Education

Mavi, 12, Writes Two Books In PH …Dep Gov, Others Hail Author

Published

13 years ago

April 8, 2013

The saying that failure is an orphan while success has many parents came to the fore Friday in Port Harcourt when both the high and low struggled for space to identify with twelve years old Mavi Val-Ugboma who presented her two book for launch.

The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engineer Tele Ikuru, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, her education counterpart, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, Medical Director, Imo State University, Chairman, Rivers State Branch of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Opaka Dokubo, General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Senibo Celestine Ogolo, ex-member Imo State House of Assembly, Editors and other personalities including friends and family members, all marvelled at Mavi’s books.

Even as she sat amongst the dignitaries at the high table with full comportment, many still believed it was a kiddies joke until when she stepped out to deliver her welcome speech. Herself confidence, superlative accent and perfect delivery unmasked the stuff in little beautiful and brilliant Mavi who revealed to her charged audience that she was inspired by the world acclaimed Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

After showering praises on the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi for his passion in education as evidenced by his great investment on the sector, all Mavi could ask from the Governor was more libraries in the Secondary Schools. No wonder her father, Val Ugboma called her a book worm.

The titles of her books are 2 Will Tales, and 5 Will Tales. Dr Desmond Osueke, Head Research and Training Unit of The Tide Newspapers, who reviewed the first book (2 Will Tales) said the work comprises two short stories – Divine Aid and Together We Stand.

According to the reviewer, it is a story of an orphan left in the hands of a wicked step mother, named Akaike, while Together We Stand is about a family torn apart by deception and lust.

The first story teaches us to be kind to others even if they are not our relations. We learn not to be jealous but to be contented with what we have,” the reviewer said adding that the second story “teaches us some moral lessons. We learn of the torment and confusion that infidelity can bring in a marriage but above all we also learn to forgive one another.”

The reviewer of the second book (5 Will Tales), Dr Alpheaus Paul-Worika said it comprises of five short stories, Adventures of two friends, Evil Customs Must Be Removed, God Has A Reason, A Victory and the last Wickedness of Man.

Dr Paul-Worika who is the Deputy Group News Editor also of The Tide, said the first is about two courageous girls who showed strength and determination in fearlessly fighting against and eventually thwarting the evil plans of armed robbers.

From what he said the stories stressed courage, and doggedness in fighting bad cultural practices, reward for courage, freedom, reformation, marriage challenges.

Of all, the two reviewers described the baby author as a budding star who is a master story teller.

Chairman of the occasion, and the General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Senibo Celestine Ogolo, commended the author and her parents, remarking that she is as rising star set to blossom.

“I have read her books and listened to her address. It’s wonderful,” Senibo Ogolo said and commended Rivers Government for encouraging growth in education noting that it was the wonderful investment and passion of Governor Amaechi that made him win the Vanguard Newspaper’s Award as Personality of the year.

Mavi is a JSS3 student of the Nobles Academy, Port Harcourt and hails from Ndoni in Rivers State.

Highlights of the event was the cutting of Mavi’s 12th birthday cake which coincided with the book launch.

Chris Oluoh

Education

RIVCHPP Set To Take Health Insurance Scheme To Tertiary Institutions In Rivers State

Published

4 days ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), the state health insurance agency, is set to take the health insurance scheme to schools, especially tertiary institutions, in the state.

This disclosure was made by the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Rolegherighan Agala, when she led a team from RIVCHPP on an advocacy visit to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education on Friday, 16th January 2026.

Dr. Agala, who solicited authorisation from the Ministry for RIVCHPP to write to the institutions under Ministry’s mandate so as to begin enrolment of students in the various schools , said that for the health insurance agency to expand universal health coverage of the state, then students need to be enrolled into the programme.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary announced that the agency has also started talks with the State branch of Nigeria Association of Proprietors of Private Secondary Schools (NAPPSS) to ensure that no one in the state is left out from having the opportunity of accessing quality healthcare services without passing through financial hardship.

Dr. Agala also commended the innovative policies that the Permanent Secretary have brought to bear towards improving the educational exploits in the state, saying that the changes align to the interest and mandate of Governor Siminialayi Fubara stance on education.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary appreciated the Permanent Secretary for giving the team audience, pledging her team’s dedication and commitment to clients’ satisfaction, calling on schools to embrace the S-SHIP package dedicated for the well-being of students in Rivers State.

In her remarks and response, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr.(Mrs. ) Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, who warmly welcomed the RIVCHPP team, promised to share with and disseminate all information about RIVCHPP to all public schools in the state so that the schools will be willing to give RIVCHPP opportunity to sensitise them on what RIVCHPP is all about and the benefits of signing up with RIVCHPP.

Dr. Uzoma-Nwogu advised RIVCHPP to be proactive and consistent in the mandate of providing affordable and quality health care to Rivers residents.

The visit witnessed a presentation of RIVCHPP’s sensitisation/campaign materials to the Permanent Secretary by RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary

Education

University Don wants AI to be made compulsory course

Published

4 days ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

A university don, Prof. Sunday Olatunji, has argued that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be made a compulsory course for all students in higher institutions across Nigeria, irrespective of their field of study

He also called on Nigeria and Africa to build an intelligent, inclusive and technologically sovereign future to elevate human potential through artificial intelligence.

To achieve these goals, the Professor of Artificial Intelligence urged the nation and continent to: institutionalize capacity building for AI excellence; develop functional policy and ethical frameworks for responsible AI; build artificial intelligence literacy and workforce development; make AI a general course in all higher institutions; promote no-code

AI and machine learning pathways for beginners; develop public-private-academic partnerships; and build inclusive and culturally grounded AI.Prof. Olatunji, who is ranked by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as the Best AI Researcher in Nigeria (2025), made these statements on Tuesday, while delivering the 53rd Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, held at the University Multipurpose Hall.

The lecture was titled, Symbiosis of Mind and Machine: Harnessing AI for National Development.He stressed that artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction but a reality that permeates every stratum of human life. “Just as Computer Appreciation became a national requirement decades ago, the time has come for AI Appreciation as a compulsory General Studies (GST) course.

This course should introduce all students, regardless of discipline, to aspects of AI including: AI fundamentals, machine learning concepts, applications of AI in their respective fields, ethical implications of AI, and its role in national development, among others,” he said.

The lecturer called on governments to establish AI innovation hubs in all tertiary institutions and research centres; promote cross-disciplinary collaboration integrating computing; provide national research grants focused on AI solutions for local challenges; and recruit and train faculty specialised in AI, machine learning, data science, robotics, and computational intelligence.

Prof. Olatunji allayed fears that AI could replace humans or end humanity, positing that, “Many fear that the rise of artificial intelligence signals the decline of human relevance – that the machine might replace the mind. But history teaches otherwise. Every technological revolution – from the printing press to electricity, from the internet to AI – has not diminished humanity but rather redefined it.

Today, AI diagnoses diseases, predicts the weather, translates languages, and protects nations.

Prof. Olatunji has garnered from far and wide and commended his role in setting up the Faculty of Computing and for doing a yeoman’s job as its founding Dean.

The Vice Chancellor also noted that Prof. Olatunji is a well-respected and accomplished academic and researcher who has carved an enviable niche for himself in the digital world of computing and artificial intelligence.

Education

FG, ASUU Set Date to Sign Agreement

Published

2 weeks ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government is set to formally sign an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities following weeks of negotiations.

The development may be linked to the 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff proposed by the FG last month and accepted by the union.

A circular issued by the Ministry of Education invited Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of federal universities to witness the signing ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Conference Hall, Abuja.

The circular, dated January 5, 2026, and referenced FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82, was signed by the Director of University Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, on behalf of the Minister of Education.

It was titled ‘Invitation to the Ceremony for the Signing of Agreement Between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.’

The circular was sighted by our correspondent on Saturday and confirmed by the Ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

“This signing represents a critical milestone in promoting industrial harmony and improving teaching and learning in our universities.

“It also reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of education in line with the Renewed

Attendance at the ceremony was declared mandatory for all invited university administrators, highlighting the importance attached to the agreement and its implementation.

Last month, the industrial crisis that had burdened Nigeria’s university system for 16 years following the 2009 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement saw the union accept the Federal Government’s proposed 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff.

It was reported that the deal, effective from January 1, 2026, would be reviewed after three years

Why FG Shouldn’t Be Blamed for Non-Implementation of Council Autonomy

Under the new terms, professors will earn a pension equivalent to their final annual salary upon retirement at age 70. The agreement also provides for the establishment of a National Research Council to fund research with at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

Other provisions include improved funding for libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development, greater university autonomy, and the election of academic leaders, with only professors eligible to serve as deans and provosts. The pact also guarantees that no staff member involved in past industrial actions will be victimised.