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The National Universities Commission is a body first set up in 1962 inside the Cabinet Office as an advisory agency which, over the years, metamorphosed into a corporate body enacted by statute in 1974, under its first Executive Secretary, Professor Jibril Aminu. It is now one of the most active and commonly recognised regulatory agencies firmly embedded in the Federal Ministry of Education. Its mission statement states: “To be a dynamic regulatory agency acting as a catalyst for positive change and innovation for the delivery of quality university education in Nigeria”. On any rational examination of the agency, it is anything but “dynamic”. On the contrary, it has remained static and highly bureaucratic, with a jaundiced view of higher education incompatible with the needs of today’s diversified and fast-moving knowledge acquisition from multiple sources. Its remit and raison d’être have not been reviewed for 60 years. Its service delivery h
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Dennis Naku, Port Harcourt
Less than two months after it was set up, the Rivers State Taskforce on street trading and illegal parks said it had so far sacked 21 officials over their alleged involvement in extorting traders and motorists.
Coordinator of the Taskforce, Felix Nwadibe who disclosed this during a chat with newsmen said the affected officials were caught in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the State.
Nwadibe said ten of the officials left their duty posts to other areas they considered to be lucrative and allowed traders to operate illegally after collecting money from them, while 11 others allegedly extorted motorists in Choba, near the University of Port Harcourt.
UNIPORT unveils 400 test-per day COVID-19 testing centre
Port Harcourt
As the University of Port Harcourt resumes full academic activities March 1, 2021, the management of the institution has unveiled one of its 400 test-per day molecular laboratories dedicated to COVID-19 testing for undergraduates and staff.
The university also unveiled two of its COVID-19 holding centres with seven brand new ventilators and oxygen bottles, rolling out its stipulated safety protocols and compliance enforcement measures in tandem with international best practices.
Speaking in Port Harcourt on Thursday, following a media tour to the facilities in the institution’s campuses, the acting Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Stephen Okodudu, said the university achieve the feat after consultations between the management and its COVID-19 steering committee which consist of professionals.