The management of Rivers State University (RSU) has publicly condemned a series of distressing attacks targeting its students residing at the institution's Emuoha campus. The satellite campus is situated on the outskirts of Port Harcourt City, the main location of the university in Rivers State.
Student Protests Over Safety Concerns
Last week, students from the Emuoha campus staged a protest to voice their grievances over alleged incessant attacks, harassment, and robberies by miscreants and some locals within the community. The students expressed that they no longer felt safe in their residences and called on the university's management to relocate them to the main campus for their protection.
The protest escalated as the students took their demonstration to the Emuoha Local Government Council. They lamented that several of them had lost valuable personal belongings to the criminals who frequently invade their off-campus accommodations.
University's Stance and Planned Intervention
Addressing the issue on Monday, the Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Opibi, firmly condemned the recent robbery attacks. He spoke ahead of the university's combined 37th and 38th convocation ceremonies.
Prof. Zeb-Opibi clarified that the satellite campuses in Emuoha, Etche, Ahoada, and Sakpenwa were established with good intentions by the Rivers State Government to expand access to education. He stated that the university would not shut down these campuses due to the criminal activities of a few elements.
"When this attack happened, the Governing Council and the university management met with the traditional ruler of the community. He made some promises. But after that, there was another attack on our students," the VC explained.
To find a lasting solution, the university has planned a comprehensive town hall meeting. This meeting will bring together the traditional ruler, community chiefs, representatives from security agencies, and the landlords of the buildings where the students reside. "We are sure with this commitment from the community, from the governing council of the university and management, the situation will be addressed, and our students and staff will be comfortable staying there," Prof. Zeb-Opibi expressed optimistically.
No Immediate Relocation, Convocation Details
The Vice-Chancellor faulted the call for immediate relocation, emphasizing that the campuses were created with state government consent and cannot be shut down without official permission. He noted that while host communities like Ahoada and Etche have been supportive, "some elements in Emuoha seek to bring an otherwise appreciative community to disrepute."
Shifting focus to the upcoming academic celebration, Prof. Zeb-Opibi highlighted that the convocation also marks the 55th anniversary of the university. He announced that RSU is set to graduate a total of 13,242 students in a combined ceremony for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sets.
The breakdown includes:
- 10,628 students graduating with first degrees.
- 2,594 students bagging postgraduate degrees.
The final statistics on degree classifications are expected to be released on the convocation day itself.
