The Acting Vice-Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, has clarified that the security breach recorded at the university was brought under control without loss of life, while appealing to the Rivers State Government for urgent intervention to strengthen security and address critical infrastructural needs.
Onuchukwu made the disclosure on Thursday, August 13, 2026, when the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, paid a familiarisation visit to the university’s Rumuolumeni campus in Port Harcourt.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor said the security incident, which occurred at the university the previous day, had been successfully brought under control, assuring the commissioner that no life was lost.
He identified the construction of a permanent perimeter fence around the university as a major priority, stressing that the facility would help strengthen security and prevent future breaches.
Onuchuku appealed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to support the university in constructing the perimeter fence, describing it as an important intervention for the protection of students, staff and university property.
Beyond security, the Acting Vice-Chancellor highlighted the institution’s pressing infrastructural challenges, calling for government support for the construction of additional classrooms and a staff complex.
He explained that the expansion of the university’s infrastructure was necessary to meet the growing demands of the institution and provide a more conducive environment for teaching, learning and administration.
Onuchuku, however, noted that the university management had continued to implement initiatives within its available resources despite the challenges confronting the institution.
He disclosed that the management had installed solar lighting systems in all the university’s hostels to provide adequate illumination for students and improve security within the accommodation facilities.
The initiative, he said, demonstrated the university’s commitment to finding practical solutions to its challenges while making prudent use of available resources.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation to Commissioner Nwagor and his team for their commitment to partnering with the university and supporting initiatives aimed at improving its academic and physical environment.
Earlier, Nwagor had charged the university management to strengthen research, teacher education, digital transformation, accountability and partnerships with industry to improve the quality and employability of its graduates.
The commissioner said IAUE’s mandate of producing teachers and developing human capital placed the institution at the foundation of Rivers State’s education system, noting that the quality of teachers produced by the university would have a direct bearing on learning outcomes in primary and secondary schools across the state.
He urged the university to pursue excellence and global competitiveness beyond mere compliance with the benchmarks of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Nwagor also called for stronger partnerships with industries, professional bodies and the private sector to create opportunities for internships, entrepreneurship and employment for graduates.
On accountability, the commissioner reaffirmed the Ministry of Education’s commitment to the responsible utilisation of public resources, stressing that every government investment should demonstrate measurable impact.
He assured the university that issues requiring government intervention would be presented for appropriate consideration, subject to available resources and government policy.
The commissioner was accompanied on the visit by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr Mina Tele Ikuru, directors of the ministry and other stakeholders.
The visit was seen as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the Rivers State Government and IAUE in addressing the institution’s security, infrastructural and academic development needs.
Leave a comment