Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Senate has approved the establishment of an Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. The approval was given after the Director Academic Planning Professor Joseph Kinanee made the presentation on Wednesday May 29, 2024 during the statutory sitting of Senate at Postgraduate Hall.
The Chairman of Senate Professor Okechuku Onuchuku remarked that a Director would be appointed to head the Institute that is waiting to be resource verified by the National Universities Commission (NUC) alongside other programmes.
The Chairman of Senate welcomed those recently promoted to the rank of Professors and attending Senate Meeting in that capacity for the first time and urged them to attend the Senate meeting meant for all professors in addition to other university functions. He also urged them to continue publishing academic journals for people to read about their thoughts, opinions, ideas, provide mentorship and teach the younger generation skills on how to survive in this challenging times while creating room for them to take over someday.
The Acting Vice Chancellor lauded the Dean Postgraduate School Professor Good Wilson and the Associate Dean Professor Chibuzor Nwobueze for producing two useful journals for the School and encouraged them to make it a yearly endeavour.
He informed that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have fully mobilised to site for the building of Corpers’ Lodge and Science Laboratory. He called for understanding, cooperation and adjustment for the realisation of these projects adding that he would push for them to build solar panels in the classrooms, offices and hostels to reduce the high cost of power generation that the University is currently faced with in addition to Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) bills. He advised those with high contacts to use their connections to attract projects for the institution.
Bearing his mind on the floor of the House, Professor Sam Otamiri expressed concern over the unserious nature and behaviour of some students who despite all admonitions have refused to attend classes. They only turn out in large numbers on examination day. He disclosed that he taught only 200 students but that 700 of them came to write examination and called for urgent measure to be taken to address the ugly practice which he said was becoming a norm.
The Chairman of Senate in his response to the situation advised all lecturers to insist that their students register their courses at the beginning of every semester with passport photographs to make for easy identification and eradicate impersonation during examination.
While emphasizing that only those who register and attend classes should be allowed to write examination, he cautioned Lecturers not to attach money to the registration process or make textbook buying a condition for such registration.
Professor Onuchuku called on Academic Staff to put in personal effort to help the system and to desist from extortion of any kind adding that such acquisition impact negatively on those who indulge in such practices.
The Head of Department of French and International studies Dr Mrs Juliet Elikwu expressed gratitude to the Acting Vice Chancellor for the care and support given to French Language students in Togo, Badagry and Ivory Coast. She said that the kind gesture had made their stay there easy and comfortable.
To prevent incidences of fire outbreaks, the Associate Dean Postgraduate School Professor Chibuzor Nwobueze enjoined staff to form the habit of putting off all electrical appliances before leaving the office to which the Chairman of Senate directed Departmental Heads to appoint a staff whose duty would be to ensure that staff comply with these directives on a daily basis.
Meanwhile the student who caused the recent fire outbreak in the female hostel will face disciplinary action for refusing to cook in the students kitchen specifically built for that purpose and cooking in the hostel according to the Chairman of Senate.
All the results presented by the Dean Postgraduate School, Faculty Deans, and Director Centre for Continuing Education CCE were approved by Senate.
