Pressure mounts on Rivers Assembly to convert RIVACS to Polytechnic

The Rivers State House of Assem­bly has come under pressure from stakeholders to pass the executive bill to convert the Rivers State College of Arts and Sci­ence (RIVACS) to a Poly­technic, The AUTHORITY can now report. .

At a public hearing orga­nized by the House yester­day to gauge public opinion on the bill, several lectures and students of RIVACS, as well as officials of some State Government agencies urged the House to give the bill a speedy passage.

Speaking at the forum, the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ken­neth Ebeku, stated that the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration was dis­posed to having more uni­versities and polytechnics in the State.

The Acting Provost of the institution, Dr Samuel Kalagbor, in his

submissions, said part of the achievements that will be bequeathed by

his administration will be the upgrading of the in­stitution to a polytechnic, saying that on appoint­ment as acting provost last August, the upgrading of the institution was top on his agenda. .

He expressed the hope that the Assembly will pass the bill considering the various presentations it had received from several people in the State.

“The generality of Rivers people are in support that the name of Rivers State College of Arts and Sci­ence should be changed to Port Harcourt Polytechnic to reflect the status the in­stitution is already enjoy­ing”, said the provost.

However, some stake­holders from Ogoni king­dom kicked against the bill, saying it will be inimical to the survival of the Ken Sa­ro-Wiwa Polytechnic.

Christian Lekia, of the Civil Society Platform and Gani Toba, of Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates,, in their separate presentations said that the conversion of RI­VACS to a polytechnic will lead to the reduction of the number of students at the KENPOLY, They ar­gued that both institutions should be merged to form one polytechnic.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the session, House Leader and Chair­man, House Committee on Education, Hon Martin Amaewhule, said the com­mittee will study the vari­ous submissions to enable it produce a report that will reflect the view of the people.