Rita Nneka Okonjo, graduated from the Lagos State University, Ojo, with   a Bachelor of Arts/Education (BA.Ed) degree in English Language, in 1990 and later obtained  a Master of Public Administration (MPA),  from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2004.

She began her working career in the Private sector where she worked in various capacities ranging from administrative duties and technical services before joining the services of the NUC in April 2002 as s Senior Personnel Officer, in the then Department of Finance and Administration. 

While in the Personnel unit, she served as Senior Officer between 2002 and 2004, and was charged  with the responsibilities of identification of skill gap through training needs analysis for various departments of the Commission, identification of relevant courses for various categories of staff for in-house and external training, as well as short and long-term training and assisted in the organization of in-house seminars and workshops for staff.

 She gained vast experience in the course of  traversing the various administrative departments and units and was  later  redeployed to the Department of Physical Planning and Development as the Personnel Officer from 2004-2007, in-charge of the general administration of the Department, which also entailed working directly with the Director and advising him on administrative matters.

By dint of hard work, she was promoted to the rank of Chief and deployed to the Directorate of 1nspection and Monitoring as Chief Inspection and Monitoring Officer in the Private Universities Division, 2014 which  she occupied  and subsequently got promoted to Deputy Director, in charge of the same Division in 2016.

She was later redeployed to head the Affiliate Division of the Directorate in 2017 and was to later move to Student Welfare Division in the Directorate of Students, a position she held until the retirement of the substantive Director in October 2022 and was directed to oversee the Directorate until this new appointment as the Acting Director, Directorate of Students.

Her work experience covers the entire gamut of the Commission’s administrative duties including several Ad-Hoc Assignments such as Chairman, on Review of Staff condition of Service for the Directorate of Students;  Representation on the Board of Higher Institutions Sports League (HISL) in collaboration with NUGA; Monitoring Team on the Presidential Scholarship for Innovation and Development (PRESSID) Scholars at the Imperial College and University College, London as well as Secretary, UC Management Committee on Student Advisory Group Framework, among others.

The new Acting Director of Students, who hails from  Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, is a member of Teachers Registration Council(TRCN) Nigeria and also Associate Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered). 

• Advocate for and coordinate scholarship opportunities, and the establishment of Counselling/ Human Development Centre;
• Coordinate and facilitate the emergence of Entrepreneurship Study Centres to promote the entrenchment of a culture of entrepreneurship amongst University Students;
• Develop and promote regulatory framework for best practices that will engender student satisfaction and the best possible students experience through quality Student Support Services and Welfare Services in the Nigerian University System;
• Any other intervention to encourage the acquisition of leadership skills, national values and culture, sportsmanship, the eradication of anti-social behavior, and the promotion of peaceful coexistence;
• Supervise the organization of Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) competition as well as periodic collegial games to ensure maximum use of sporting facilities;
• Facilitate and ensure the provision of sporting facilities and the practice of sports as contribution to the socio-cultural and economic regeneration of university communities;
• Facilitate the development and integration of Gender Education in the Nigerian University System and monitor the implementation of Government policies on gender and other related issues in Nigerian Universities; and
• Facilitate and ensure the evolution of advocacy programmes on gender equity in Nigerian in line with best practices

The Division has the following Sections:

• Career Infrastructure and Counseling Services,
• Leadership Development.

FUNCTIONS OF THE DIVISION:

• Advocate for and coordinate scholarship opportunities, and the establishment of Counselling/ Human Development Centre;
• Encouraging universities to develop mechanisms that will help students acquire requisite Leadership skills; and
• Ensure in Collaboration with other agencies, that universities incorporate and transmit to students, national values and orientation

This Division has the following sections:

• Campus Safety Unit
• Communications Services Unit
• Gender Issues Unit.

FUNCTIONS OF THE DIVISION:

• Develop policies and guidelines that will ensure adequate provision of student support facilities and welfare services on university campuses;
• Supervise and monitor the implementation of strategies aimed at eradicating anti-social behavior, and the promotion of peaceful co-existence;
• Supervise the organization of Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) competition as well as periodic collegial games to ensure maximum use of sporting facilities;
• Facilitate and ensure the provision of sporting facilities and the practice of sports as contribution to the socio-cultural and economic regeneration of university communities;
• Facilitate the development and integration of Gender Education in the Nigerian University System and monitor the implementation of Government policies on gender and other related issues in Nigerian Universities; and
• Facilitate and ensure the evolution of advocacy programmes on gender equity in Nigerian in line with best practices