Education
Rep Bankrolls 2021 WASC For 800 Indigent Students In Abia
Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has bankrolled the 2021 West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) fees for 800 indigent students in her constituency.
Onyejeocha, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, presented the cheques for the payment for the examination to principals of 17 public secondary schools and two mission schools on Saturday at Ngodo Isuochi community in Abia.
The lawmaker said that she was inspired by the declining number of school enrollment and difficulties being faced by many parents to register their children and wards in their final year for WASC examination.
“I noticed that some indigent students drop out in their final year because their parents or guardians could not raise the money to register them for WASC examinations.
“This is very common among students in public schools, who come from poor backgrounds. This was the reason I decided to intervene,” she said.
Onyejeocha said that she was highly impressed with the outstanding performances of the first beneficiaries of the free-WASCE initiative in 2020.
She promised to sustain the programme “In and Out of Office”, hoping that God would continue to give her the enablement.
Responding on behalf of other principals at the event, the Principal of Nneato Secondary School, Mr John Ihionu, thanked Onyejeocha for the kind gesture.
Ihionu, who described her as “a woman with a large heart and philanthropist par excellence,” also praised God for using her to alleviate the plight of the under-privileged in the society.
The Tide gathered from its source that the legislator paid N18,950 per student, which included the WASCE fee and other miscellaneous expenses.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.