Type Public Vice-Chancellor Prof. Blessing Didia Founded 1980 Motto Excellence & Creativity | Chancellor Iche Ndu[1] Administrative staff 1,506 Color White | |
Former names Rivers State College of Science and Technology(1972-1980)
Rivers State University of Science and Technology(1980-2017) Established 1972 as University college
1980 as University Address Westend, Old Port Harcourt Twp, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Notable alumni Tonto Dikeh, Mujahid Dokubo‑Asari, Judith Amaechi, Goodluck Nanah Opiah, George Thompson Sekibo Similar University of Port Harcourt, Niger Delta University, Enugu State University, University of Uyo, University of Calabar Profiles | ||
Rivers State University (RVSU), formerly Rivers State University of Science and Technology, is a university located in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The university has staff strength of 3,000 and a student population of 22,400 as of 2017. It is the first technological university in Nigeria and also the first university to be situated within the Niger Delta. In 2014, it was rated as Nigeria's best E-learning institution and was ranked as the 15th best university in the country.[2]
Contents
History
The Rivers State University of Science and Technology was established in 1972 as the College of Science and Technology. It was granted independent university status in 1980 and was renamed from College of Science and Technology to Rivers State University of Science and Technology. It is the first technological university in Nigeria and also the first university to be situated within the Niger Delta region.
Faculties and courses
Rivers State University of Science and Technology has seven faculties: Faculty of Agriculture, Engineering, Law, Management Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Technical & Science Education, Sciences. The university plans to begin a College of Medicine from 2018.[3]
It is the only university in Nigeria that is accredited to offer degree programs in Marine Engineering.
Renaming of the University
On 13 March 2017, The Rivers State House of Assembly considered a committee report on the Rivers State University of Science and Technology prepared by the House Committee Chairman on Education, Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo The Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo Committee had in its report among other things recommended that a change of name is imperative in order not to fall foul of the directive of the NUC, that Universities should adhere strictly to their core areas of mandate or risk being de-accredited. Farah Dagogo warned that if the House failed to act, the state's pioneer university will likely lose courses such as ; law, Political Science, Mass Communication, Banking and Finance among others when the NUC hammer falls. He also noted that the University can take advantage of the change of name to expand the scope of the institution and make it all encompassing. Members of both the majority PDP and minority APC in the House were in agreement that the change of name is paramount. However, the very robust, engaging and educating debate on the Committee's report did not go without its fair share of drama. While the members were in concordance on the change of name, there was a sharp disagreement on the abbreviation the university will bear. The duo of Michael Chinda and Majority Leader, Martins Amaewhule wanted it to read RSU, while Evans Bipi and Innocent Barikor suggested the University be abbreviated to read RVSU. After listening to the submissions of other members, Speaker Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani put the Committee's report to vote , which was met with an overwhelming yes to the change in nomenclature and subsequently passed into law. The change in name also affected the Rivers State University of Science and Technology teaching hospital bill 2017, which was also passed into law with a new heading to read; Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.[4][5]