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Foreign Scholarship: Students Get 30-Day Ultimatum ….RSG To Pay Only Fees Of Final Year Students

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10 years ago

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Students of the Mobile Containerised Schools Programme of the presidential initiative for the North East at Dalori idps camp in Maiduguri, recently

Students of the Mobile Containerised Schools Programme of the presidential initiative for the North East at Dalori idps camp in Maiduguri, recently

Students of Rivers State origin currently on Government scholarship at the University of Manitoba, Canada, have been given a 30-day ultimatum to pay their school fees or be expelled.
A source in the school revealed to The Tide that the ultimatum is sequel to the inability of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to fulfill its several promises of effecting the payment.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, quoted the university’s Vice- President of Outreach and Engagement, Leah Janzen, as saying that about 50 students sponsored by the agency are currently enrolled at the university.
“The RSSDA owes $2.5 million to the Canadian universities, with the majority owed to the University of Manitoba, the University of Regina and Simon Fraser University. The agency owes more than $250,000 to the University of Manitoba.
“We remain in contact with this organization(RSSDA), and they’re asking us to be patient. But at this point, we’re not sure what to expect from them with regards to those arrears”, the source quoted Janzen.
The source also quoted the Acting Executive Director of RSSDA, Godwin Poi, as saying that the inability of the agency to pay the student’s fees was due to the dwindling economic fortune of the Government. Consequently the government has not been able to regularly fund the agency.
“I can only tell you what the government tells me, which is that the funds are not available. Allocations from central government and state government have dwindled and the state government relies predominantly on the central government for funding”, the source quoted Poi.
When contacted, Chairman of the State Scholarship Board, Mr. Dagogo A. Hart, under whose office the RSSDA was placed by the State Governor, explained that his office could not do anything about the issue.
According to him, he met with parents of some of the students in his office, and before them, he called Mr. Poi, who told him that the Governor only made a declaration about the Scholarship Board supervising the RSSDA, noting that there was no letter to that effect.
He stated further that officially, the RSSDA was placed under the Ministry of Agriculture. Confirming this was the fact that the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs.Ominini Jack, was the one that addressed the parents.
He told The Tide that the commissioner told the parents that the state government will pay the fees of final year students in various universities in Canada.
But that those who are not in their final year will be brought back to the State and be admitted in either University of Port Harcourt, or the state-owned University of Science and Technology to complete their studies.
The source further revealed that there are about 250 Nigerian students on scholarship in 14 Canadian universities.

 

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Education

2025 Book Reading: TotalEnergies Commits To Unlocking Potentials, Career Choices In Students 

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1 week ago

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October 13, 2025

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TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited says it is committed to unlocking reading potentials and passion in students to guaranteeing successes in their educational futures.
The Deputy Managing Director, Joint Venture Asset (JVA), TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Olivier Cassassoles, stated this while delivering his speech at the 2025 Book Reading & Open Day Event For Senior Secondary Schools In Rivers State, held at the TotalEnergies Event Centre, Trans-Amadi, PortHarcourt, at the Weekend, with the theme ‘Paragraphs, Pages, and Chapters: Unlocking the Secrets of Success through Reading’.
Cassassoles who noted that the present era is characterised with endless distractions said students need a deliberate push for self-discovery and growth in their educational pursuits adding that reading, for students, is more than preparation for exams; as it is a gateway to new worlds, cultures and ideas, with each book serving as a passport to empathy, critical thinking, and self-expression.
While noting that the event marked a celebration of curiosity, imagination, and the transformative power of books, Cassassoles insisted that there is no greater spark than the one lit by a good book, adding that by supporting education, the company nurtures future leaders, innovators, and change makers.
He said “Today, we unite under a theme that resonates deeply with every learner: “Paragraphs, Pages, and Chapters: Unlocking the Secrets of Success through Reading.” This is not merely a motto, but a journey we embark on together. Each paragraph contains wisdom, every page opens a new possibility, and every chapter marks a new beginning in our personal stories.
“At TotalEnergies, our commitment to energizing society goes far beyond fueling vehicles or lighting homes. For over 60 years, we have been passionate about lighting up minds and empowering future generations through education. We are honored to invest in education, knowing that by supporting today’s youth, we help shape a brighter tomorrow. Let’s turn the pages together and unlock the next chapter of greatness”.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr (Mrs) Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, stressed that the journey of life begins with reading, expressing confidence in the schools and students of the state in their commitment to making the state proud in both national and international competitions.
Represented by the State’s Deputy Director, Senior Secondary Schools,  Gbaranwi Charles B, Uzoma-Nwogu thanked TotalEnergies for its contributions to the growth, development and success of education in the state and pledged the ministry’s partnership in instilling reading habit in the students thereby shaping their minds and molding them like clay in the hands of a skilled potter.
Presenting awards to the representatives of the winners of the ‘Schools Presentation on TotalEnergies’, the General Manager, Country Services, Adesua Adewole, commended the students for their resilience and commitment to studies urging them to remain relentless for greater future achievements.
In his Closing Remarks, the Deputy General Manager, External Communications, TotalEnergies, Nigeria, Dr. Charles Ebereonwu, who noted the continuous evolvement of the company even in guiding educational and career paths, wished the students the best in their career decisions.
The year’s event featured a Nigerian literary classic novel: ‘The Potter’s Wheel’ by renowned author, Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike; a novel that not only mirrors the journey of many students as they navigate challenges, learn responsibility, and discover their voices but serves as a beacon of character, discipline, and personal growth.
Participating schools were Community Secondary School, Okuru-Ama (winner), Model Secondary School, GRA (1st runner-up) and Immaculate Heart College, Borokiri (2nd runner-up).
Others were Pabod Model Secondary School, Old GRA, Enitona High School, Borokiri, SeaCrest Preparatory School, Redeemer’s International School, Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri and Community Secondary School, Abuloma.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu
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Education

CSS Okuru-Ama Wins 2025 total/elf book reading competition

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1 week ago

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October 13, 2025

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The Deputy Managing Director, Joint Venture Asset (JVA), TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Olivier Cassassoles, has  stated that reading, for students, is more than preparation for exams; as it is a gateway to new worlds, cultures and ideas, emphasising that each book is a passport to empathy, critical thinking, and self-expression.
While noting that the event marked a celebration of curiosity, imagination, and the transformative power of books, Cassassoles insisted that there is no greater spark than the one lit by a good book, adding that by supporting education, the company nurtures future leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
He said “Today, we unite under a theme that resonates deeply with every learner: “Paragraphs, Pages, and Chapters: Unlocking the Secrets of Success through Reading.” This is not merely a motto, but a journey we embark on together. Each paragraph contains wisdom, every page opens a new possibility, and every chapter marks a new beginning in our personal stories.
“At TotalEnergies, our commitment to energizing society goes far beyond fueling vehicles or lighting homes. For over 60 years, we have been passionate about lighting up minds and empowering future generations through education”.
The TotalEnergies DMD revealed that the company’s longstanding dedication to Nigeria’s youth was evident in a broad range of educational initiatives including
Scholarship Programs, construction of educational structures and laboratories, donation of solar lamps to students, Empowering The Teacher (ETT) fellowship programs and institution of the Institute of Petroleum and Energy Studies (IPES) in the University of PortHarcourt.
These efforts, he said, are not isolated but are all part of TotalEnergies’ vision to ignite potential and foster a culture of lifelong learning
“To our students: May this event be a turning point. May The Potter’s Wheel and the opportunities we support inspire you to reach higher and dream bigger. To our educators and guests: Thank you for being the guiding hands- the potters molding the bright minds of tomorrow.
.
“At TotalEnergies, we are honored to invest in education, knowing that by supporting today’s youth, we help shape a brighter tomorrow. Let’s turn the pages together and unlock the next chapter of greatness”, he said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr (Mrs) Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, noted that books inspire, educate and transform, saying “there’s no time you open a page of a book that you don’t get something”.
Uzoma-Nwogu, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Senior Secondary Schools, Rivers State, Gbaranwi Charles B, stressed that the journey of life begins with reading, expressing confidence in the schools and students of the state in their commitment to making the state proud in both national and international competitions.
The Permanent Secretary thanked TotalEnergies for the growth, development and success of education in the state and pledged the ministry’s partnership in instilling reading habit in the students thereby shaping their minds and molding them like clay in the hands of a skilled potter.
Presenting awards to the representatives of the winners of the ‘Schools Presentation on TotalEnergies’, the General Manager, Country Services, Adesua Adewole, commended the students for their resilience and commitment to studies urging them to remain relentless for greater future achievements.
The year’s participating schools are Community Secondary School, Okuru-Ama (winner), Model Secondary School, GRA (1st runner-up) and Immaculate Heart College, Borokiri (2nd runner-up).
Others were Pabod Model Secondary School, Old GRA, Enitona High School, Borokiri, SeaCrest Preparatory School, Redeemer’s International School, Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri and Community Secondary School, Abuloma.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu
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Education

NAS moves to end Out-of-School syndrome in Enugu 

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1 week ago

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October 13, 2025

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Chapters of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) in Enugu and South Africa have called on the state government, philanthropists, and organizations in Nigeria to devise practical approaches on how to return school age children from the streets to the classrooms.
Alarmed by the growing population of school age children on our streets, the Cap’n  of the Enugu chapter of NAS, Mr Oseloka Egbuchiem, said, “it is a time bomb and a sad commentary on our social responsibility.”
Addressing journalists in Enugu  on Tuesday, Egbuchiem explained that NAS chose October 6 to galvanize national awareness and collective action on the crisis of out of school children (OOSC) in Nigeria, through its Street Child Project and Back to School Campaign.
According to him, “the truth is that NAS can’t do it alone. The governments at different levels, and philanthropists should participate in this because it is a huge crisis.”
He noted further that, “we in Enugu collaborated with the chapter in South Africa on this campaign to mark the one-day national awareness and advocacy.
“On Monday, we distributed  educational kits to at least 1,000 children in the state in five primary schools in Enugu metropolis and suburb.
“The beneficiary schools are Ibagwa Community Primary, Nike, Enugu, Francisca Children Academy, Ugbene 2, Enugu, Transekulu Primary School 1, Enugu, Transekulu Primary School 2, Enugu, Aguowa Primary School 1, Enugu.
“We continued the  sensitization  campaign today on radio where a panel of discussants threw more light on the OOSC crisis and to capture attention of the public and the government.”
According to Egbuchiem, NAS aims at empowering communities to sustain local education initiatives aimed at reducing OOSC in their areas.
He noted that the crisis is as real as the numbers from the UNICEF 2025 and UNESCO report that shows that 10.2–18.3 million children are out of school globally and that one in every child that is out of school in the world is a Nigerian.
“That unflattering report is a summary of perhaps what the future is for us and our children,” he said.
Egbuchiem noted that NAS believes that, “the scale of this crisis undermines Nigeria’s ability to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially SDG 4 (Quality Education), which sets out the ambition of ensuring inclusive and equitable education for all.
Meanwhile, among the social reasons that have kept millions of  children in Nigeria out of school are poverty, insecurity, gender inequality, child labour, early marriage, poor infrastructure, and social exclusion.
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