First class graduates of Rivers State origin in the 2016 and 2017 convocation of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt have cried out to the State Governor, Nyesom Wike to give them employment in the Rivers State University.

The trio of Hakam Ikenna Ogundu, 2016 Convocation, Grace Nyornebari Buekor, and Robert Belema, both 2017 Convocation, after their extraordinary academic feats, have remained jobless since their graduation.

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Hakam Ikenna Ogundu, who hails from Egbu in Etche LGA, made a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.69 and was the first student to graduate with a first class from the Department of Microbiology in the Rivers State University since its inception in 1980.

Grace Nyornebari Buekor, who hails from Eeken Town in Khana LGA, like Hakam, made first class in Applied and Environmental Biology (Microbiology Option) with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.95.

A native of Okrika Town in Okrika LGA, Belema Robert made first class in Animal and Environmental Biology with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.56.

While Grace Buekor is currently teaching in a primary school where she earns ₦18,000, the two other Rivers bright minds, Hakam and Belema, are at verge of concluding their Master’s degree programmes in the same university.

All three, Grace, Hakam, and Belema, have passion for the academia and have been job hunting.

Previous first class graduates in the university were usually retained as assistant lecturers based on their status as first class graduates but Grace seems not to have been that lucky.

Facts available to Kristina Reports shows that Grace Buekor was the best graduating student for the year 2017, and was among seven students awarded with laptops for their academic excellence in 2014. Also, her cumulative grade point average (CGPA) at 100 level was 5.00 in 100 level scoring, as all through.

Speaking to Kristina Reports in Port Harcourt, Hakam Ikenna Ogundu said “our dearest Governor should kindly answer my prayer, if things works out the way they are now, I am still going to emerge with the highest CGPA amongst my colleagues in this Masters programme”.

“My passion centres on teaching. I have publications in Public Health Microbiology to my credit. Your Excellency, in your usual manner of people connectedness, please grant my employment cry. I am an ardent follower of yours, my party leaders can testify. My widowed mother has really been impactful to the family, especially, on me as first son, continuing to financially pressure her leaves me in tears almost every night”.

Also speaking, Robert Belema regretted that “I don’t know anybody to plead my case other than God, that’s why I resorted to this option. I seem not to fit in anywhere other than the academia”.

“I know His Excellency is a man of good conscience, this is evident in his people-oriented projects. Sir, please employ me in Rivers State University or any of the tertiary institutions in Rivers State. I promise to make you proud if given this once in a lifetime opportunity.

The trio, who were all graduates of the Rivers State University, lamented that they were tired of dying in silence and as such were reaching out to the Governor to intervene on their behalf and absorb them in the Rivers State University or any other state-owned tertiary institution.