The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations and Human Rights Groups in Rivers State is calling on host communities of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education to exercise restraint and embrace constructive dialogue in light of ongoing demands over local content compliance.
We emphasize that a university environment is fundamentally different from industrial or manufacturing sectors and must not be subjected to civil unrest or coercive pressure, given its sensitive academic nature and growing reputation for excellence.
Our independent investigation reveals that the university has largely complied with local content laws and upheld strong ethical recruitment practices, particularly in the hiring of academic staff where merit must remain the overriding criterion. These standards are essential to the institution’s rising academic profile and must not be compromised by sectional interests.
While acknowledging the importance of host community involvement, the coalition reiterates that Ignatius Ajuru University is a Rivers State-owned institution and must reflect equitable representation across all local government areas in the state.
Our findings also confirm that the university’s recently suspended governing council, working with its consulting firm, Sea Forest, duly followed procedural guidelines and issued employment letters prior to its suspension.
We call on all stakeholders to prioritize peaceful engagement and continued collaboration between the university and its host communities, to ensure that academic activities remain uninterrupted.
Finally, we reaffirm our commitment to advocating for lawful local content compliance, institutional integrity, and the pursuit of academic excellence.
