The Honourable Commissioner for Education, Rivers State, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has challenged the Management of Rivers State University (RSU) to translate government investments in the institution into measurable results that will positively impact the society.
Dr. Nwagor gave the charge on Tuesday, when he led the Permanent Secretary, Her Excellency, Dr. Mina Tele Ikuru, and other officials of the Ministry on an official visit to Rivers State University, Port Harcourt where he interacted with the University Management, principal officers and other key stakeholders.
He said the achievements recorded by the University must be matched by a renewed commitment to efficiency, accountability, innovation and measurable institutional performance. The Commissioner stressed that the responsibility of government goes beyond funding public institutions, noting that public investments must translate into tangible outcomes and value for the people.
Dr. Nwagor reiterated the commitment of the administration of the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, to the development of education as a fundamental driver of human capital development and sustainable economic transformation.
He encouraged the University to strengthen its capacity to attract national and international research grants, develop intellectual property, establish innovation hubs and commercialise research outcomes. He emphasised that research generated within the University should go beyond academic publications to provide practical solutions to societal challenges and contribute meaningfully to economic development.
He pledged that the Ministry of Education, under his leadership and with the support of the Rivers State Government, would continue to provide policy direction, strategic oversight and appropriate support towards strengthening the institution and commended the Governing Council and Management of the University for their contributions to the growth and development of the institution.
Earlier in his address, the Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, said the University had continued to enjoy significant support and funding from the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He disclosed that the Governor released the sum of Seven Hundred Million Naira (₦700 million) to support the accreditation of academic programmes at the University last year.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the Governor also released Fifty Million Naira (₦50 million) for the Film Festival organised by the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies. Professor Zeb-Obipi further stated that the Governor had approved the harmonization of the University’s minimum wage, including a 25 percent increase above the applicable rate for other institutions.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, noted that the University is in urgent need of additional academic and non-academic staff to ensure the effective and efficient running of the institution. He therefore appealed to the State Government to approve the recruitment of adequate personnel to address the staffing gap.
He also appealed to the government to release funds required for the accreditation of 15 academic programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC), stressing that failure to secure accreditation for the programmes could affect the University’s ability to admit students into them in the current academic session.
Professor Zeb-Obipi thanked the Honourable Commissioner and his team for the visit, describing it as an important demonstration of the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education in Rivers State.
