Education

Pupils Shine At Essay Contest

Published

5 years ago

August 2, 2021

No fewer than 10 pupils across Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Benue states, were rewarded with various prizes for their outstanding performance in the maiden edition of TeensThink national essay competition.
The winners were announced at the grand finale of the competition, held in Lagos, last Monday, by a team of independent jurors. the overall winner of the competition, Oche Ochefu of Methodist Boys High School, Victoria Island, Lagos, went home with a laptop, a trophy and N150,000, while first and second runners-up, Sunday Boluwatife and James Esther Nnena of Lishabi Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State and Ilesha Grammar School, Osun State got a laptop, trophy, N100,000 and N70,000 respectively.
They were also given educational games and books, among others.
Seven others were awarded cash prizes as they claimed the fourth to 10th positions.
Speaking at the event, founder of the TeensThink initiative, Kehinde Olesin, described the winners as worthy ambassadors of their families, schools and states. According to her, the initiative is aimed at preparing outstanding teens for remarkable success in learning and character.
“We are creating a global community of teens, who can personally and collaboratively spark up personal and social change locally and internationally. We are committed to empowering teenagers to reach their full potential, equipping them with relevant life-skills for success as they approach adulthood. We are also enhancing career and college preparation for these young leaders, through interactive and hands-on educational sessions,”she said.
Chairman of the occasion, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State, Steve Ayorinde lauded the winners for their impressive performance. He described them as future leaders who have the potential to excel in whatever field of endeavour they find themselves.
“The winners have distinguished themselves for excellence through the level of their performance and we are very proud of them and the prospects that they hold for the advancement of the nation,” he said.
Ayorinde added that the initiative would help improve the overall quality of education in the country and urged schools to make the most of the platform.
Chief Juror of the competition and Convener, Supportive Discipline for Dignity group, Mr Akin Benjamin, expressed his satisfaction at the quality of entries and performance from the winners.
“I am impressed with the quality of entries we received, it was an intense screening process as we reviewed over 150 entries, from across states in Nigeria, Rivers, Taraba, Benue, Ogun and Osun.
“The winners are deserving of all the recognition and accolades. I am happy to be a part of this process. It is important that we reward and encourage outstanding talents and academic excellence from the teenage stage in order to build a creative, intelligent and productive youth population,” he said.

Education

Uniport Appoints Prof. Princewill R. Chike as 10th Vice-Chancellor

Published

15 hours ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt has approved the appointment of Professor Princewill R. Chike as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Prof. Chike, a former Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, will succeed Prof. Georgewill Owunari whose tenure ends on July 13, 2026.

A statement signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Sam Kpenu and made available to _The Tide_, said the appointment was made by the 17th Governing Council following the successful conclusion of the selection process.

“The process was conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and the University of Port Harcourt Act,” the statement read.

It added that the process involved the constitution of a Search Team and a Joint Council-Senate Selection Board. Both bodies carried out their responsibilities in accordance with extant laws and regulations governing the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian universities.

According to the statement, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, congratulated Professor Chike on his appointment.

Senator Ohuabunwa expressed confidence in Prof. Chike’s ability to provide visionary leadership for the continued growth and development of the University.

Professor Princewill R. Chike is expected to formally assume office as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt on July 13, 2026.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

Education commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct in Rivers ,, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

15 hours ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation recently during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process. Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

RSU Law Professor Calls for Periodic Review of Nigeria’s Criminal Laws

Published

15 hours ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

A Professor of Criminal Justice and Law at the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, Prof. Clifford Anaele Nwanyanwu, has advocated for periodic review of the nation’s criminal justice administration laws to reflect current societal needs and challenges.

Prof. Nwanyanwu noted that many of the criminal justice laws in use today date back to the pre-colonial era. He questioned their efficiency in addressing modern criminal justice administration, adding that the complex nature of adjudication often allows crime to thrive.

He made the call while delivering the university’s 132nd Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday at the Senate Conference Auditorium titled: “Society as Criminal Enterprise: Unravelling a Complex Justice System.”

The erudite legal scholar clarified that the lecture was not meant to condemn the country’s justice system. Instead, he said it was intended to highlight areas that require urgent attention.

He expressed concern that criminal justice practice in Nigeria is more dysfunctional than functional, and stressed that he wants to see a system that works effectively for all citizens.

“The essence of criminal justice administration is due process, and anything contrary is not it. Plea bargains help to fast-track trial processes and reduce delays,” he stated.

However, Prof. Nwanyanwu expressed worry that the sums recovered through plea bargain arrangements are often meagre compared to the wealth looted, noting that this contradicts the purpose of the arrangement.

To strengthen the system, he recommended merit-based recruitment of judicial officers with proven character and integrity. He also called for adequate funding, infrastructure development, removal of political interference, and ethical reorientation within the judiciary.

The law professor further recommended that the state should pay compensation to citizens when security officers are found culpable for arbitrary killings, in line with the principle of vicarious liability.

In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, commended the lecturer. He described the lecture as timely and relevant to addressing the nagging challenges of crime in society.

Prof. Zeb-Obipi expressed concern over the justice system’s inability to curb the rising rate of criminal activities in the state. He added that through inaugural lectures, the university continues to provide solution-based approaches to societal challenges.

Our correspondent reports that the thought-provoking lecture was attended by stakeholders in the judicial system, judges, magistrates, scholars, and members of the university community.

By: Akujobi Amadi