Varsity to establish centre to tackle unemployment, crime

Plans are underway by the Rivers State University to set up a fashion village in collaboration with Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre Limited.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Blessing Didia, said the centre is intended to train youths in the state on fashion skills to mass produce cover all, uniforms for schools and industries, which will contribute to efforts at tackling unemployment and dissuade youths from crime.

Didia stated this at the 37th matriculation ceremony of the University, disclosing that its experimentation of pubic private partnership had not been successful with RACAM, a workshop equipped with industrial machines.

He also said the new vision would strengthen the university and create industrial relations and make youths become financially viable without waiting for government jobs.

The Vice Chancellor said: “The University is steadily moving from its traditional award of paper degrees to wealth creation. As soon as the Entrepreneurial Centre complex becomes fully functional, the University will make a quantum leap towards its destination.”

He however cautioned the 3,780 new students to use their freedom sensibly and desist from secret cults, warning that the penalty for any student found to be a member of a cult group is expulsion.

“Avoid being lured into membership of any outlawed groups. The Senate is also against all forms of examination malpractices in whatever guise, sorting of lecturers is a very serious offence” The Vice Chancellor warned.