Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike has awarded the sum of N50 million naira and automatic lectureship appointment in Rivers state university to a student living with disability, James E. Daniel, for bagging a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D) degree.
This was made known by special assistant media to the governor, Kelvin Ebiri, disclosing that the governor awarded the student during the 33rd convocation of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt on Saturday, December 4, 2021.
Governor Wike said the honour bestowed on Dr. Daniel is in recognition of his academic excellence and for being a source of inspiration to persons living with disabilities.
He emphasised that serious universities jealously guard their reputation and award doctoral degrees only to students who have gone through years of rigorous intellectual research and interrogation and whose dissertation is independently adjudged to be sound and contributory to new learning.
He, however, described as unfortunate, the current trend and practice in universities, including the Rivers State University, to award doctoral degrees indiscriminately, like chieftaincy titles, to all manner of questionable candidates, saying,
This practice must stop in all Rivers State Government-owned tertiary institutions as we demand greater character, commitment and responsibility from staff and management to the vision and fundamental objectives of university education.
First of all, the programmes that you offer must equip the students with relevant skills, entrepreneurial or otherwise so that on graduation they can start their own businesses and professional practice and become creators of jobs from the beginning; and not jobless seekers of elusive jobs.
The governor commended the present governing council for its leadership and unprecedented achievements in infrastructural development for the last six years, charging them to stop the embarrassing erosion of the value and quality of the certificates and degrees being awarded by the university.
He congratulated all the 4970 graduands of the University for their academic achievement, reminding them that the time when graduates had an easy and almost predictably straight movements; from education, to work, and finally, to pension is over.
Governor Wike assured that the state government will continue to support the University to strengthen its staffing needs and the provision of enhanced digital infrastructure to deliver quality education and training, so as to improve competitiveness and employability of its graduates.
RSU vice chancellor, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, expressed gratitude to Governor Wike for his enormous support to the institution.
Also, Chancellor and Emir of Lafia, H.R.M. Dauda Sidi Baga stated that the University education is preparing its students for nation building and solving societal challenges
Source: www.clintonsdaily.com
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