…Churns Out 43 First Class Graduates, 905 PhDs At 39th/40th Combined Convocation
…As Gov Wike Lifts Ban On Employment
Serial award winner and Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, Professor Okechukwu Onuchuku has once more justified the maxim that a gold fish, certainly does not have a hiding place. This truism came to the fore at the 39th/40th combined convocation ceremony of the institution held at its main campus in Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt on Saturday, May 15, 2022.
Onuchuku, an acclaimed Professor of Quantitative and Public Sector Economics, who took over from predecessor, Prof. Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele on Thursday, November 18, 2021, has brought his wealth of experience to bear, posting glaring transformations in all fronts.
At the convocation ceremony which enjoyed the blessing of a clement weather, dignitaries from all walks of life, including the Visitor of the institution, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, ably represented by his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo, graced the event.
His welcome address at the event was most profound and deeply insightful. He revealed that management was reassessing its strategic development plan with a view to accelerating the institution’s infrastructural growth and academic activities.
Prof Onuchuku said management under his leadership, succeeded in securing accreditation for 21 programmes from the National University Commission, while internal recruitment to bolster critical academic discipline, especially in the teaching and information technology units, was carried out to fill urgent vacancies.
He said fees were reviewed forward as a result of the economic realities in the country, while charging the graduands to display high level of excellence where ever they find themselves, adding that it behooves on them to deploy their talents and knowledge acquired for the development of the nation.
The convocation ceremony saw 3,751 students graduated with degrees and certificates.A break down shows that for 2019/2020 session,1,584 students graduated while for the 2020/2021,2,167 graduated.
Further details revealed that for 2019/2020,30 students bagged first class,462 Second Class Upper, 951 Second Class Lower and 141 Third Class.
Similarly, for the 2020/2021,13 bagged first class,588 Second Class Upper,1355 Second Class Lower and 211 Third Class.
Meanwhile, for Graduate School of Business, 2018/2019, MSC graduates were nine; PGD was one, while for the 2019/2020,M B A graduates were seven, MSC were11, and PGD was two.
For the Post Graduate School, 2020/21, those with Doctorate Degree were 533, Masters, 1391 and PGD were 492.
For 2021/2022 academic session, Doctorates were,372,Masters 630 and PGD 347.
Highpoint of the event was emergence of Master Opara Prince and Anosike Favour Chinonyerem as Best Graduating Students.
In the meantime, Visitor of the university and Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has lifted the ban on employment at the state-owned university.
The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry-Banigo said management of the institution could now recruit both teaching and non-teaching workers to boost its capacity.
“To further this objective, I have lifted the ban and given approval to the management to employ both academic and non-academic staff to fill existing vacancies, to provide quality teaching, learning, research and to strengthen the capacity of the school to impart innovative knowledge and deliver quality education to its students”, the governor said.
While noting that every State needed well-educated, trained, skilled and healthy citizens to grow its economy, create jobs and ensure that life becomes truly meaningful for everyone, the governor added that the success of any state or country depends on how the youths were transformed through education, skills and values, to be active and productive citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the role the institution had been playing to actualize its special mandate in the training of professional educators and administrators for the state and the country, while he also commended the management, lecturers and other partners for the remarkable growth of the university and its contribution to the State and national development.
