Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi has said that a major policy of his administration is to channel resources to development of the educational sector to bequeath an enduring legacy of excellence and standards in the educational sector.
Governor Fubara who disclosed this during the inauguration of the newly constituted Governing Councils of the state owned universities; Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, as well as the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic at Government House Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, charged the council members to review the educational curriculum to address the deficits in our educational system to enhance the acquisition and application of functional skills.
The governor also approved the recommencement of the suspended Ignatius Ajuru University employment, and cautioned against compromise in the employment process.
In his charge, Governor Fubara stressed that the exercise must be strictly on merit and based on the initial approval 869 staff with adherence to the approved percentages for academic and non academic staff.
The governor flayed the critics of his administration over their warped sense of judgement, stating that he remains focused and determined to dispense good governance and democratic dividends in the state.
“There are lot of noise everywhere that we are not focused, and without direction, but I want to tell the world that our energy is channeled to purposeful education that is creative and gives independence “.
“We are in a world were education is what you can do with your hand. I want you to bring back our academic programmes to ensure that at the end of your study you don’t need a job, you create a job and become employer of labour. Let’s add something different to the system. I want us to be remembered for standards, I believe that’s the only way we can overcome our challenges”
Governor Fubara who attributed the escalation of youth restiveness in the society to the rot in the educational system, expressed confidence in the capacities of members of the Governing Councils of the institutions to achieve set objectives.
In her remark, the Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Justice Mary Odili, JSC, (Rtd) thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve the state.
She decried the relegation of skills acquisition in educational training noting that it was responsible for the truant behaviour by students, and assured that the Council members will work hard to achieve the targets of an enduring legacy in the Rivers educational system.
“Your experiences as you were growing in the civil service and being part of the skills acquisition programme for which Rivers State was known and which for sometime now has been relegated to the background and remained redundant hence the upsurge in militancy and miscreant behaviour of our youths.”
She therefore assured of their preparedness to to give their best so as to raise the system to the desired standad
On their parts, the Pro Chancellor and Chairman Governing Councils of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, respectively, Chief Adokiye Amiesemaka, MON and Dr Robinson Ewoh commended the governor for the opportunities and assured that they will put in their best to deliver on their mandates.
