VC warns against social vices as Rivers varsity matriculates 9,035 

Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, in Port Harcourt, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, has advised newly admitted undergraduates to desist from membership of secret cults, examination malpractices and other vices.Prof. Okogbule said the penalty for any student caught engaging in any of such illegal activity on campus is outright rustication. The VC handed down the warning in his address at the 42nd matriculation ceremony of the university for the 2023/2024 academic session, held at the convocation arena in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Congratulating the students on their admission into the university, the VC said a total of 9,035 were formally admitted, emphasising that the institution has zero tolerance for all sorts of anti-social activities and behaviours.Prof. Okogbule stated, “Today, a total of 9,035 candidates, who have satisfied the minimum requirements for admission into various programmes of the university are being formally admitted as students.

”He gave a breakdown of the new students and their faculties as follows: Faculty of Agriculture – 360 students; Basic Medical Sciences – 1,085; Communication and Media Studies – 1,061; Education – 606; Engineering – 1,271; and Environmental Sciences – 268.Others, the RSU VC said are: Humanities – 755; Law – 250; Management Sciences – 816; Science – 1,814 and Social Sciences – 479 respectively. Advising the students that key to success in an institution such as the environment they have found themselves is hard work and ‘unwavering’ focus on their academic assignments.

The VC added, “You are therefore expected to take your studies seriously and do not waste your valuable time on unproductive ventures or activities. “Let me inform you that this university has zero tolerance for all forms of anti-social activities, such as membership of secret cult groups, examination malpractices or what is now known as ‘sorting.

’“The penalty for involvement in any of these activities is rustication from the university, and I do not waste time in doing this once a student is found culpable.”Okogbule, however disclosed that RSU students’ affairs directorate has a list of ‘registered and acceptable clubs’ the students can belong to in the university to assist them in extra-curricular activities on campus.

The VC advised, “In order to encourage academic excellence, the university has a policy of declaring as University Scholars those who attain a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 5.00 at the end of every academic session.

“The university will be responsible for the school fees of such students provided their CGPA does not fall below 4.50. In addition, such students, upon graduation, will be given preference when employment opportunities are available.

The expo I will give you in this regard is that it is easier to make the 5.00 CGPA in 100 level of any programme. So the best time to strive to achieve this feat is now. ”He pointed out that RSU, among others, has become top choice higher institutions in the country for many students, following the infrastructural development and the non-disruption of academic activities in the institution for several years, saying, “Freshers should count themselves lucky to have been admitted there.”