It was a disgraceful scenario at the 29th convocation ceremony of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education when the Chief Protocol Officer and Graduands of the Institution were said to have fought over brochure at the arena.
The free for all fight started when some of the graduands who could not get the materials resorted to scrambling for it when they discovered that the protocol officer who was sharing the brochure has started selling instead, despite the fact that each graduand paid N15, 000 for the convocation.
Some of the graduands who could not control their anger grabbed the protocol officer and snatched some of the materials from him, which resulted to a serious battle between the protocol officer and the graduands.
Some of the graduands who spoke with The Newswriter expressed dismay that despite the huge amount of money paid for the brochure, the management of the institution was demanding for more N500, describing it as wickedness.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi had reiterated his administration commitment to making education his priority.
Speaking as the guest of honour at the convocation ceremony, Governor Amaechi who was represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru recalled that in the 1980s, some persons who supposed to be in schools refused to go to school, pointing out that these group of persons as a result of lack of skills could not get job and resorted to engaged themselves in ungodly activities such as cultism, militancy which caused insecurity in the state, hence governor Amaechi led administration is determined to focus more attention in education.
Governor Amaechi enumerated some of his achievements in education, such as free primary education, building of model primary schools across the state, purchase of free sandals, uniform, payment of school fees as well as training and retraining of teachers, stressing that his administration did not only stop at the primary school level.
Earlier in his address, Dr. D. U. Anucha, the Pro-Chancellor and the chairman of the institution described the convocation ceremony as unique and remarkable as it was the first convocation ceremony to be held after the institution was elevated to a university in the year 2009 by the Rt. Hon. Chibuike led administration.
He commended governor Amaechi for his support to the institution, especially the prompt payment of staff salaries and congratulated all the graduands for their success.
In her speech, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Rosmund Dienye Green-Asahogulu while congratulating the graduands for their success disclosed that a total of twelve thousand, one hundred and ten (12, 110) graduands convocated at the ceremony.
The break down of the number shows that 35 graduands were first class honour, 706 second class, 5, 800 second class lower, 4, 163 third class, 1, 406 pass honour.
Professor Green-Osahogulu commended Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amachi for his support to the institution.
Meanwhile, The governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has reaffirmed the appointment of Prof. Barineme Fakae as the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST).
The governor made this confirmation on the occasion of the 29th convocation of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education last Saturday.
According to the Chief Executive of the state, Prof. Fakae has shown proficiency in the institution since he was appointed in his first tenure that informed his reappointment from the state governor, stating that Prof. Fakae has proved a good fatherly figure to the students and had brought much development to the institution more than anybody that had run that office.
Governor Amaechi said his administration will stand by Prof. Fakae to further bring more development to the school, adding that anyone who loves the state should join forces to help Prof. Fakae to take Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) to greater height.
The governor who against all odds stood his ground in the appointment of the Prof. to run the Rivers State own institution, where he asked the striking lecturers of the institution to go to court if they do not like his decision of reappointing Prof. Fakae as the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST).
It would be recalled that the reappointment of Prof. Fakae as Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), triggered off strike by the lecturers of the institution who opposed the appointment.
This did not stop the institution from conducting the second semester examination. The school is right now observing it hope to resume the next academic session. ####
By Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor/Allanso Jonathan Allanso
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