Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Port Harcourt says the safety and wellbeing of its staff and students were paramount which is why it has put in place adequate measures to ensure that all COVID-19 related protocols are fully adhered to.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the institution, Dr Harcourt Whyte, in an interview with Kristina Reports in Port Harcourt, said these measures were put in place before the reopening of the university.

We are doing this to curtail the spread of the virus among students and ensure the safety of both students and members of staff.”

“As you must have observed, these measures have been put in place such as decongesting large populations to achieve the physical distancing rule alongside temperature check equipment and hand washing facilities have also been installed.”

The Rivers State-owned University, which emerged 6^th Best University in Nigeria in the 2020 Nigerian University Rankings, reopened for academic activities on the directives of the State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Monday, October 5, 2020

The resumption is coming six months after the outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic that caused abrupt closure of educational institutions across the country by the Federal Government.

Upon the gradual easing of the COVID-19 restrictions by the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19, Governor Wike had on Friday, September 26, 2020 ordered the reopening of all schools in the state except the primary sections.

Wike’s directive was announced by the State Commissioner for Information, Professor Kaniye Ebeku.

The Federal Government through the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had earlier announced the reopening of all unity schools on Monday, October 12, 2020 while state schools and private schools ascertain their own modalities of reopening.

Kristina Reports observed that undergraduates of the institution were excited to get back to school after over six months of staying at home.

Kristina Reports observed undergraduates of the institution in small groups across the campus adorned with face masks and exchanging pleasantries while others were seen in lecture theaters writing exams in a well distanced setting.

The University had earlier released the examination timetable of the school that will have students come in to campus according to their levels on separate occasions. An arrangement where 500 level students across the school are to start their examination first, round off and leave the campus before those in 400, 300, 200 and 100 levels will take turns to follow same stead.

Another check by Kristina Reports during a tour around the campus revealed that the University had installed hand washing equipment in almost all her faculties.

Dr Whyte advised students to make efforts in wearing their nose masks and clear up all payments as the “No School Fees, No Examination” policy is still ongoing while strictly adhering to the COVID-19 protocols.