destruction of properties, and the burning down of Council Secretariats.
It said if care is not taken, the crisis could extend to homes, and therefore called on the warring parties to stop and gove room for a lasting solution.
Blaming the Federal Government under the watch of President Bola Tinubu, who it said had been seemingly passive in handling the political difference between the former Governor of the State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“The kind of crisis we are seeing cannot be rationalised. Whether in Rivers or Lagos, whether we are talking of state violence of political upheavals rocking the state, we plead as a church with the contending politicians to pull back their hatchets of indifference for the sake of peace, unity, stability and progress, and allow the possibility of genuine dialogue to begin, and lasting peace restored”, the church said.
Noting that the xurrent wind of democracy blowing in the state is one of the legacies of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and others who preach peace, love and development in the state, the Church cautioned against further crises “in the once peaceful state for posterity”.
It urged the current politicians in the country to emulate the peaceful disposition and virtues of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which is instrumental to the prevailing peace in the state, in the face of continued provocations.
By: Bethel Toby
Rivers State has topped the performance chart in the implementation of the Nigerian Community Action Resilience And Economic stimulus (NG -CARES) programme in the South-South and Nigeria.
This was contained in a report released at the just-concluded two-day peer learning and experience sharing event in Port Harcourt.
According to the report, Rivers State performed excellently in all aspects of the programme implementation.
The state was followed by Delta State, which emerged second both in the South-South and the country at large.
Meanwhile, the World Bank has approved an additional $500million for the extension of the programme for the next three years.
World Bank Task Team leader, Dr.Lire Ersado, said at the event that the programme has lived up to expectations as it has gone along way to alleviate the sufferings of millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
Ersado, who was represented by Professor Folorusho Okumadewa, said NG CARES has gotten the right strategies and approach in making sure that poor and vulnerable Nigerians can smile.
He said the programme, which was initially setup to address suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is even more relevant today with a view to addressing the plights of Nigerians affected by flood and other natural disasters.
Ersado said the Port Harcourt meeting, which is the sixth in the series of meetings held across the country, will provide opportunity for all states in the country to cross check their performances with each, as well as learn from the successes and failures of each other.
Also speaking, Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce And Industry, Barrister John Otamiri, said the programme was in line with the State Government programme of alleviating the sufferings of the people.
He also said the government is ready to partner with NG CARES to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
Otamiri said also assures that Rivers State is safe for investment.
While reeling out its performances, National Coordinator, NG CARES, Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje, said the world Bank is passionate about the programme , adding that the bank has graciously extended the programme for another three years with an additional $500 million.
He said within the last three years $750 million was disbursed to the 36 states and FCT in 160 delivery platforms.
Obaje added that 9.2 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians also benefited from the programme across the country in the last three years.
Earlier, Rivers State Coordinator, RiV CARES, Mrs. Ephraim George Imaonyani, commended the delegates for choosing Rivers State for the South-South meeting.
By; John Bibor
