…As RSU Set To Graduates 13, 242 Students
Pius Dukor
The Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworokwo , Port Harcourt, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi said that the University is producing quality man- power in Nigeria through their double convocation. The Vice Chancellor made the Remarks at the Press Briefing to mark the 37th and 38th combined convocation that will take place on December 5-6 , 2025.
Prof. Zeb- Obipi stated that this is the first convocation under his tenure as the 12″ Vice Chancellor, while thanking Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the appointment, saying that he will not disappoint him.
The Vice Chancellor listed some achievements made under him despite some challenges such as;
Improved Student Performance and Success: The University will be graduating a total of 13,242 students at this convocation ceremony, with first class students at the Undergraduate level,
access to hostels, students are now sure that they can access hostels at the eve of resumption, despite that
we have less than four thousand bed spaces in the face of over 40,000 students, accreditation Success:
All our programs have maintained full accreditation from Nigerian University Commission (NUC ) and professional bodies even sixty-five programmes
have full accreditation.
Other achievements are Institutional Reforms. we have introduced the Sequential Actor Results Presentation (SARP) which it made it possible for our class of 2025 to have their results approved within a month after their final examinations”. he said.
He also explained that the University now have innovative Student Sponsor Account on our portal that enables parents, guardians and sponsoring organizations to monitor their children, wards and beneficiaries; and carry out activities on behalf of them. Staff Promotions both academic and non academic staff especially the promotion of twenty-nine Professors and forty-three Associate Professors.
Annual Retiree Send-Off Ceremony, as we conducted the first University-wide send-off ceremony for seventy-four (74) staff, both academic and non-academic retirees of the University, Annual Health Examinations and Monthly Walk-for-Life Exercise.
“It is now compulsory for staff members to undertake annual health examinations to ascertain our state of health, as staff are reminded during their birthdays to go for free medical checkups at our Health Services Department. This was an offshoot of our monthly walk for-Life exercise during which we undertake a variety of exercises alongside having brief lectures on topical health issues” he stated.
Staff Development,
Smart University with digital operations, Infrastructure Development, New Directorates, such as Directorates of Procurement and Corporate Affairs where protocol, courtesy, corporate and community relations are crucial to achieving stakeholder satisfaction.
Prof. Zeb-Obipi maintained that
every part of the University main and satellite campuses has access to broadband internet, while aiming to build more smart Classrooms across faculties to drive learning in this age, especially the building of new hostels to accommodate more students on campus and replace the older ones such as the F & G hostels and staff accommodation, especially across our satellite campuses.
According to the Vice Chancellor, the University will upgrade the Central Library and
make the Entrepreneurship Development Centre an innovation hub where staff and students can innovate solutions to solving problems.
On funding, he said lack of adequate funds limits their ability to meet some targets while thanking the governor for the approval of N700m for our ongoing NUC accreditation.
Speaking further, he stated that infrastructure is needed in the area of more classrooms, staff accommodation and student hostels,noting that existing lecture halls and laboratories still need renovation.
He stressed the need for more staff as the University is short of staff in every area, since after the last employment exercise in 2022, we have lost a lot of staff to retirement, death and change
of job or place of work and higher studies with some new programmes created.
On Satellite campuses, he told the journalist that the university has several satellite campuses, three of which are located at Ahoada, Emohua and Etche, housing the faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences and Agriculture and no single additional facility has been provided since when they were commissioned in 2022 as the campuses needs essential infrastructure and facilities saying that
the host
communities of Ahoada and Etche have been very supportive, but some elements in Emohua is constantly attacking, harassing, and robbing our students.
“This convocation coincides with the 55h Anniversary of the university have evolved from the College of Science and Technology founded by the Rivers State Government in 1970. It has
two sets of students convoking, the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 sets; hence, it is a combined convocation.” he said.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of an Award to the Vice Chancellor as the VC of the year by the National Network Newspaper.
