Education

Shell Kicks Off Road Safety Education In Rivers

Published

12 years ago

June 23, 2014

The Shell Petroleum De
velopment Company of Nigeria (SPDC) kicked off its road safety education in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital Tuesday, with a call on parents and corporate organisation to become active partners in the campaign for responsible road usage for the safety of school children.
Speaking at St Andrews school, Diobu, Port Harcourt, venue of the event, the Managing Director of SPDC, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu said it is part of the society’s responsibility to ensure that children do not get injured or killed in their daily journey to and fro their various schools.
Sunmonu who cited the World Health Organisation (WHO) record said, “road crashes are the second leading cause of death worldwide, among young people aged between five and 14”, our school age children”.
The Shell boss who was represented at the event by the company’s Safety and Environment Manager, Dr Amadi Amadi explained that the risk of children on the road is being increased by their small statures which reduces the possibility of drivers seeing them, inability to see over parked cars and lack of experience to judge the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles.
He also blamed the high risk of children on road insufficient consideration of their specific needs in planning our roads as well as bad driving.
Sunmonu expressed the need to lay a foundation of safe road use and practices from an early age so that it would ultimately become a way of life later on and remarked that such is the joint responsibility of the government every organisations and individuals in the state.
“That is why we at SPDC Joint Venture, have child road safety education as a key theme within our support of the improvement of road safety in the country and Rivers State in particular”, Sunmonu stated.
He said the child education programme is focused on pedestrian safety and aims at improving the outcomes of children travelling to and from school.
The SPDC MD regretted that road traffic accidents have devastated families with negative impart on economic and business life’s and urged all and sundry to strive to bring down casualty figures and make our roads safer.
In her remarks, the Rivers State Commissioner of Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi said the Rivers State Government led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi consider the child as a wonderful asset to the socioeconomic development of the state hence it made huge investment through qualitative and free education.
The commissioner who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Michael West said because the state believes that investing hugely on the child education is the best way to go it also provide libraries, computer sets, free school uniforms and sandals to school children.
She said, because the state government want the children to grow up to be responsible citizens, there was need to protect them by ensuring that they were not lost in road accidents.
“This is why the safe routes to school initiative is imperative”, she said.
The Shell programme was in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Education and the Global Road Safety Partners and it is an annual event.

Chris Oluoh/ Lady Godknows Ogbulu

From Left: Dr Musa Babayo who represented Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole and South-West Coordinator, Tertiary Educational Trust Fund, Mrs Anna Kolawole, at a fund raising for Adegoke Olubummo International Mathematical Centre in Ibadan last Thursday. Photo: NAN

Education

UNIPort Senate Grants Two-Year Amnesty to U2010–U2018 Students

Published

6 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Senate of the University of Port Harcourt Rivers state has approved a special two-year amnesty for students admitted between the 2010/2011 and 2018/2019 academic sessions who were unable to complete their programmes within the stipulated period.

This was contained in a statement by the university public relations officer,Dr Sammy Kpenu and made available to the tide over the weekend in port Harcourt.

The statement stated that eligible students are expected to submit formal applications addressed to the Vice Chancellor through their respective Heads of Department for review and necessary consideration.

The statement further stated that the approval provides a renewed opportunity for affected students to return, regularize their academic status, and successfully complete their studies.

According to the statement the amnesty also offers a fresh opportunity to students who had issues related to overstaying or other challenges that forced them to discontinue their programmes, to return and complete their academic pursuits.

The statement however said that the deadline for submission of applications end on 31st May, 2026 and therefore urge the affected students to take full advantage of the window the amnesty provided to realise their academic dreams.

Education

Education Commissioner Seeks media collaboration in Rivers

Published

6 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The River State Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor has called on media practitioners in Rivers State to deploy their various communication platforms toward promoting government programmes and policies aimed at achieving sustainable development in the education sector. Dr. Nwagor made the appeal when members of the Etche Ethnic Practicing Journalists (EEPJ) paid him a courtesy visit in Office in Port Harcourt. The Commissioner emphasized the strategic role of the media in shaping public perception, promoting government initiatives, and supporting policies capable of improving the quality of education and human capital development in the state. According to him, constructive media engagement remains essential in creating public awareness on educational reforms, students’ welfare, infrastructural improvements, and other interventions being implemented by the state government. Speaking on the recent appro

Education

“FPOG Bonny Deepens Learning With Hands-On Expedition to NLNG Nature Park”

Published

3 weeks ago

April 27, 2026

The Tide

Academic expeditions and excursions take learning beyond the classroom, fostering personal growth, cultural understanding, and hands-on engagement with history, science, and nature. For the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, such outings are a strategic tool for bridging theory with practice.

On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the Department of Science Laboratory Technology led students on an academic excursion to the NLNG Nature Park in Bonny. The team was led by the Head of Unit, Elizabeth Jumbo, alongside Ikor Peter, Usman Thaha, and Elekwachi Progress. The trip was designed to connect classroom instruction with real-life experiences.

According to the department, the excursion sought to deepen learning by linking theoretical knowledge with tangible, real-world exposure. The exercise also aimed to enhance student engagement and retention while promoting social-emotional skills such as collaboration and empathy. It further catered to diverse learning styles among the students.

Academic excursions offer clear benefits. Abstract concepts become concrete when students encounter them firsthand. A history lesson comes alive in a museum, while scientific principles are better understood in natural settings. Such interactive experiences are often more memorable than text-based learning alone.

The outings also build critical soft skills. Trips foster self-confidence, teamwork, communication, and resilience. They broaden cultural awareness and perspective by exposing students to new environments and ideas. For many, the experience sparks curiosity, promotes empathy, and can even influence future career paths.

At its core, the goal is to make learning personal, relevant, and interactive. The Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny says it is committed to providing a compass to academic excellence through active learning, consistent organization, and holistic student well-being. The SLT excursion reflects that approach in action.