An ex-student of Delta State University, Abraka, Mr Thaddeus Ifeanyi has set to drag the University to court over alleged low grade awarded to him.

Ifeanyi, a 31-year-old graduate of Sociology from the University with Matriculation Number FSS/10/11/183959 told PUNCH on Monday that he has resorted to action, alleging that the institution had robbed him of his marks.

He said, “I graduated in the 2013/2014 academic session. The university claimed that I graduated with less than 3.0 CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average), which is Second Class Lower, but I strongly believe that I graduated with Second Class Upper Division.

“My grouse with the university is that I strongly believe that there was an error in the computation of my CGPA. I am not convinced that the result they gave me is correct, but all my efforts to get it corrected have proved abortive

“I have followed and observed due process enough, I am filing a suit in court against the university. I want to seek judiciary intervention

“Sometimes in January 2020 before the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, my uncle had accompanied me to the school to possibly see how the issue can be resolved.

“First, we approached the sociology department and requested to see the marked 400 level scripts in question and the HOD sociology department said the immediate past Vice-Chancellor had taken my scripts away.

“I have written to the school, and wrote to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Speaker Delta State House Assembly but nothing was done to correct the injustice done on me.

“There’s no point wasting time again, I have to tell the team of lawyers to serve them a notice and let’s meet in court”

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Andy Egwunyenga told our correspondent that he was not aware of the matter.

He said, “Issue of students result is an internal matter of the University. It is not a public matter.

“I have not received the petition, when I do, I will forward it to the Senate of the institution”

CEDESA Initiative advocates radical change of course in transforming Education

The Centre for Education Development and Skill Acquisition Initiative (CEDESA) has called on the government, parents, students and critical stakeholders for a radical revamp in the education sector in Nigeria in order to experience transformation in education.

CEDESA Initiative, a leading non-governmental organization based in Obiaruku, Delta State made this call during the 2022 International Day of Education celebration which they celebrated with Akarai-Obodo, Akarai Etiti, Umuti, and Okokor at Government Secondary School, Akarai-Obodo in Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta State.

In his well-researched lecture on the theme of the 2022 International Day of Education tagged “Changing Course, Transforming Education, the Keynote Speaker, Mr. John Okorigwe, x-rayed practical ways in which the government and the society can strengthen education and reignite the passion to conquer ignorance in this generation that has been bedeviled by get-rich quick syndrome and paper certificate without corresponding skills and capacities.

While speaking on the theme of the event as indicated by UNESCO, Mr. Okorigwe who is an Educational Consultant appealed to stakeholders and employers of labor to actively play their various roles in taking education from its state of weakness to strength by de-emphasizing mere certificate acquisition and laying more emphasis on entrepreneurial education, skills acquisition, and practical life skills that are not necessarily taught in the classroom.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Inspector of Education (C.I.E), Ndokwa-East LGA, Mr. Raymond Okwuosa appreciated the CEDESA Initiative for the enlightenment which they brought to the area

On his part, during his encapsulated lecture, Dr. Felix Ugbe, an Environmental Science Consultant stressed the need to safeguard the planet even as he advised riverine communities to desist from using harmful chemicals in their fishing activities.

He further called on the government at all levels to as a matter of urgency enact and enforce laws against gas flaring in oil exploitation activities to safeguard the environment.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the CEO CEDESA Initiative, Mrs. Oluronke Ugbe tasked parents and teachers to encourage pupils/students to learn new strategies for transformational education while adding that there is to re-orient the mind of the youths for quality education for sustainable development.

In their separate remarks, stakeholders, parents and other participants lauded CEDESA Initiative for choosing their area to celebrate the 2022 International Day of Education while assuring the organization of their support towards strengthening education by assisting both teachers and learners to achieve the theme of the 2022 celebration.

Highlights of the celebration were the distribution of notebooks and other writing materials to students to motivate them in their studies.

On October 14, 2021, there was the breakdown of law at Ogume Grammar School, Ogume. Students resisted the teacher’s disciplinary action prompting the school authority to invite the vigilant group to aid them. One Miss Gift Iwezuife, a JSS 3 student got drowned in a pool of water in the outskirt while escaping from being disciplined.

Her death sparked off protest and attack. Some miscreants who were not students of the school took advantage of the situation, looted and burnt down the valuables in the school. The ICT Centre worth over N100million, Principal’s private car, Teacher’s motorcycle, etc were not spared. They were burnt to ashes. The Principal of the school Ighomuaye Anene Rita escaped by the whiskers after receiving the beating of her life.

Irked by this development, the state government made an order to close down the school. The same government ordered schools within and outside Ogume not to offer admission to any student from Ogume Grammar School. This was to serve as a deterrent. It was indeed a welcome development.

First-term had come and gone. Here is the second term and no resumption at sight. Most parents have taken their wards to nearby schools. The schools, against Government order, have offered them admission.
The Community Development Committee, CDC of Ogbe Ogume led by Mr. David Agadi, Old Students Association of the school, and some spirited individuals have made concerted efforts to ensure that the school is reopened but to no avail. The arrest of some of the suspects can be seen as a step in the right direction.

NDOKWA VANGUARD wishes to lend its voice in appealing to the government to reopen the school. Most of the students have since learned their lessons. The continued closure of the school may lead to an increase in many social vices- crime, rape, unwanted pregnancies, etc and the larger society will suffer it in the long run.
Let the government reopen the school and students made to sign an undertaking.