Rivers varsity gets NUC approval for 18 new programmes

The Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Orowurukwu, Port Harcourt said it has received full accreditation from the National Universities Commission for all 18 programmes presented to the commission.

The institution said the approval for the academic programmes followed the last accreditation exercise conducted by the commission in October/November 2023.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, disclosed this during a press briefing in his office in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Prof. Okogbule said it was the second time the institution has achieved 100 accreditation exercises since its inception, following a similar milestone last year.

He stated, “It is my pleasure to inform you and the general public that Rivers State University scored 100 per cent in the October/November 2023 Accreditation Exercise conducted by the National Universities Commission.

“The university obtained full Accreditation status for all 18 academic programmes presented for the exercise.

“This is a rare and unprecedented feat in the annals of the history of the University. It is the second time that the university will record this level of success in the accreditation exercise since its establishment in 1980. It will be recalled that last year we also reviewed 100% in the 24 programs presented.”

On the availability of facilities for the newly accredited programmes, Prof. Okogbule noted that the university has the needed facilities in place to run the programmes.

He stated, “The clause of every accreditation exercise looked at not only the academic programme, the content, the staff, and all that but also the physical facilities. They looked at the number of classrooms you have, the staff offices, all those things, the laboratories, and so on.

“So it’s on the basis of that, that they come up with their recommendations and in our own case, in respect of these programmes inspected, we have satisfied and met the requirements for the running of these programmes. Full accreditation. So they looked at the facilities and found them worthy, but as I always say, we can always improve. We can always add to what is available.”

The university Don also assured that the school’s management is doing everything within its power to ensure the safety and security of its students on all of its campuses.

The VC thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his support as he reiterated the university’s commitment to record more feats.

“This commendable achievement could not have been possible without the robust support of the Governor of Rivers State and visitor to the University, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the University’s governing council under the dynamic leadership of her Excellency, Mary Peter-Odili.

“What we have seen today is the fruit of their support to the management of the University and I pledge on behalf of the University management to continue to do our very best to sustain the tempo of monumental achievements in the university,”  Prof. Okogbule assured.

He listed the accredited programmes as Crop/Soil Science, Animal Science, Agricultural economics, Fisheries, Forestry and Wildlife, nursing, adult and community education, Agricultural Education, Business Education, Education Biology, Education Chemistry, Education Mathematics, Education Physics, Technical Education, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Computer Engineering, Marine Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Chemistry and Physics.