Newly Approved RITMAN University To Commence Lectures By October 2015

RITMAN University, the 58th private university in Nigeria, will commence lectures in October, its Founder and Chairman Board of Trustees, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, has announced.

The school last Sunday presented its ‘License to Operate as a Private University in Nigeria’ to the public. The University is located at Ikot Abia Idem, in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The university is part of the RITMAN Schools comprising nursery, primary and secondary schools. He appreciated the NUC for its diligence and final approval.

Preceding the public presentation, the new university management held a thanksgiving service at the New Apostolic Church, Ikot Abia Idem to appreciate God for making a 52-year-old dream come true.

At the service where Governor Godswill Akpabio was announced as the university chancellor, were representatives of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education.

Also in attendance were the Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Noble Lady Valerie Ebe; the Governor-elect, who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Martha Udom; Commissioner for Education, Prof Atim Antai, among others.

Senator Essien, a district elder of the church, was full of praises to God for sparing his life and fulfilling his long-term desire despite challenges.

Though the dream came about 52 years ago,  he said, the journey for the establishment of the university started in 2005 with the establishment of Project Implementation Committee (PIC), which was headed Prof Okon Edet Uwah, now late.

Essien appreciated President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Executive Council for approving RITMAN University on February 25, and the NUC for issuing the license to operate on March 5.

He appreciated Governor Akpabio for his support and commitment to the realisation of the project and his love for education for Akwa Ibom children and Nigerians generally.

“The university will open its doors to students from October in three faculties with 14 departments as approved by the NUC,” Essien announced.

RITMAN University is located about two kilometers from the Central Motor Park, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area,  a hub-town in the Southsouth/Southeast zones of the country, and is about two hours drive from most state capitals within the zones such as Calabar, Uyo, Umuahia, Port Harcourt, Owerri, and Enugu, making it accessible to students from any part of the country.

He said the vision of the university is “to become a first rate, virile centre of academic excellence whose products are knowledgeable, cultured and skillful, with a can-do and proactive commitment to investing their education in the transformation of human and material conditions of their environment.”