Education

RSSDA Offers Best Students Overseas Scholarships

Published

13 years ago

November 26, 2012

The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), has offered automatic overseas scholarship to outstanding best students in the on-going Einstein Science challenge programme in the state.

The Einstein Science challenge programme was initiated by the Agency in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt GRA District 9140 to stimulate interest in science education among secondary school students in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local Government Areas.

Commissioning the laboratory located at the Holy Rossary College at the weekend in Port Harcourt, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Mr. Noble Pepple, said that the gesture was to encourage students to take the programme seriously.

Mr. Pepple said that from the scholarship package, the Agency also has other incentives for those that distinguished themselves at the programme.

“There are several awards but the best is for the young Einstein which is the person who emerges top of the list at the end of the programme to is a scholarship to go and study one of the science disciplines”, he said.

Addressing the students who are about 120 in number , the Executive Director said that Rivers State is in dire need of scientists to manage both the health, education and other infrastructural facilitities being built across the state by the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration.

He tasked the students to see the opportunity as a rare one that must be grabbed at all cost.

Also speaking, the Vice President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt GRA, Rotarian Renny Cookey said that the Rotary Club is a humanitarian organisation and has as part of its programmes vocational training and new generation development, stressing that it was based on these areas of focus that the Einstein Science challenge programme was initiated.

Rotarian Cookey said that the club was lucky enough to have a strong partnership with the Rivers State substainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and the Holy Rossary College who provided the facilities.

The Rotary Vice President expressed the hope that the programme would help to improve the quality of science education in the state.

Also speaking, the director of Catholic Education, Diocease of Port Harcourt, Monsignor Charles Agu, said the programme will expose the students to the practical parts of science education.

In her speech, the Principal of Holy Rossary College Port Harcourt, Barrister (Mrs) Veronica Efika said that the programme has succeeded in adding colour to what the college is doing.

Someof the students who spoke to newsmen thanked the RSSDA and the Rotary Club for the programme.

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.