Education

Private Schools Sweep Shell Science Quiz Contest

Published

14 years ago

December 11, 2011

Four private secondary schools have swept the 2011 Bayelsa Science Quiz Competition organised by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria’s joint venture last Thursday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

The company put together the third annual quiz competition in a series in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, Intel Corporation, Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), and Cinfores, an educational non-governmental organisation.

The four were among the seven private schools that slogged it out with 17 public schools in the state in the painstaking rounds of the finals of the academic and intellectual contest for the coveted trophies and cash prizes.

The high-flying private schools are Divine Comprehensive Academy, which clinched the first best spot; Belary Schools, Yenagoa, with the second position; New Total Child Academy, Yenagoa, singing home with the third position; while Winners International Academy, Yenagoa came fourth, ahead of 20 others which scaled the series of sessions, culminating in the final rounds last Thursday in Yenagoa.

Speaking shortly before the presentation of prizes to the winners, Vice President, HSE and Corporate Affairs, Shell Sub-Saharan Africa, Tony Attah, said the competition was aimed at ensuring that children in Bayelsa State develop keen interest in the sciences, adding that the joint venture partners were more than ever before ready to encourage the students to pursue science subjects at tertiary levels of education.

Attah noted that the dividend of the collaboration has been manifest in the good performance and tremendous improvement of students from Bayelsa State in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO), and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations, particularly in the sciences in the last two years.

The vice president stated that as one of the most focus areas in Shell’s social performance delivery strategy, huge investments in education have resulted in several initiatives, including the web-based science and mathematics learning programme called skoool.ng in partnership with Intel Corporation and Education Trust Fund (ETF), the upgrading of infrastructure and construction of new secondary schools, as well as award of scholarships to more than 300 students from Bayelsa State annually.

Also speaking, Bayelsa State Education Commissioner, Prof Tuemi Asuka, said that although Shell has contributed significantly in improvements in the education sector by building classroom blocks and laboratories and distributing textbooks, laboratory equipment and other reading aids to public schools in the state, the company has scored more marks by being the first corporate body to institute a comprehensive capacity building initiative, comprising the teachers in a re-invigorating development programme and the students in a brain-duel science exhibition and competition.”

The education commissioner tasked both beneficiary teachers and students to demonstrate to others at their respective schools that they have added new knowledge and skills to their work, and show courage confidence in their teaching and learning business so as to help in eradicating examination malpractices and cultism.

Nelson Chukwudi

Education

Akwaibom WASCO students gets scholarship award for academic excellence

Published

3 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

3 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

1 month 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.