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RVHA Probes RSUST Post-JAMB Tests
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday condemned in strong terms the manner in which the authorities of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Port Harcourt conducted its 2009 aptitude test for selection of candidates for admission into the institution, last weekend.
The lawmakers made the condemnation through a motion of adjournment brought to the floor of the House by Hon Jaja Tamunosisi Gogo, Opobo/Nkoro, during a special session of the House.
Hon Jaja had drawn the attention of the state lawmakers to recent development at the University especially as it concerns admissions.
According to him, he has been bombarded with lots of text messages from his constituents over the conduct of the recent aptitude test conducted by the management of the RSUST.
He stated that the university authority subjected prospective candidates who sat for the 2009 aptitude test to purchase a form at the cost of N2,000 as condition for participating in the examination.
The lawmaker informed the legislators that the prospective candidates were subjected to write the aptitude examination via a computer, noting that such process was very wrong.
He opined that most of the candidates were not familiar with computer application neither were they all computer literate, adding that such treatment would amount to a high level of injustice against the candidates.
He alleged that the son of the Vice Chancellor of the school is the consultant of the university computer system which, he said has made it difficult for the system to function effectively.
The lawmaker also said that the essence of establishing the state university by the state government was to enable indigenes of the state, who could not gain admission to other universities to have the opportunity to do so in the state.
“Mr Speaker and my colleagues, let me say that the reason for establishing the state university is to let our people who can not go the Kano, Lagos, Kaduna states to get admission for higher learning have the opportunity.
With the recent development in the admission process in the institution, the benefit for which the institution was established is being defeated,” he added.
He thus urged the House to direct the House Committee on Education to investigate the matter and bring their report to the House for prompt attention.
In their contributions, Hon Ibam Ikuinyi Owaji (Andoni) and Inimgba Irene Martins, while supporting the motion, enjoined the lawmakers to rise up to their responsibilities and ensure that the management of the university does not deny indigenes of the state the opportunity to gain admission into the university.
The lawmakers were unanimous in condemning candidates who are coming from rural areas to write test with computer even as they urged the school authority to make the university become more accessible to the people.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Tonye Harry directed the House Committee on Education to investigate the matter and report to the House for further action.
Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Tonye Harry (right) listening to Barr. O. T. Amachree, chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Rivers State, during the first Marshall Harry Memorial Lecture at Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt last Monday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.