Education
NGO Tasks Students, Corps Members On 2019 Polls
A non-governmental organisation (NGO)”, We The People,” has charged students and youth corps members to avoid being used by politicians as agents of violence and election fraudsters during the 2019 polls in Rivers State.
The executive director of the group, Mr Ken Henshaw made the call during a one-day sensitisation and advocacy workshop organised for students drawn from selected schools and youth corps members serving in the state held at the Adgate Hotels in Port Harcourt, Thursday.
Henshaw disclosed that the essence of the programme was to educate and sensitise them on the dangers and disadvantages of indulging in election violence, as well as obstructing the electioneering processes.
He averred that the students and corps members were selected for the programme because they were the most vulnerable set of people that constitute the foot soldiers of politicians across the country.
According to him, the young people are lured by politicians to cause breach of peace in the society during and after elections, adding that bad governance in any society has been attributed to distorted elections processes.
The executive director of the “We The People” urged the students and corps members to shun any forms of compromise and inducements that would make them be used by bad politicians to scuttle election processes in the state.
“When election processes are distorted, it helps to weaken governance because the leaders that will emerge from such process will not have the interest of the people at heart”, he said.
“When there is poor electoral processes the young ones suffer most. Please do not get involve in election rigging and violence during and after the 2019 general election s”, he stated.
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Thousands of Senior Secondary School (SS3) students in Rivers State have expressed frustration over challenges they face in the ongoing WAEC capturing exercise, a prerequisite for the 2025/2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Introduced by the Federal Government to curb examination malpractice, the biometric capturing process has instead become a source of hardship for many candidates.
The Tide_ education desk who monitored the exercise across several schools in the state revealed chaotic scenes experienced by intending candidates.At Community Secondary School, Rumuepirikom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, students crowded the school premises as early as 7 a.m. and remained as late as 9 p.m., with many still unattended. Parents and guardians were seen waiting anxiously as their wards struggled to be captured.
Chidubem, a student of the school, lamented the loss of valuable study time. “Since Monday, we have been coming from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. without success. The process is slow, and we pay between ?5,000 and ?7,000. We’ve been here for over five days without being captured,” she said.
The situation is similar at Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, where students cluster around the capturing centre, jostling for space. Angela, a candidate, described the exercise as “herculean,” citing network failures and alleged favouritism. She added that parents sometimes pay up to ?1,000 to secure quicker attention for their children.
At Government Secondary School, Okehi in Etche Local Government Area, students reportedly arrive as early as 6 a.m. to secure a place in line. One student, who asked to remain anonymous, called on relevant authorities to urgently address the irregularities. Another student, Ebenezer, warned that unless swift action is taken, many candidates may be excluded from sitting the examination.
Education stakeholders have raised concerns that the exercise, though well-intentioned, has been poorly executed, with inadequate equipment and personnel deployed to handle the large number of candidates. They warn that unless urgent steps are taken to streamline the process, the credibility of the examination could be undermined, and students’ academic futures jeopardised.
Parents and guardians are appealing to the Rivers State Ministry of Education and WAEC to intervene immediately, deploy additional registration centres, and ensure transparency in the process. They stress that without swift corrective measures, the already heightened anxiety among students and families will only worsen.
As of press time, neither the Rivers State Ministry of Education nor WAEC authorities had responded to inquiries on the matter.
By Akujobi Amadi
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commissioned a fully equipped Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratory at the Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa, in a move aimed at strengthening healthcare education and building local capacity.
The state-of-the-art facility, unveiled on Friday, is fitted with high-fidelity adult and paediatric patient simulators, laparoscopic training systems, obstetric trainers, advanced life support mannequins, consultation cubicles and audio-visual learning systems.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the Board’s intervention reflects its commitment to capacity development beyond the oil and gas sector.
Represented by the Acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Ene Ette, Ogbe described simulation-based learning as the global standard in medical education, noting that it enables students to gain hands-on clinical experience, improve decision-making and build confidence in a safe and controlled environment.
He explained that investment in healthcare, education, engineering and logistics demonstrates that the oil and gas industry does not operate in isolation but depends on a strong ecosystem.
According to him, the upgraded laboratory represents a strategic investment in human capital development and a practical demonstration of policy translating into measurable impact.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of BMU, Prof. Dimie Ogoina, described the project as a milestone in securing the future of healthcare delivery in Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
He said the facility aligns with his A.S.P.I.R.E. Agenda, unveiled upon assuming office in 2025, which seeks to transform the university into a globally recognised institution driven by technology, research and excellence.
Ogoina noted that the advanced simulators and training equipment would help reduce medical errors, enhance patient safety and produce highly skilled indigenous healthcare professionals capable of competing globally.
He also acknowledged the support of the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, as well as the Commissioners for Health and Education, for creating an enabling environment for partnerships to thrive.
Similarly, the Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. Philip Eyimina, said the laboratory played a key role in the institution’s recent accreditation verification exercise.
He noted that the presence of a functional and well-equipped clinical skills laboratory affirmed the university’s readiness to deliver quality medical education in line with national standards.
In a special address, Governor Diri, represented by the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah, commended the NCDMB for what he described as a remarkable intervention that aligns with the university’s vision of becoming a leading medical institution.
The Pro-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Tarilah Tebepah, also appreciated the Board for its support and urged continued collaboration to address resource challenges.
The ceremony concluded with a tour of the laboratory’s facilities, including the Virtual Reality Station, Paediatric and Airway Management Stations, ECG and Patient Monitoring Station, IV Fluids Administration and Cannulation Station, and the Demonstration Hall.
The federal polytechnic of Oil and Gas in Bonny local government area of Rivers state has appointed Deans ,Heads of Departments and Directors for the various faculties and departments in the institution.
A statement by the school management signed by Mr
Anthony Ogbe (MCAI)
SAR/Public Relations Officer and made available to tide over the weekend said the appointments
of Directors, Deans, and Heads of Departments (HODs) is a critical administrative function for a purposeful Rector, as these individuals act as agents to implement the institutional vision.
Ogbe said by the doctrine of corporate liability, the actions and decisions of these appointees are deemed the actions of the Rector, necessitating a selection process that aligns with the institution’s strategic goals.
The statement stated that recently the Rector, Dr Victor Okolobah made appointments and reappointment some Directors, Deans of Schools and Heads of Departments, noting that the key players are to step up and double down on the outlined version of the chief executive and by extension that of the polytechnic.
Those appointed are:
IRIAKUMA CHRISTOPHER TABUYAI AG. DIR. CONSULTANCY, .,
. DR INAMETE EMEM NDAH AG. REMEDIAL/BASIC STUDIES,
. DR KALAPAPA DAPPA AG. DIR. TVET and
. MRS GIFT GEORGE GREEN NODAL OFFICER,
Others include
DR AZUNWO ANYAHIE A. AG. DEAN, STUDENTS’ AFFAIRS ,
. MR HOSEA YAKUBU AG. DIR. QUALITY ASSURANCE, .
DR BINFA BONFA DIR. ACADEMIC PLANNING,
MR ABIYE ASEMINASO AG DIR. ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT and
DR. PRECIOUS NWACHUKWU AG. DIR, CAREER SERVICES CENTRE,
. Also in the category include
. DR. FRANCIS ATTAH EGU AG.DEAN,SCHOOL OF GENERAL STUDIES,
RACHAEL NELSON EKEUWEI AG. DIRECTOR, CONTINUING EDUCATION,.
. DR. NAOMI AMONI OGOLO, AG. DEAN, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING TECH ,
ENGR. BUKOLA OLALEKAN OGUNWOLE AG. DIRECTOR, SIWES,
. KIANI AARON TAMUNO, AG. DIRECTOR, ADVANCEMENT CENTRE .
. OLAIYA SAMUEL BABAYEMI AG. DIRECTOR, ICT.
. BONIFACE UZOMA EMENIKE AG. DIRECTOR, PROCUREMENT ,
MR AWUHE TIMOTHY TERTSEA, AG. DEAN, SCHOOL OF APPLIED SCIENCES .
Others include . MRS OLUWATOYIN VICTORIA OYEKUNLE, AG. DIRECTOR EXAM AND RELATED MATTERS,
DR. LIVINUS ACHI KALU, AG. DIRECTOR AFFILIATIONS AND RELATED MATTERS,
MR AMINOBIREN CHARLES, AG. HOD, MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS. KIANI CHRISTIANAPEPPLE, AG. HOD,LANG. AND COMM. ,
. MR ZIBS WORIPERE DOWELL, AG. HOD, COMPUTER SCIENCE ,
DR BARNABAS GOGO PEPPLE, AG. HOD, BUSINESS ADMIN. AND MGT,
. DR JUSTIN OBINNA IBEAWUCHI AG. HOD, ISEET ,
. ONYEBUIKE DENNIS EKENE, AG. HOD,
ONUOHA ONYEBUCHI GOSPEL, AG. HOD, PUBLIC ADMIN.
MR AKPUH DAVIDSON CHIOMA AG. HOD,WELDING AND FABRICATION ,
MR OBAMANU TAMUNOTONJO AG. HOD,PETROLEUM & GAS ENGR. TECH. ,
DR, JAMES CARR EZEKTEL-HART AG. HOD, PETROLEUM MARKETING .
Also appointed are ENGR, KELECHI U. UGOJI, AG. HOD, MECHANICAL ENGR. TECH,
. DR. KOKO BASSEY OKWONG, AG. HOD, TRANSPORT& LOGISTICS,
MR NLERUM SUNNY KEJEH, AG.HOD,ELECT./ELECT.ENGR. TECH. ,
. MRS NWAMBE CYNTHIA ONYINYECHUKWU, AG. HOD,ACCOUNTANCy
as well as
DURU GEORGE NZEADI, AG.HOD, HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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