The Atlantic Bell

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Rivers State University (RSU), has commenced the construction of a $6.2 million Research and Innovation Centre for Computer and Electrical Engineering (RICCEE) at the university.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the RSU main campus, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, marked a major step towards strengthening advanced engineering research, innovation and industry-oriented training in the country.

The project is being implemented under NLNG’s Human Capacity Development Plan and forms part of the NCDMB’s Human Capital Development Institutional Strengthening Programme.

The centre, which is expected to provide specialised facilities for research, training and technological development, is designed to improve the capacity of RSU to develop practical solutions to challenges confronting Nigeria’s energy and industrial sectors.

It will be built on approximately 9,336 square metres of land and will feature a three-storey facility housing 18 specialised laboratories. Among them are laboratories for electronics and signal processing, robotics and embedded systems, software engineering, digital forensics and cybersecurity.

The facility will also contain offices, storage facilities and technical administration spaces, while sustainability features including solar energy provisions and energy-efficient lighting are expected to reduce operational costs.

As part of the initiative, a $1.2 million Professorial Chair will be established to support advanced research, academic leadership and stronger collaboration between the university and industry.

Speaking at the ceremony, NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Adeleye Falade, represented by the company’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia Horsfall, described the centre as more than a physical structure.

According to her, the facility would provide students, lecturers and researchers with the tools required for practical learning, applied research and innovation in computer, electrical and electronics engineering.

Horsfall said the project would deepen the relationship between academia and industry by ensuring that research conducted at RSU responds to operational and societal challenges in Nigeria.

She noted that the initiative was also aimed at strengthening institutional capacity through modern infrastructure, research facilities, technical equipment and industry-aligned training.

“People remain our greatest investment,” Horsfall said, stressing that education delivers one of the highest returns by building confidence, competence and capacity for national development.

She further disclosed that NLNG’s Research and Development Implementation Consultancy would be domiciled at the centre when completed.

The consultancy, she explained, would help establish a robust research and development framework in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, while facilitating commercially viable and industry-relevant research in collaboration with selected tertiary institutions.

Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, described the groundbreaking as an important milestone in the Board’s human capital development agenda.

Bamidele said NCDMB was fully aligned with NLNG in implementing the project and would work with other stakeholders to ensure its successful completion.

He said the project was part of the Board’s Institutional Strengthening Programme, designed to establish sustainable partnerships with higher institutions through investments in infrastructure that improve teaching, research, innovation and practical skills.

He challenged the proposed centre to become a hub of discovery, creativity and technological advancement where students would be encouraged to innovate, researchers would develop solutions to real-world problems and industries would find dependable partners for research and development.

The Vice-Chancellor of RSU, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the project as a historic milestone for the university, saying it aligned with the institution’s 2026–2030 Strategic Development Plan.

According to him, the plan places emphasis on strengthening academic programmes, research collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Zeb-Obipi disclosed that the project originated from an appeal for corporate support made by Engr. Dr Hachimenum Nyebuchi Amadi, former Acting Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, with the support of the DE ’95 graduates.
He said he subsequently appointed Amadi as the pioneer Acting Director of RICCEE.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation to NLNG and NCDMB for the $6.2 million investment, the $1.2 million Professorial Chair and overseas training opportunities already provided for key personnel who would manage the centre.

He said the project represented more than the construction of a new building, describing it as the foundation for research excellence, technological solutions and the development of a new generation of engineers and innovators.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Hon. Ibinyefagha R. Alabere, commended NLNG, NCDMB and RSU for investing in education and technology.
She said the project would create opportunities for young people, stimulate innovation and contribute to sustainable development and economic growth in Bonny Kingdom, Rivers State and Nigeria.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics Directorate of NCDMB, Mr Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye; Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers State Tourism and Development Agency, Mr Yibo Koko; former Director of Capacity Building at NCDMB, Dr Ama Ikuru; and Dr Collins Iyoloma, who represented the alumni.
The speakers described the NLNG-NCDMB-RSU partnership as a model of collaboration among government, industry and academia.

The ceremony culminated in the handover of the project drawings and equipment to the Vice-Chancellor and contractors, followed by the symbolic laying of the foundation by Prof. Zeb-Obipi; Alabere; Engr. Bamidele and Dr Horsfall.
When completed, the RICCEE is expected to position Rivers State University as a major centre for engineering research, innovation and industry collaboration, while contributing to Nigeria’s drive for indigenous technological capacity and human capital development.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, will from Monday commence the inauguration of 10 major projects across the state as part of efforts to deepen development and extend the impact of government programmes to communities at the grassroots.

The 11-day exercise, which will run through August 31, will feature the commissioning of roads, bridges, healthcare facilities, educational infrastructure and other public projects across several local government areas.

The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, disclosed this on Friday during a media briefing in Port Harcourt, describing the projects as tangible evidence of the administration’s commitment to addressing the developmental needs of residents.

Wokoma said the inauguration would begin with the Buguma-Degema-Abonnema Road, a major road linking communities in Asari-Toru, Degema and Akuku-Toru local government areas.

Other projects scheduled for inauguration include the Egwi-Afara-Mba Road in Etche Local Government Area; Omademe Internal Roads in Ikwerre; and the new Air Force Base Runway in Port Harcourt.

Also on the list is the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Dual Carriageway, which traverses Ikwerre, Emohua and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas.

The SSG listed the Capt. Elechi Amadi Polytechnic Entrepreneurship Centre and Engineering Faculty Building at Rumuola, Obio/Akpor; the Agba-Ndele Road and Bridge in Ndele, Emohua; and the New Zonal Hospital, Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni among the projects to be commissioned.

Two major health facilities — the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital and the New General Hospital, Rumuigbo, both in Obio/Akpor — are also scheduled for inauguration.

The programme will culminate on August 31 with the commissioning of the Bonny National Grammar School in Bonny Local Government Area.

Wokoma said the projects demonstrated the administration’s determination to ensure that government policies and investments translated into visible improvements in the lives of Rivers residents.

“These projects scheduled for commissioning are tangible evidence of His Excellency’s unwavering dedication to transform our communities and address the developmental needs of our people,” he said.

He added that the projects reflected the administration’s resolve to ensure that governance delivered “meaningful and measurable benefits for every citizen across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.”

The SSG commended government officials, contractors, host communities and other stakeholders for their contributions to the completion of the projects.

He urged Rivers residents to participate in the commissioning activities and continue to support the administration’s pursuit of peace and development.

Wokoma said: “Together, we will continue to build a Rivers State where development reaches every community and every citizen has the opportunity to thrive.”

The Trade Union Congress (TUC), Rivers State Council, has called on the Rivers State Government to introduce a seamless health insurance arrangement that will ensure all civil servants and their dependants are enrolled in the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP).

The TUC made the demand when its leadership visited the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr Vetty Agala, in Port Harcourt, amid renewed calls for wider coverage of residents under the state’s social health insurance scheme.

Speaking during the visit, TUC Chairman, Comrade Samuel Ogan, commended the management of RIVCHPP for its efforts to expand access to healthcare, stressing that health insurance remained the most sustainable way of protecting workers and their families from the financial burden of illness.

Ogan, however, said workers would be more willing to embrace the scheme if government could develop a system that eliminates visible deductions from their salaries.

He urged the state government to work out a seamless arrangement through which all workers and their dependants could be automatically captured in RIVCHPP plans.

According to him, enrolling the entire civil service into the programme would not only protect workers but also encourage other organisations and individuals to embrace health insurance.

The TUC chairman pledged that the union would engage relevant stakeholders to facilitate the enrolment of workers into RIVCHPP’s health insurance packages.
Earlier, Agala described RIVCHPP as a strategic initiative of Governor Siminalayi Fubara aimed at ensuring financial risk protection for everyone living and working in Rivers State.

She said the programme was designed to make universal health coverage a reality by enabling residents to access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship or relying on out-of-pocket payments at the point of care.

Agala, who commended the state government for investing in healthcare infrastructure and manpower, lamented the low patronage of health facilities, noting that the challenge was not necessarily a lack of illness but, in many cases, the inability of residents to afford medical care.

She said RIVCHPP was established to bridge that gap and ensure that people, regardless of their social or economic status, could obtain medical attention whenever they needed it.

The RIVCHPP boss disclosed that the agency had developed packages for residents in the formal and informal sectors, vulnerable groups and people living with chronic illnesses.

She also highlighted the agency’s educational sector plans, under which pupils in primary and secondary schools would pay N9,000 annually, while tertiary institution students would pay N12,000 per academic year. She explained that registered students would remain covered during their holidays.

Agala called on labour unions, international oil companies, religious organisations, community and political leaders, as well as well-meaning individuals, to partner RIVCHPP by sponsoring health insurance for members of their communities.

She stressed that government funding alone could not sustain a viable health insurance system, adding that the number of vulnerable residents currently benefiting from the programme remained only a fraction of the population in need.
RIVCHPP Woos UNIPORT Students

In a related development, Agala assured the University of Port Harcourt Medical Students Association (PUMSA) of the agency’s readiness to collaborate with the university’s entire student community to expand access to healthcare.
She gave the assurance when the PUMSA leadership, led by its President, Nelson Fadeh Leteh, visited the agency.

Agala said students constituted a critical segment of the population that RIVCHPP was seeking to bring under its health insurance coverage, stressing that the agency’s objective was to ensure that no resident of Rivers State was excluded from access to quality healthcare.

She said RIVCHPP had begun engagements with relevant authorities to address existing institutional dynamics that could facilitate the enrolment of students, while advising the association to follow due process in presenting its demands.

Earlier, Leteh outlined some of the challenges and hazards confronting medical students, particularly during clinical training, and expressed the association’s desire to enrol its members in RIVCHPP’s programmes.

He said the welfare of medical students remained a priority for the association, noting that the existing health insurance arrangement available to the students was characterised by protocols and bottlenecks that often hindered seamless access to healthcare.

The visits ended with the presentation of RIVCHPP promotional materials to the visiting delegations.

The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the implementation of the new salary structure for workers in all state-owned tertiary institutions, with effect from 2026.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, disclosed this on Thursday, August 13, 2026, during a familiarisation visit to the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.

Nwagor said payment of the revised salaries and the accompanying arrears would commence once the necessary funds were released by the state government.

He explained that the decision was in line with the 2026 FGN-ASUU and FGN-SSANU agreements aimed at improving staff welfare and promoting industrial harmony in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

The new package covers the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONUASS) and the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Staff Salary Structure (CONTISS), as well as improved allowances and other benefits contained in the agreements.

Speaking at the Postgraduate Hall of the university, the commissioner said his visit was aimed at engaging stakeholders, assessing challenges confronting the institution and strengthening collaboration between the state government and the university.
Nwagor commended the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, and the management of IAUE for their contributions to teacher education in the state.

He noted that the university had continued to produce teachers who play important roles in improving learning outcomes across primary and secondary schools in Rivers State.

The commissioner charged the institution to remain committed to quality, accountability and measurable outcomes, stressing that public investment in education must translate into improved learning, stronger research and graduates capable of competing effectively in the labour market.

He urged IAUE to strengthen its position as a centre of excellence in research, particularly in teacher education, science, mathematics, technology and educational management.

According to him, research undertaken by the university should go beyond academic publications to provide practical solutions to societal challenges and inform effective public policy.

Nwagor, a former Associate Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences of the university, also called for the production of teachers who are academically sound, technologically competent, ethically grounded and innovative enough to meet the demands of the 21st-century classroom.

He stressed the need for strict compliance with the National Universities Commission (NUC) Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards, urging the university to continually evaluate its programmes, facilities and performance against established standards.

The commissioner further advocated stronger partnerships between IAUE, industries, professional bodies and the private sector to create opportunities for internships, entrepreneurship and graduate employment.

He also urged the university to revitalise its alumni network and harness the expertise, connections and resources of former students as strategic partners in institutional development.

Nwagor assured the university that the Ministry of Education would continue to promote prudent management of public resources and channel issues requiring government intervention for consideration, subject to available resources and government policy.

He described the visit as the beginning of a deeper partnership between the ministry, the state government and IAUE, expressing optimism that the collaboration would contribute to building the Rivers State envisioned by its founding fathers.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, thanked Governor Fubara for approving the implementation of the new salary structure and other provisions of the agreements reached with the unions.

Onuchuku assured the commissioner that the university would continue to discharge its responsibilities diligently and comply with NUC directives.

The Vice-Chancellor, however, appealed for increased government intervention in critical areas, including hostel accommodation, staff offices, classrooms, science laboratories, perimeter fencing and electricity supply.

He also called for the rehabilitation of the access road leading to the university, describing it as a major infrastructure challenge confronting the institution.

Onuchuku stressed that sustainable development of the university required adequate and consistent funding, urging stakeholders to support the state government in its efforts to strengthen the institution.

The commissioner was accompanied on the visit by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Mina Tele-Ikuru, and other directors of the ministry.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, has challenged the Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, to consolidate its academic gains, deepen research and innovation, and strengthen its contribution to the socio-economic development of the state.

Nwagor spoke on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during an official visit to the university, where he met with the Vice-Chancellor, Principal Officers, Provosts of Colleges, Heads of Campuses, Deans of Faculties and Directors at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room in the Dr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike Senate Building.

The commissioner said the state government remained committed to education as a key driver of human capital development, economic transformation and sustainable development, stressing that government’s investments in infrastructure, staff development and digital learning must be matched by sound institutional systems and measurable results.

He urged the university to pay greater attention to accreditation performance, research output, internally generated revenue, student outcomes and graduate employability, describing the indicators as critical to sustaining institutional growth and competitiveness.

Nwagor also called on RSU to accelerate its digital transformation, establish research and innovation hubs capable of addressing real-world challenges, maintain its infrastructure and seek sustainable funding through grants, endowments, alumni contributions and strategic partnerships with industry.

According to him, government and the university have complementary responsibilities, with government expected to meet its statutory obligations while the institution improves internal efficiency and explores legitimate opportunities for external partnerships.

He expressed confidence that RSU could become a globally recognised African university if it sustained its commitment to excellence, innovation, accountability and measurable impact.

The commissioner was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Mina Tele-Ikuru, and some directors.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, commended the Rivers State Government for its continued support and interventions in the university.

He specifically acknowledged last year’s budgetary intervention for accreditation, funding approved for the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies Film Festival scheduled for November 2026, and the implementation of the new minimum wage for university staff.

Zeb-Obipi said the interventions had helped the institution sustain academic standards and improve staff welfare, but appealed for additional government support to address critical challenges confronting the university.

He identified shortages of teaching and non-teaching staff as a major concern, particularly ahead of forthcoming accreditation exercises, while also drawing attention to deficiencies in classrooms, libraries, equipment and office accommodation.

The Vice-Chancellor further raised concern over the acute shortage of accommodation for staff and students, urging government to intervene in the interest of their welfare, security and academic performance.

He appealed for approval to recruit additional personnel, retain retired academics on contract and engage sabbatical and adjunct lecturers to strengthen the university’s human-resource capacity.

Zeb-Obipi also sought financial assistance for the National Universities Commission (NUC) and professional accreditation exercises scheduled for October, stressing that successful accreditation was essential to the university’s continued academic development and competitiveness nationally and internationally.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Governing Council and Management to working with the state government to strengthen RSU and position it as a leading centre of knowledge, research and innovation.

The Vice-Chancellor congratulated Nwagor on his appointment as Commissioner for Education and expressed optimism that his background as a professional teacher would translate into positive reforms in the state’s education sector.

The Federal Government has announced that only textbooks approved under a new National Textbook Ranking System (NTRS) will be permitted for use in public primary, junior and senior secondary schools nationwide from the 2026/2027 academic session.

Education Minister, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the policy, which takes effect in September 2026, is aimed at improving learning outcomes by ensuring that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant instructional materials are deployed in classrooms across the country.

The reform, approved by the Federal Government, introduces what the minister described as a transparent, merit-based national framework for evaluating, ranking and approving textbooks, replacing the existing system in which licensing by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) was sufficient for classroom use.

A statement issued by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, and posted on its verified X handle, quoted Alausa as saying that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and seeks to eliminate substandard textbooks while restoring confidence in Nigeria’s education system.

Under the new regime, only textbooks that have obtained NERDC licensing will proceed to a second stage of national assessment and ranking. To qualify for approval, each title must score at least 70 per cent and satisfy prescribed academic, pedagogical, technical and quality assurance standards.

The minister disclosed that a National Textbook Ranking and Selection Committee, comprising representatives of key education agencies and subject experts, has been constituted to undertake the evaluation process in collaboration with NERDC before recommendations are forwarded for ministerial approval.

According to him, only the highest-ranked textbooks will be approved for use, with each subject limited to between six and 10 titles, depending on curriculum requirements.

Alausa also announced a reduction in the cost of textbook assessment and ranking to ease the burden on publishers and authors. Assessment fees have been cut from ₦2,000 to ₦1,500 per page, while ranking fees have been reduced from ₦1 million to ₦750,000 per title. Publishers who had earlier paid the old rates will receive refunds of the excess payments.

He said approved textbooks would remain valid for a minimum of three years to provide stability and consistency in curriculum implementation.

The minister warned that from September 2026, schools must use only textbooks approved under the National Textbook Ranking System, stressing that the use of unapproved materials would attract sanctions, including the blacklisting of erring authors, publishers and schools.

He added that the implementation of the policy would be monitored by NERDC and other relevant regulatory agencies.

The Federal Government maintained that the initiative would guarantee Nigerian learners access to quality instructional materials, strengthen curriculum delivery and improve educational standards across the country’s public school system.