Education

SUG President’s Detention: Police Warn NANS Against Protest

Published

6 years ago

February 17, 2020

The Ogun State Police command has warned students against staging any protest in the state over the continuous detention of the suspended Students’ Union President of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Adegboye Olatunji.
Olatunji was arrested, paraded and detained by police for alleged involvement in cult activities.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, yesterday, threatened that any student caught engaging in protest would be dealt with through the arms of the law.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had earlier threatened to embark on a statewide protest over the arrest of Olatunji on Monday.
The Ogun chairman of NANS, Tomiwa Bamgbose, in a statement, yesterday, said students across the state would embark on a mass protest to demand the “unconditional release” of the SUG president.
Bamgbose added that the protest, which will hold across the state today, would be a solidarity protest by the students against the alleged injustice levelled against Olatunji.
The NANS chairman also insisted that there was no iota of truth in the allegation by the Police that the embattled SUG President is a cultist.
Part of the statement reads, “NANS OGUN JCC hereby uses this medium to notify all gallant and ever combatant Nigerian students about tomorrow’s (today) peaceful protest to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the SUG president, Ilaro.
“It is no longer news that the President was arrested last week Sunday as a result of a conspiracy against his good intention to liberate his fellow students.
“I write with total bitterness in my heart to inform all Nigerian students that Comrade Olatunji after being tortured to confess what he knows nothing about by the police has sustained a lot of injuries in the detention.
“This level of injustice must stop. We must fight for our brother, remember that an injustice to one is an injustice to all.
“The leadership of NANS OGUN JCC hereby summons all radical and ideological equipped comrades to come out in our great number to protest this injustice against our constituency.
“The protest is scheduled to take place simultaneously at Ilaro to demand the postponement of the examination until TJ is released and also in Abeokuta to intimate the governor about the highest level of victimisation of students going on under his administration.”
But, Oyeyemi in the statement, said, “An intelligence report at the disposal of Ogun State Police command indicated that some misguided students are planning to stage a statewide protest in Ogun state in solidarity with the suspended SUG president of Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, who was recently arrested for cultism.
“As an organisation saddled with the constitutional responsibility to protect life and property, the command will not fold its arms and watch some disgruntled elements make life difficult for law-abiding citizens of the state.
“Therefore, anybody or group that makes any attempt to throw the state into unnecessary chaos will be made to feel the full weight of the law.
“To this end, all the command’s tactical squads have been activated and deployed across the state to nip in the bud any act of violence capable of jeopardising the peaceful atmosphere of the state.”

Education

Akwaibom WASCO students gets scholarship award for academic excellence

Published

2 weeks ago

December 22, 2025

The Tide

In recognition for their academic excellence and innovation, three students of Western Annang Secondary Commercial School WASCO, in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have been honoured with cash awards.

Faith Uwen Uko in SS 2, Goodluck Monday Otobong and God’swill Ndifreke Silas, both in SS3, were awarded scholarships and cash for distinguishing themselves in academics and traits such as curiosity, attention for details and other qualities notable of engineers.

The senior secondary school students were given the award by the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, NSChE, Akwa Ibom/Cross River states chapter, during their end of year dinner and award night held at Helemah Events Center, Uyo, with the theme “The roles of chemical engineers in fostering sustaining health sector.”

They were identified earlier in the year during the society’s visit to the school for career counselling and donation of science equipment, textbooks and stationeries to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM, education.

The tokens of recognition and awards were presented to the students by the Chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, Rt.Hon. Edidiong Joseph Inyang, the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, Prof Urua Antia, the representative of the Chairman of the occasion, Dr Jeremiah Anietie and the General Manager, Projects, Oilserv Ltd, Chief Augustine Ukpong.

The occasion featured a presentation on medical oxygen production, a dream project of the society aimed at making medical oxygen available at primary health care facilities through out Akwa Ibom state.

Also, a drama by the wives of chemical engineers helped to deepen understanding of the value of medical oxygen project. The NSChE chapter chairman, Mr Ikemesit Orok, led the dignitaries while Prof Esang Esitikot, moderated it.

Other high points of the award night was the award of scholarship to three outstanding chemical engineering students: Mfonido Ransome Bassey from the University of Uyo, Ifeoma Sandra from Akwa Ibom State University and Linus Owogeka Ogar from the University of Calabar.

Also, presentation of recognition awards to some distinguished personalities for their positive impacts on the engineering profession, commitment to corporate social responsibility and invests in human capacity development.

Education

Community seeks government intervention over Herders Occupation Of School

Published

2 weeks ago

December 22, 2025

The Tide

The people of Omerelu community in Ikwerre local government Area of Rivers state have called on the state government interventions over an alleged Herdsmen taken over the premises of community Secondary School in the area.

This state of the secondary school have left the students of the community displaced.

Speaking to journalists at Omerelu on the occupation of the school by the herdsmen , an opinion leader from the community , Mr Obinichi Amadi, briefed journalists shortly after the commissioning of the Egbeda–Omerelu Link Road by the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, recently .

Amadi claimed that the problem has persisted for months, but was renewed by commissioning of the road renewed which he said, called for urgent government attention.

According to him, the school which is strategically located along the newly inaugurated road has become unsafe as roaming cattle and herdsmen now occupy its classrooms, open fields, and access routes.

Reports have it that some students who attempted to access the premises in recent weeks confirmed that dilapidated buildings, broken desks, and the presence of herders have made learning impossible.

The Community leader further described the development as both an educational and security crisis.

“The takeover of the school by suspected herdsmen poses a direct threat to children and undermines the developmental prospects expected from the newly completed link road. We want Governor, Siminalayi Fubara to come to our aid”, he said.

He also pointed out that the school which was established to serve the Egbeda–Omerelu corridor, has suffered long-term infrastructural decay, creating the vacuum that allowed herdsmen to encroach on the premises.

He further explained that the community has repeatedly appealed for intervention and is now placing renewed hope in the Governor following the commissioning of the road.

“The irony is stark: while the state government has enhanced access into Omerelu with a modern road, the only major secondary school along that axis is non-functional and overrun by intruders. The road should lead not just to mobility but to meaningful development,” he said.

Meanwhile, student representatives lamented the collapse of their learning environment, citing leaking roofs, collapsed walls, overgrown bushes, and the absence of security as reasons many parents have withdrawn their children for safety.

Parents as it was learnt had warned against closing the school completely and added that it could force them to send their children to distant communities for education purposes.

As the newly commissioned road receives accolades, the people of Omerelu are issuing a clear and urgent call saying that the Government Secondary School, Omerelu must be rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to its students.

It was also gathered that the once-thriving citadel of learning has been in this deplorable state for nearly two decades.

By: King Onunwor

Education

Rivers NYSC Cordinator task corps members on peace building

Published

4 weeks ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

Corps Members have been urged to use the rich cultural heritage of Nigerians to promote peace in the state and country at large.

The Rivers State Coordinator of NYSC Mr. Moses Oleghe gave the charge during the inter-platoon cultural carnival competition for 2025 Batch C Corps Members deployed to the State orientation camp, Nonwa-Gbam Tai held over the weekend.

Oleghe while addressing the Corps Members, further charged them to be a “source of light in their host communities,” noting that the “symbolic lighting of the cultural carnival torch means that every Corps Member must be the light that dispels darkness.”

He urged them to integrate and internalize the culture of the people of their area where they serve, strengthen cultural practices that promote human dignity, rights, and respect.”

The radiant and colorful event witnessed the regeneration and rebirth of various ethnic cultures by the Corps Members.

At the end of the competition, 4 platoon was adjudged the overall best, 9 platoon 2nd and 6 platoon 3rd.