RSUST Convocation: An address presented by the Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike

ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE AND VISITOR
TO THE UNIVERSITY, HIS EXCELLENCY, EZENWO NYESOM WIKE,
CON ON THE OCCASION OF THE 28TH CONVOCATION
CEREMONY OF THE RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOLGY, PORT HARCOURT HELD ON SATURDAY,

9TH APRIL, 2016

Protocol

It is my pleasure to join the University management to welcome
you to the 28th Convocation Ceremony of the Rivers State
University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port
Harcourt.

2. First of all, let me congratulate all the graduands for
successfully completing your studies, and profoundly appreciate
those that made first-class for your marvelous achievements.

3. I wish to also thank the parents, guardians, uncles, and every
other person who have one way or the other supported these
young people to make it through the rough times that come with
university education.

4. However, I want to say to you today that, despite having
achieved a remarkable milestone, your journey through life has
just begun. Therefore, you must not rest on your laurels. With a
degree from this outstanding institution you’ve got everything you
need to get started, to be productive and be the best that you
can.

5. The African continent needs people like you; Nigeria needs
people like you and Rivers State fervently needs people like you to
step up. We need your Knowledge, your skills, your talents, your
imagination, your energy and your creativity to make a difference
in our communities, to bring about the real change that we all
want to see, and to make the difference in the lives of those that
are less fortunate than you.

6. Whatever is your area of study, you can make your mark in
different ways. You’ve got no excuses. You only need to know
what you want and take action. This is the time to dream big
dreams about your future but do not waste your limited time living
someone else’s dream. Take control of your life and pursue your
passions.

7. We all know that the nation’s economy is bad and the times
are very hard. And so, it may be quite challenging getting
gainfully employed or even starting your own businesses. But
don’t be discouraged.

Tough times are always temporary even as they also present
windows of opportunities. Moments like this dictate that you try
and work harder to discover your path to success. For, unless
you try, you will never know what you are capable of achieving.

Remember, fortunes tend to favour mostly those who dare.

8. As a Government, be assured that we shall continue to create
ample opportunities for you to find the jobs you need or strive to
realize your immediate and future goals.

9. At this juncture, let me also congratulate the staff and
management of the University for successfully graduating another
set of students. This is yet, another testimony that this University
is fulfilling the vision of the founding fathers.

10. I am also happy with the peace that has prevailed since I
directed the immediate reinstatement of the lecturers that were
unjustly disengaged for participating in a legitimate strike action
on my first day in office.

11. I wish to reaffirm that we will continue to uphold the
constitutional rights of workers to freely join and participate in
union activities in as much as such actions are not politically
motivated or subversive of public interest. In particular, it is high
time we restore and sustain stability in the university system.
Thus, I urge staff unions to find humane ways of resolving
inevitable disputes with management other than taking the interest
of students as hostage for securing your demands.

12. Although I am pleased with the steady progress of the
University, It is unacceptable for any of its programmes to be
denied accreditation. Accordingly, I hereby direct the Ag. Vice
Chancellor to correct the deficiencies outlined by the Nigerian
Universities Commission and ensure that the Law programme
and, indeed, all other programmes, move from interim to full
accreditation status without any delay.

13. Furthermore, the recent increase in cultism and associated
violence by some misguided youth in parts of the State is most
troubling and intolerable. The violence and murder they
sporadically unleash on innocent citizens is making the State to
appear unsafe for investors and visitors alike. Undeniably, most of
these cult groups operating in our communities are offshoots
from University campuses. All stakeholders must join forces
therefore, to stamp out this menace from the State at all cost.

14. Accordingly, while we shall step up our activities with security
agencies to arrest and promptly prosecute any person that
violates the State’s anti-cultism policy and law, I hereby direct
Governing Councils of tertiary institutions to proscribe all cult and
related groups if they have not done so already, and summarily
dismiss and prosecute any student found to belong to such
groups or participates in such devilish activities.

15. Parents and guardians must also take full responsibility for
proper upbringing of their children by inculcating the right values
in them so that they can grow to become responsible adults and
nation builders, and not destroyers of life and our communities.

16. As the Governor of the State and Visitor to the University, I
am quite familiar with your challenges. Let me assure you that the
development of this University is in our priority list. This is evident
in the projects we have delivered in the last ten months of this
administration. For example:

• we completed, furnished and commissioned the long
abandoned Faculty of Law complex within the first 100 days of
our administration;
• we spent over seven hundred million naira to clear the
remunerations that accrued to the reinstated lecturers for the
three years they lived without salaries;
• we are paying and will continue to pay staff salaries regularly in
spite of the financial challenges the State is facing;
• we have approved the reconstruction of the Faculties of
Management Sciences and Environmental Sciences buildings,
which were abandoned by the last administration; and
• we have also commenced the construction of the College of
Medical Sciences complex and released funds for the first batch
of students to start academic activities this year.

17. Ladies and gentlemen, I want assure you that we shall not fail
in our commitment to support the University to maintain and grow
its facilities, attract and retain quality faculty, and provide a world-
class educational experience for our students.

18. However, it is common knowledge that resources available to
the government are shrinking by the day. Therefore, it is
imperative for management to tap into alternative revenue
sources and reduce the University’s over-dependence on
government funding. There is also the need to ensure greater
efficiency in the allocation and utilization of available funds.

19. I wish to commend the Governing Council under the
Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Iche N. Ndu OFR, former Chief
Judge of our State, for the good work you are doing to reposition
the University for greater achievements.

20. Finally, as mark of honour for an exceptional career,
outstanding achievements and a life well-lived in the service of
Rivers State and the nation as former Attorney General of Nigeria
as well as the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I hereby direct the
renaming of the Faculty of Law Complex as Dr. Nabo Graham
Douglas Faculty of Law Complex.

21. Once again, I say congratulations to all the granduands and
their proud parents.

22. Thank you for your attention and may God bless Rivers State