The Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt says its move to establish a new department for trainings in the fields of Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations was aimed at upscaling the managerial assets of organizations for improved productivity and societal development.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Nlerum Okogbule said this while delivering his address at the institution’s 79th Inaugural Lecture on the theme: “People Management Tripod and Worker Productivity: The Solute, Solvent and Solution” on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at the New Senate Building of the University.

Professor Okogbule stated that the decision to set up the Department was predicated on the recommendation of the 79th Inaugural Lecturer, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, informing that already administrative efforts were underway to bring the new department to reality.

He expressed the hope that products of the new department upon graduation and infusion into the world of work, would help in bridging the gaps created by lack of proper concentration and application of Industrial Relations principles which are etched in Human Resource Management as submitted by the 79th Inaugural Lecturer.

According to the RSU boss, the recommendation for establishing the department is imperative because of the attendant value it will create by producing quality managers across the country and beyond.

Earlier in his lecture, the institution’s 79th Inaugural Lecturer, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi had proposed the establishment of a department of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations as a panacea to the gaping gaps in corporate governance and dwindling productivity in the world of work.

He harped on the need for corporate organizations to be intentional about engaging individuals with profound understanding of people management and workplace sensitivities, stressing that productivity is predicated on individuals and proper management of people in the workplace will produce the best outcomes for both the business owners and their employees.