Education
Adikibi Scholarship For Indigent Students Begins ..1,000 To Benefit
A philanthropist, Profes
sor O. T. Adikibi has promised to offer fully-funded in-country scholarships to more than 1,000 applicants to undertake undergraduate studies in federal and state universities as well as polytechnics in the country. In an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Administrative Manager, O.A. Adikibi Foundation, Miss Ibiene Kalio, said the scholarship programme was the first of its kind, adding that the maiden edition would begin selection of as many prospective students as possible from March 14, irrespective of local government or state of origin.
Kalio, who is also the spokesperson of the programme, stressed that the scholarship selection process closes June 24, 2016, noting that the Okrika-born philanthropist decided to use the multi-million Naira scholarship scheme to invest in education of less-privileged Nigerians as a way of reciprocating the support given to him as an intelligent but indigent teenager, to further his education and become somebody academically.
She said the scholarship targets young school leavers with required five- credit passes in the West African Examinations Council’s Senior School Certificate (SSC) and good scores in Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The administrative manager explained that the benefitting students must be within 18-25 years of age brackets, who are interested in offering courses in Medicine, Information Technology, Engineering, among others.
Kalio further added that beneficiaries must not only be Nigerians, indigent and intelligent but must be young orphans with bright future, adding that the foundation believes that one way to invest in the future is to create opportunities for the less-privileged to excel in life, and contribute their quota to national development.
She appealed to interested applicants to go online and download the scholarship forms at www.adikibi.scholarships.org. and follow the instructions in filling the forms, advising that once the forms are completed, applicants can summit same at No. 203, Victoria Street, Port Harcourt, or by post through P.O. Box 9192, Port Harcourt, with sender’s name on the reverse side of the envelope.
The spokesperson added that the foundation prefers physical submission of the application forms to give them opportunity to conduct on-the-spot interview of potential beneficiaries, given the strict selection criteria.
She hinted that to benefit fully from the scheme, selected applicants must submit four passports, birth certificate, JAMB result, O ‘Level WAEC results, and National Identity Card or Permanent Voter’s Card, emphasising that to remain a beneficiary, students must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0: every year until graduation. The foundation’s spokesperson said that the aim of the programme was to promote academic excellence amongst indigent young Nigerians with little or no prospect of geuing good education, regretting that a large proportion of the less-privileged in the country has the “potential to turn around the fortunes of the nation, if they are integrated into the productive group of Nigerians.
She appealed to indigent teenagers from the 23 local government areas of the state to take advantage of the opening of the selection process of the scheme to rewrite their stories, and begin a new journey towards greatness, adding that the state needs their immense contributions to compete favourably in the comity of states in the federation.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Education
Covenant University Retains Nigeria’s Best Varsity Ranking
The Covenant University (CU) has, for the second time, been rated as the best university in Nigeria.
According to Times Higher Education‘s 2024 rating, Covenant Unirersity, as a growing, dynamic vision-driven university, founded on a Christian mission ethos and committed to pioneering excellence at the cutting edge of learning, is among the top 1,000 universities in the world.
The 2024 ranking includes 1,906 universities across 108 countries and regions. The Ranking Website indicates that the grading was compiled based on their new World University Ranking (WUR) 3.0 methodology which includes 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
Analysis of the latest ranking on Thursday showed that the university based in Ota, Ogun State, is following on the ranking by the University of Ibadan (UI) as the second-best in the country, with the Federal University of Technology, Akure clinching the third position.
Currently ranked 801st university in the world, CU first gained prominence in 2018 after it emerged as the best university in Nigeria and the sixth-best university overall.
The ranking webpage explained that the site is trusted worldwide by students, teachers, governments, and industry experts, adding that the 2024 league table reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting.
It stated thus; “This year’s ranking analysed more than 134 million citations across 16.5 million research publications and included survey responses from 68,402 scholars globally. Overall, we collected 411,789 data points from more than 2,673 institutions that submitted data”.
Meanwhile, also captured on the list of universities with the top rating in Nigeria are the University of Ilorin, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Afe Babalola University, and the University of Benin.
Others include the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lagos State University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Port Harcourt.
Available statistics showed that of the 15 top universities in the country, nine are located in the South West region, two in the South-South region, two in the South East region, one in the North Central zone, and one in the North West zone. Interestingly, the North-East zone was conspicuously missing from the list.
Education
2023 UTME Notification Slips: Police, JAMB Raise Alarm Over Fraudulent Sites
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have raised an alarm over fake sites for the ongoing printing of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Notification Slip which contains vital information such as the date, venue, and time of candidates’ examinations.
In a joint briefing by the NPF and JAMB recently in Abuja, candidates are enjoined to patronise only the approved sites by the JAMB, so as not be defrauded.
The Force Spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who signed a press release on behalf of the two Government agencies said: “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) hereby bring to the attention of the public the ongoing printing of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Notification Slip which contains vital information such as the date, venue, and time of candidates’ examinations.
“Unfortunately, the emergence of several fake websites created by unscrupulous individuals with the intention of misleading candidates has been observed necessitating this joint press briefing.
“These fake sites are designed to deceive innocent candidates into providing personal details such as registration numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers. These details are then exploited for malicious purposes.
“Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force condemn these fraudulent activities and hereby reiterate the readiness to safeguard the interests of candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination process.
“We urge parents, guardians, and all stakeholders to ensure that candidates print their UTME Notification Slips only from the Board’s approved website: www.jamb.gov.ng. Candidates can print their slips from the comfort of their homes or visit any of the over 700 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
“It is important to note that we are familiar with the tactics employed by these fraudsters, especially during the annual assessment and admission exercises. We are actively sensitizing candidates and the public about these deceptive practices.
“Any candidate who visits these fake sites will definitely have unreliable information and thereby miss out in the forthcoming exams.’’
“Candidates are advised to print their UTME Notification Slips before Friday, 19th April, 2024, to access vital information about their examinations. Any website other than www.jamb.gov.ng offering UTME slip printing services is fake and designed to defraud candidates. Candidates should also beware of sites offering ‘live’ questions and answers, as they are false and deceptive, and accessing such materials is prohibited.
“The 2024 UTME is scheduled to commence on Friday, 19th April, and end on Monday, 29th April, 2024. We call on parents, guardians, and the general public to join hands in fostering a culture of integrity and compliance with established guidelines. Together, we can nurture a generation of upright and law-abiding leaders by discouraging fraudulent practices and desperation.
“Furthermore, JAMB is partnering with the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) to address online scam-related issues seamlessly. We assure candidates and the public of our firm dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process.
“In addition, the Inspector General of Police has ordered the NPF-NCCC to go after scammers and fraudsters who engage in cyber related crimes and create phishing sites/portals, and cause them to face the full wrath of the law”.
Education
RSU Begins First Semester Exams, Today
The authorities of the Rivers State University (RSU),Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt says it will commence the First semester examinations.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Registrar of the university, Mrs. I. B. S. Harry and made available to Dean’s and Heads of Departments, adding that the the examinations were earlier shifted to begin today from its initial date of last Monday to enable students who were yet to complete their registration and pay the necessary approved fees and give all students equal opportunity to participate in the examinations.
The statement reads “This is to inform all staff and students of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, that the First Semester Examination for the 2023/2024 academic session earlier scheduled to commence on Monday, 8th April, 2024, has been shifted to Monday, 15th April, 2024.”
“The change in date of the Examination is to enable students who are yet to pay stipulated fees/ charges and complete their course registration for the First Semester, to do so.”
All students in this category are advised to utilise the period to make necessary fee payments as well as course registration.”
By: Akujobi Amadi
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